Welcome to “Live! from the 209” a column where each issue we’ll dive into the background and stories featuring live performers in our area.
We’ll highlight artist of various disciplines, and upcoming events within the community.
As a working comedian, I have met, worked alongside of and traveled with great talent from right here in the valley.
Out of every city I’ve performed in; Stockton, and the 209 as a whole, has bred some of the funniest people around and vibrant young artists in general.
Through the downtown city streets, up north into the suburbs, out east by the fields, and into the homes of southside, Stockton is rich in art and culture everywhere you look.
In this space, we’ll take a look at venues past and current, and cover upcoming shows. The purpose will be to explore the offerings of the area with the hope of encouraging students and other readers to venture out and support local artists. Those artists can be comedians, poets, musicians, creatives, and artists.
This space allows me to introduce you to some new faces.
From funny people, to the musically gifted, to the serious writers, I am proud to know these people and introduce them to the students and staff here at Delta College. My hope is that you enjoy the offerings this space will highlight.
COMEDIAN GABRIEL ALEXANDER
Gabriel Alexander, 36, is a native Stocktonian, former student of Delta College, and UOP graduate.
Alexander has been performing comedy for just under four years and is a paid regular at Laughs Unlimited comedy club in Old Sacramento.
Gabriel is a local and touring stand up comedian.
You can find him on IG, Twitter, and Tiktok @Gabe209Alex
How has being from Stockton affected your experience in comedy?
“100 percent an Uphill battle. No matter what we accomplished in our city I don’t care what it is… when we went to bigger cities I felt like it wasn’t good enough for the bigger cities. We still had to prove ourselves.”
What can you tell me about Laughs Unlimited?
“I love Laughs Unlimited, a comedy club in the heart of Old Sacramento,
It’s a great club…
I met a lot of my good mentors and good comedy buddies to this day, there. And that was the first club, Jenny the owner, her and the club were the first people to kind of take a chance on me.”
What do you want to see for comedy and Stockton in the future?
“I’d love for Stockton to start getting more shows….
Nothing to do with me, but It was always a cool dream since I started comedy to have a comedy club out here.”
What about the future of stand up comedy?
“As far as comedy in general… just for people not to attack comedians for making jokes.”
POET ESPERANZA CABRALES
Esperanza Cabrales, 22, is a poet from Lathrop. She has been writing poetry for nearly a decade, and frequently visits spots in Stockton, the greater 209 area, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles to showcase her poems. Follow her main account on Instagram @dreaming.eyeswideopen and her writing account @es.cabrales
How long have you been interested in poetry? When did you start writing?
“I’ve been writing poetry for 9 years now and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the changes in my art throughout this time … I started writing around when I was 13 and up until last year my poetry was something I kept for myself and didn’t really share with others.”
Who/what are some of your inspirations?
“I liked messing around with poetry and using it as a coping mechanism in the beginning. What really made the art come alive for me was discovering the art of slam poetry and particularly the works of Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye.
I love the way they could share positive and joyful emotions and bring a sense of wonder through their performances and writing.”
What is the poetry/arts scene like in and around Stockton?
“I would describe the poetry/arts scene in and around Stockton as re-awakening. I have met poets in people I was genuinely and happily surprised to know shared this art with me. COVID made many things fall through the cracks, but if anything it’s proven the
importance of art when we feel ourselves at our
lowest.”
What would you like to see for yourself in writing in the future?
“…I want to be able to produce art that is thoughtful not just in relation to my experience, but can speak to people whose experiences I do not know. As long as I stay true to my goals of connection and adding to the world instead of taking away, I think I’ll be happy with where my art goes.”
COMEDIAN JORDAN QUATTLEBAUM
Jordan Quattlebaum, 25, was born and raised in Stockton and graduated from Stagg High School.
Quattlebaum has been writing and performing stand up comedy for nearly five years.
In addition to stand-up at various clubs around California, Jordan regularly produces shows in and around Stockton.
You can check out Jordan Quattlebaum on YouTube for clips of his stand-up, or check out his website for more info on: QbaumComedy.com Follow him on IG, Twitter, and Tiktok
@jordanqbaum
How has being from Stockton affected your experience in comedy?
“It mostly affects my stage time, ‘cause whenever there [aren’t] shows or mics in Stockton I have to drive mostly an hour out of the way but we gotta do what we gotta do.”
What can you tell me about producing and hosting shows?
“Hosting to me is really fun & easy, it’s the producing that can be challenging. Gotta make sure the show is ran perfectly, comics are ready, butts are in seats, EVERYTHING! But in the end it always is satisfying when everything goes according to plan.”
What do you want to see for comedy and Stockton in the future?
“I just want our scene to be seen! To grow and thrive!!! When I first started stand-up it seemed like there was basically nothing but now I’m almost five years in and we have a bunch of comics grinding and making comedy come alive in Stockton.”
What about the future of stand up comedy?
“I think comedy will always be alive. [Because] without it the world would be miserable. The future to me just seems like it’s just beginning.”
