Brian Posehn
Deadpan stand-up comedy meets authentic thrash metal. A self-aware celebration of nerd culture, heavy riffs, and the absurdities of aging as a metalhead.
Deadpan stand-up comedy meets authentic thrash metal. A self-aware celebration of nerd culture, heavy riffs, and the absurdities of aging as a metalhead.
Brian Posehn occupies a unique space where the comedy club and the mosh pit overlap. His sound is defined by a deep, gravelly baritone that delivers observational humor with a mix of weary cynicism and genuine enthusiasm for fringe culture. While primarily a stand-up artist, his musical output is not just a joke; it features high-level musicianship from thrash legends that makes the parody hit harder because the riffs are actually good.
What makes Posehn distinctive is his refusal to mock his subjects from the outside. He is a 'metal nerd' and a 'comic book geek' first, meaning his satire of these subcultures comes from a place of deep knowledge and affection. The production on his musical tracks is surprisingly high-fidelity, mirroring the wall-of-sound intensity of the bands he references, while his stand-up recordings capture the raw, immediate energy of a live room.
Start with 'Live In: Nerd Rage' to hear the perfect synthesis of his two worlds. It contains the essential metal parody 'Metal by Numbers' alongside sharp stand-up sets that define his persona. It is the ideal entry point for anyone who grew up on a diet of Anthrax, Dungeons & Dragons, and late-night alternative comedy.
Brian Posehn (; born July 6, 1966) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice actor, musician, and writer. After numerous appearances as a television guest star, Posehn acquired his first major recurring role in HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995–1998). He is known for his roles as Jim Kuback on The WB's Mission Hill and Brian Spukowski on Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program. Posehn had a recurring role on The Big Bang Theory as geologist Bert Kibbler. As a stand-up comedian, Posehn has released four comedy albums and one standalone music album. He has hosted the online Dungeons & Dragons podcast Nerd Poker since 2012. He has also done voice work for video games such as Halo 2, FusionFall, Brütal Legend, and Minecraft: Story Mode. Posehn received nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards in 1998 and 1999 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program for his work on Mr. Show with Bob and David, which he shared with the series' writing crew. Posehn also received a nomination for a DVDX Award for Best Original Song in a DVD Premiere Movie in 2003 for Run Ronnie Run!.
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