LOCAL Houston | The City Guide May 2018 | Page 58

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE I first walked into THE SECRET GROUP in April of last year to catch a TJ Miller set during Houston Whatever Fest. The headlining Miller was set to perform on an outdoor stage behind the recently opened venue, but the plan was scrapped due to bad weather. Instead, fes- tivalgoers were treated to a more intimate performance in the main stage-room of what was then an obscure new club. Since that day I have been returning to The Secret Group for the occasional open mic or local talent showcase. In the year and a half since its open- ing, the unassuming Eado bar on the corner of St. Emanuel and Polk streets has established itself as the unofficial new home of Houston standup. Along the way, a handful of new artists have emerged as potential breakouts, reviving both the city’s passion for live comedy and reputation as a tough but intelligent crowd. “At one point, Houston was a place that people moved to, to do comedy.” - Andrew Youngblood 58 L O C A L | 5 . 2018 ANDREW YOUNGBLOOD and STEPHEN BRANDAU , co-owners of The Secret Group, sat down with me to talk Houston standup, their personal history and the return of this city’s reputation as a comedy proving ground. Andrew and Stephen are veterans of the city’s comedy scene. From performing to booking, hosting podcasts and starting an open mic at Warehouse Live, the two have been vital aspects of the Houston comedy revival. As Stephen explains, Secret Group aims to take what was previously a scattered, perhaps “alt” comedy scene that was happening in random bars and obscure venues around town and give it a permanent home. Stephen and Andrew hope to give young and inexperienced comics a chance to perfect their craft in front of Houston’s notoriously demanding crowds, a role that was once played by a now-shuttered, iconic comedy venue: The Laff Stop operated from 1977–2009 and was a launching pad for legends like Bill Hicks, Ralphie May and Sam Kinison, but its decline after the 1990s saw Houston’s reputation as a comedy town fade. “We’re a city now that people respect and want to come to for com- edy,” says Dusti Rhoades, a promising comic who calls The Secret Group her home. Dusti credits the support and encouragement of Andrew Youngblood for her prominence in the local comedy scene. She believes that what the owners of The Secret Group are doing for local comics, by both scouting talent and providing opportunities for growth, has revived the city’s reputation