Nate Bargatze bringing his ‘relatable’ humor to Cedar Rapids arena

Much has changed for Nate Bargatze. Six years ago the fledgling comic was playing clubs.

Fast forward to 2024 and Bargatze is headlining arenas — like the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids on June 13, 2024 — as well as being featured on legendary television shows.

Bargatze's mind was blown last October when he hosted “Saturday Night Live.”

“That was just insane,” he said. “I watched ‘Saturday Night Live’ a ton when I was a kid. I became friends with (’SNL’ alums) David Spade and Adam Sandler. I was just happy to know some of the greats from ‘SNL,’ but then I got to host the show. It is the most fun thing I’ve done in my career.”

Bargatze, 45, had no problem with the live aspect of the iconic program, even though he’s not an actor. Bargatze nailed the challenge, however, since he’s an inveterate comic used to living in the moment onstage.

“Performing in front of a live audience wasn’t that big of a deal since I perform in front of a live audience every night,” he said. “It was a great time being on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ I got to talk with (Executive Producer) Lorne Michaels and I got a call from Pete Davidson, who told me not to fight it and I didn’t. I just let them lead me from one skit to another.”

The Foo Fighters were the musical guest and Dave Grohl, who is always upbeat, was surprised by how mellow Bargatze was during the show.

“Dave said, ‘Aren't you excited?’ I told him, ‘I am, but I don't show it the way you do.’ ”

Bargatze is an unusual comic — who is generally reserved and regarded as one of the nicest standups on the circuit, and the married father of an 11-year-old daughter — is happily laid back.

“That’s just the way I am,” he said. “I guess I am nice, but I don’t like to make fun of people or make fun of the crowd. I prefer to make fun of myself and just talk about what’s on my mind.”

Bargatze will wax about being a guy from the past century.

“I talk about being from the 1900s,” he said. “It was a different time. I graduated from high school in 1997 and it’s just a completely different world that we’re in. There are so many people that can relate to how different things are now and that are used to an old way of life, and aren’t so good with modern technology. Some people feel like they’re left behind.”

Many comics from the 1900s got their big break courtesy of “The Tonight Show,” but Bargatze is a 21st century entertainer who became a sensation courtesy of three Netflix specials and podcast appearances.

“Comedy is everywhere now,” he said. “Comedy is in your pocket. Pull out your phone and you have access to some amazing comedians. Appearing on a podcast, not just having one, but appearing on a popular one, can change your life.”

Comic and Ultimate Fighting Championship commentator Joe Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” has been a game-changer for Bargatze.

“Joe’s podcast is massive,” Bargatze said. "His podcast is more influential than a sitcom. If he stopped doing a podcast to focus on a sitcom, that would be a step down. That’s how much the industry has changed.“

Within a half-decade, Bargatze went from performing to a double-digit audience at clubs to selling out arenas. A few months before playing Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in April 2023, he attended a Twenty One Pilots concert with his daughter.

“I asked her how she thought I would do playing there and she said, ’'I don't know. This is a really big place.’ ”

Bargatze drew a crowd of 19,365, which broke the venue’s all-time attendance record.

“It was unreal,” Bargatze said. “Who would ever think that would happen?”

Bargatze who hails from sleepy Old Hickory, Tenn., is at his best joking about relatable subjects like travel, family and pop culture.

“I love being a father and a husband,” he said. “I talk about the fights my wife and I have, and not only is it something people can connect with, what I talk about comes from a place of love. I’m not an angry comic. My family comes first.”

After living in Los Angeles for a decade, Bargatze moved back to Tennessee for his daughter’s said.

“I wanted her to have a normal life,” he said. “Los Angeles is full of the abnormal. The cool thing is that I can have a career and she can have a regular childhood. It’s all worked out for us.”

Bargatze, who is performing in the round on his “Be Funny” tour, has made the jump to arenas in a seamless manner.

“It’s been an adjustment, but I’m handling it,” he said. “People talk about when you play the arenas, there’s the big screens, but I think they’re a good thing,” he said. “Let’s say you see a comic in a theater — you can’t see his face. You can see a comic’s expressions on the big screens, so the facial expressions go over better.

“I saw Adam Sandler’s arena show in Seattle and it was great. He does a great job with the screens. It’s fun to be in a big venue with that many people laughing since laughing is contagious, which is a great thing.”