Nina Dawkins (l) and Yolanda “Landy” Robinson (r) at the Candlelight Lounge entrance.
It’s a warm April Sunday evening, the sun’s still out, and about 35 people are crowded around an oval bar in the historic Central West Trenton club. Tirese Topp Flight Rhone is wrapping up his MC duties and asks the audience to stand. On the back stage, DJ Fatha Ramzee pumps up the music, while in the foreground, Rhone announces the headline comedian.
“You’ve seen him on Showtime at the Apollo, Def Comedy Jam and Comcast Channel 66, but y’all probably don’t have cable anyway . . . put it together for Matt Black y’all,” Ramzee says.
Live comedy is often cathartic, usually self-deprecating and sometimes controversial. Every third Sunday of the month, Laff Out Loud by Nina and Landy brings these elements to the Candlelight Lounge on Passaic Avenue. The Candlelight is more famous for its jazz on Saturdays, but now thanks to Nina Dawkins and Yolanda “Landy” Robinson, the city also has a budding comedy scene. [Read more…]
