Local emcee Mike Mass is hosting a night of comedy at Seminole Heights’ restaurant Ella’s Americana Soul Food Cafe. Mass, who recently made waves with his single “Blood in the Water” with J.T. Brown, will be performing but will let the comedians tell the jokes. “Playful hosting at most,” Mass told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, about his role.
“Each month we try to give a fresh look at all of the talent we have right here in the Bay area,” Seans Heslep told CL. Heslep, an Ella’s bartender and local actor, books the monthly comedy shows, which are free to attend. “ …being Black History month it only seemed right to highlight some of the Bay's best young up and coming Black comics.”
This month it’s local comedian Jay Legend—who recently won the “New Talent” competition at Side Splitters comedy club in October—filling the bill along with JoJo White and Crunch Cardwell.
The comedy show is free, but you should make a reservation if you want a seat. Unlike most comedy clubs, there’s no drink minimum, but it goes without saying that you shouldn’t be an asshole who takes up a seat and doesn’t buy anything. Ella’s capacity is still at less than non-pandemic days, so those seats are prime real estate.
A couple more things: masks are required when not sitting, pay attention to the people on stage, and tip the fuck out of your server.
Jay Legend w/JoJo White, Crunch Cardwell/Mike Mass. Saturday, Feb. 20, 9 p.m. Free. Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa. INFO
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This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2021.