Des Plaines' Insane Ian embraces 'nerd culture' for Chicago comedy fest
Ian Bonds couldn't be happier to call himself a nerd.
Science fiction, comic books, video games - the Des Plaines resident loves it all. His passion is so strong, in fact, that he has a stage presence - Insane Ian - and performs comedy music and parodies about all things nerd-centric.
Bonds will take the stage at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the fifth annual Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival. The fest, which runs Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 14-17, at Chicago's Stage 773, features an expanded schedule of shows, a day of panels and workshops, and other events that connect performers, audiences and artists.
“I love entertaining and making people laugh,” Bonds says. “I love the recognition from the audience when they're like, 'I get what this guy's talking about. I have the same love for that same thing.'”
The fest is headlined by Brandie Posey, a standup comedian, writer and producer who has appeared on MTV, E! and Comedy Central.
“This year's Nerd Fest will be one for the books,” says producer Cody Melcher. “We are producing a vast amount of standup for 2017 Nerd Fest and highlighting a variety of different types of comedy that will attract an array of groups to the venue.”
Highlights include Vertical Slideshow, a new cabaret show, and Clown Car to Sicily, a Chicago-based musical improv and sketch-comedy group.
Nerd comedy is niche, Bonds admits, and not everyone gets it. That's why it's special when there's a shared understanding with the audience.
Originally from Baltimore, Bonds says there's no better place than Chicago to pursue a comedy music career. He began by doing standup and improv comedy two decades ago, while continuing to focus on his music.
His passion began with his parents, who were part of a group devoted to the music of sci-fi. That's where he first picked up his love of writing nerdy songs.
“I've been described as a second-generation nerd musician,” he says.
But nowadays, the nerd comedy niche doesn't seem so outside the mainstream. After all, there's some kind of convention for every conceivable interest, Bonds says.
“Comic book movies are the most popular movies in cinemas right now,” he says. “In high school, these were the things you had to be quiet about, that you went to a Star Trek convention. Now, nerd culture is pop culture.”
Bonds is looking forward to his first appearance at the Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival.
“It's a big comedy festival, with a lot of different styles of comedy,” he says. “We're all doing something unique and different, but it all has a nerdy lean. It's all stuff that nerds can identify with.”
Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival
When: Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 14-17. See the schedule at
Where: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, (773) 327-5252 or
Tickets: $10 per show. Day passes cost $30 on Thursday and Friday and $50 on Saturday; all-festival passes cost $75. Workshop prices vary on Sunday.