Dave Hill in Hartford

About Dave Hill

Dave Hill is a comedian and musician from Cleveland who somehow makes it work despite—or because of—the fact that his comedy-rock songs are genuinely awkward. His appeal hinges on commitment to the bit: he'll spend four minutes on a song about how he's a "chick magnet" delivered with such sincere delusion that you're not sure if he's in on the joke. He's also legitimately talented at guitar, which makes the whole thing land differently than if he were just a punchline. Hill has appeared on shows like "Chewed Up" and built a following partly through being the guy who shows up to comedy venues and pulls out an actual instrument. His songs operate in that sweet spot between "this is dumb" and "wait, this is kind of catchy," which seems to be exactly where he wants to be. He doesn't take himself seriously, but he takes the craft of being ridiculous seriously.

His crowds are half-laughing, half-grooving. People don't know whether to clap or laugh at the end of songs. He's self-deprecating enough that the room feels in on it together, which keeps things from feeling mean-spirited. Mostly people leave having heard guitar work they didn't expect from a comedy show.

Known for Chick Magnet, Party Boobies, When My Body Meets Your Body, Craigslist

Dave Hill in Hartford News

• Bad Bunny and 'Harry Potter': 25+ things to do in Connecticut this weekend, April 19–21 CT Insider · Apr 18, 2024
• Welcome Back In Advance, Dave Hill! RAMP - Radio and Music Pros · Mar 27, 2023
• Eric Avitabile Obituary (2015) - Hartford, CT - Hartford Courant Legacy | Obituary · Sep 28, 2015
• Dave Hill Obituary (2011) - Cincinnati, OH - Kentucky Enquirer Legacy | Obituary · Sep 29, 2011

Live Music in Hartford

Hartford's music scene has always been more about the working venues than the flashy ones—clubs and theaters where weird stuff can happen without too much fuss. Dave Hill fits that mold. He's a comedian who actually plays guitar and writes songs, which is a narrower lane than it sounds. The city's got enough people interested in comedy with actual musicianship to make this work.

Hartford road trip to see Dave Hill?

Stay in the West End neighborhood—it's got actual character and puts you near some decent restaurants. Head to Saluto for Italian that doesn't oversell itself, or The Sycamore for New American food done properly. Before the show, walk through Bushnell Park and check out the Elizabeth Park conservatory if the weather cooperates. After, grab a drink at Vaughan's Public House if you want to decompress somewhere that feels lived-in rather than designed. The Wadsworth Atheneum is worth an hour if you have time to kill during the day.