“Journeying Through L.A.: Comedian James Adomian’s Bright Outlook for 2025 with Amtrak Adventures”

The live-comedy sector has never held a more significant influence in sociopolitical discussions than it did in 2024. Yet, how much of that commentary, questions James Adomian, was genuinely amusing?

“Funny is funny. There is an abundance of unexpected content that can cause an audience to erupt with laughter, whether they agree or not,” states Adomian, who has resided in Los Angeles since the age of 9. He adds, “I prioritize being humorous more than I prioritize being right. It’s almost a political stance for me: Comedy must be entertaining. But there exists a peculiar network of algorithms, botnets, and paid promotions that will vehemently argue against that.”

After Adomian’s YouTube special “Path of Most Resistance,” which debuted in September, his North American tour wraps up on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Irvine Improv. The comedian, impressionist, and voice actor will be returning to SXSW Comedy in Austin, Texas, on the weekend of March 7, delivering a “keynote speech” in character as Elon Musk on opening night.

Adomian began his performance journey in the post-9/11 era during the early days of George W. Bush’s presidency. He often participated in shows held in the basement of the Vermont Avenue Ramada Inn, downstairs at El Cid, and the “venue in Santa Monica near the promenade that no longer exists,” which operated underground in terms of both street access and legality. “Perhaps if we’re gravitating towards a grim right-wing phase once again,” Adomian anticipates, “the finest comedy might need to revert to being underground for a few years.”

He became a consistent participant in Scott Aukerman’s “Comedy Death-Ray” weekly at Upright Citizens Brigade and the show’s Indie 103.1 radio broadcast, later transitioning with the renamed “Comedy Bang! Bang!” into the podcasting realm and IFC’s television series from 2012 to 2016. His groundbreaking 2012 album “Low Hangin Fruit” was the premiere release from Aukerman’s Earwolf Records. Adomian openly endorsed progressivism and proudly embraced LGBTQ+ identities at a time when same-sex marriage was not yet legalized in all 50 states.

Alongside Anthony Atamanuik, his satirical “Trump vs. Bernie” debates commanded a tour across 40 cities, special features on Comedy Central and Fusion, a “Trump vs. Bernie: Live from Brooklyn” album, and numerous media appearances extending years beyond the 2016 election cycle. He even engaged in conversation with Anthony Bourdain over Armenian cuisine at Sahags Basturma to discuss politics and culture on the late chef and host’s “Little Los Angeles” web series.

After more than two decades in comedy, “Resistance,” Adomian’s unlikely first solo special “is a long time coming. I’ve been preparing for it,” he remarks in his opening moments on stage during the special. The dynamic and multi-layered hour is “essentially a stand-up art piece.”

Portrait of James Adomian, a cherished L.A. comic ahead of his Irvine performance on Jan. 19 following his latest special “Path of Most Resistance.”

(Marcus Ubungen/Los Angeles Times)

His portrayals of Elon Musk, Alex Jones, and his long-standing Bernie Sanders character are featured throughout the hour. Adomian explores media representations of Armenians, Turner Classic Movies, prejudice, the Federal Reserve, and aging as a “notorious homosexual,” remarking, “I once identified as gay. Now I find myself like an advisor on campus.” On the issues of social media expectations, Adomian asserts in the special, “If you witness crowd work tonight, it indicates something unfortunate has occurred.”

“I enjoy introducing a significant or thoughtful subject and then making very foolish jokes about it,” Adomian explains. “People have noted that my comedy is smart or intelligent before. That starts to resemble one of those acts where you need a liberal arts degree to comprehend it. Nothing I do is complex. It’s all quite straightforward and silly.”

With Jared Goldstein as the opening act, Adomian filmed “Resistance” at Echo Park’s “stunning, dark, and peculiar” Elysian Theater, where he is a “Stand Up and Clown” veteran and previously hosted a show for Netflix Is a Joke festival.

He admires the courage and innovation of newer comedians, describing fellow Elysian regular Courtney Pauroso’s October release “Vanessa 5000,” an exploration of technology through the lens of a sex robot, as “a dark work of genius.” Regarding the experimental half-hour “How to Bake a Cake in the Digital Age” by Christina Catherine Martinez, he expresses, “I’m so taken with it.”

Having lived in Los Feliz for over a decade, Adomian is recognized as a vocal advocate and supporter of the comedy scene. He mentions his neighborhood’s Tuesday “Comedy Night at Best Fish Taco” as one of L.A.’s top stand-up experiences. Other indie venues he favors include Silver Lake’s Akbar and Lyric Hyperion, Eagle Rock’s the Fable, Echo Park’s Bar Bandini, Atwater Village’s Club Tee Gee, West Hollywood’s Bar Lubitsch, Koreatown’s R Bar, Highland Park’s the Offbeat bar, and Westlake’s Dynasty Typewriter.

Adomian seized the chance to fulfill a long-desired side quest when his tour paused for the 2024 holiday season. He aimed to explore the country and decrease air travel “as we navigate the next level of the climate crisis.” Traveling on two Amtrak trains over three days from Washington, D.C. to Chicago, then continuing to Albuquerque before heading back to L.A., he got scarce sleep but experienced breathtaking views.

He contemplated how he wanted to approach the New Year and its countless transformations. The adventure was “enjoyable, uncomfortable, relaxing, exhausting, beautiful, and captivating. And now I’ve learned how to shower while going 100 miles per hour.”

There exists a middle ground between anger and openness that Adomian aspires to attain in 2025. Or perhaps it’s about remaining engaged while staying spiritual. As someone who claims to believe in reincarnation, Adomian posits that living beings — including politicians — will inevitably face the consequences of their actions. Karma can be a tough lesson. Above all, it’s time for significantly less dependence on crowd work.

“Life on Earth resembles a playthrough of suffering, absurdity, beauty, and a deep reservoir of significances that we must uncover in some way,” he states. “It’s healing for me to express humorous thoughts that help me feel better about my existence. It’s akin to playing a very silly game, but while also addressing something significant and transforming it into a funny matter that’s not intimidating or offensive. To create a good experience from a challenging time.”