Comedian's Work Reflects Southern Life Experiences

Larry Weaver has worn many hats throughout his life and now makes a living sharing his experiences and his insights the best way he knows how -- through laughter.

Speaking with excitement about his new comedy album, Looking for Fun, North Carolina native and UNC alumnus Weaver has hopes to "become more of a name in (his) home state."

Strangely enough, Weaver already has become a name almost everywhere but his home state.

Airplay in Los Angeles by well-known radio personality Dr. Demento and a recent national tour with Weird Al has made Weaver a comic with a wide, cross-country fan base. Weaver said he is now looking forward to performing and developing his fan base locally with his blend of stand-up and musical comedy.

His new album suggests there is no reason he won't succeed. While in the style of Weird Al, Adam Sandler and Steve Earle, Weaver released Looking for Fun with a North Carolina state of mind.

"The album kind of has a regional, Southern flare to it," Weaver said. "People all over the country like to laugh at the South, and most people in the South love to laugh at the South too."

A Southerner by birth, Weaver hails from Saxapahaw, but life in large cities has not dimmed his affection for the backwoods of the South.

"I grew up in the country. It's just what I like -- I like living in the sticks."

Weaver eventually left the sticks and came to UNC to pursue a business major and later a master's degree in accounting.

His involvement with UNC Student Television led him to comedy with the popular campus group Selected Hilarity.

Needless to say, Weaver's aspirations of becoming an accountant faded fast.

The group struck out on its own, but the road wore on the five members, and Weaver soon found a new stint, writing for the the world of professional wrestling. "I never really watched comedy, but I watched wrestling" he said. He even names some of its larger-than-life characters as his influences.

This experience and many others, such as the period of time he spent living in a trailer, contributed to this album and to his stand-up act as he ventured into the comedy circuit on his own.

As a comic, Weaver embraces the unexpected. As he toured with his stand- up act a few years ago, he cracked that at least trailers were ghost-free. Corrected by many an audience member, he started http://www.trailerghost.com, a Web site dedicated to single-wide trailer spirits and the people who take the Web site seriously.

Unfortunately, fewer people than he intended saw the site for the joke it was. Several radio stations and even Fox Family News Channel caught wind of the site and wanted to hear from the "crazy ghost researcher man," Weaver said.

Not just an observer and participant in the ridiculous, Weaver also is a quick study of culture. As he tours, he likes to sample local culture. "America's a cool country -- there's so much to see."

This knowledge of people shows in his act, he has a flair for cracking on the everyday on his album and in his shows.

A natural performer, Weaver said with a genuine smile, "I love performing. I love getting in front of people."

Weaver will be showing off this talent and his regional humor at about 8 p.m. today at Go! Rehearsal Studios.

The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.