Depeche Mail 101: Dave Hill and the Business of Being Funny.

Lover, Fighter, Guitar Shredder

Reach out and touch Dave.

Welcome to the latest installment of Depeche Mail 101: The #1 Business Newsletter for the Goth and Goth-Adjacent Community.

This week, comedian Dave Hill steps into the spotlight to share a masterclass in life and business. Beyond being effortlessly funny and charismatic, Dave is the definition of a workhorse. He’s an author, musician, comedian, sketch artist, and a relentless poster on social media—daily reminding us all of one universal truth: traffic cones are the absolute worst. Dave is putting in the work, and it shows.

Let’s backtrack a bit. Here’s a snapshot of Dave’s story: Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and now calling New York home, Dave has spent nearly two decades making people laugh. His daily posts range from shredding on his guitar and battling traffic cones to giving advice on where to find top-notch carpet in the middle of nowhere, Indiana. While these antics might play to the algorithm, Dave has also contributed to some heavy-hitting TV and entertainment projects. Case in point:

Dave has graced screens on Netflix’s The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Adult Swim’s Joe Pera Talks with You, Amazon’s The Tick, Peacock TV’s Girls5Eva, Comedy Central’s @midnight and Inside Amy Schumer, TBS' Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, TV Land’s The Jim Gaffigan Show, and TruTV’s Comedy Knockout—just to name a few.

But wait, there’s more: Dave isn’t just a comedian—he’s also an accomplished musician and writer. If you haven’t watched him play guitar, you’re missing out. And I’m not kidding when I say he’s a virtuoso. Imagine Yngwie Malmsteen with a shot of espresso—or Joe Satriani looking on in awe. Frankly, the only guitarist who comes close is the legendary Dimebag Darrell (RIP). Yeah, Dave’s that good.

And then there’s Dave’s love of hockey. Growing up in Cleveland, he found a lifelong passion for the sport. Whether it’s playing in local leagues or catching NHL games, hockey offers him a well-earned escape from his whirlwind schedule. He often jokes that, if comedy hadn’t worked out, he’d probably be chasing his dreams on the ice. His passion is infectious, and fans love the hockey tidbits he shares.

Now, about that sit-down: I caught up with Dave at The Comet, a legendary bar in Cincinnati known for incredible burritos, an unrivaled jukebox, and, as locals whisper, the site where Jack White once puked. Beneath the back deck, in the cool shade, Dave and I dove into his stories of breaking into comedy and music. (Interview coming soon!)

What stands out most about Dave is his unwavering commitment to his fans. He’s an open book and keeps things refreshingly real. After his amazing set (seriously, don’t miss a chance to see him live), Dave hung back to pose for selfies, sign shirts, and grab beers with fans. That’s just who he is.

He’s got a relentless work ethic that’s paying off big-time. Week after week, he’s playing festivals and solo gigs, riding buses to the next stop, and sharing pickup lines for your next public transport adventure.

So, do yourself a favor: give Dave Hill a follow, grab tickets to a show, or dive into his comedy and music. The world could use more Dave Hill—and you won’t regret having him in your orbit.

Here are a few things you should know about Dave.

1. According the guitar department manager at the Brooklyn Guitar Center Dave is directly responsible for Yngwie’s waning popularity. 

Dave Hill Taking it to the Tone Zone

2. Speaking of Guitar Center...If you’re a current employee, have been a musician, dated a musician, or or have ever worked in a music store, you’ll love his perspectives on what it's like to shop there. (Full disclosure, I was employed there from 1999-2001, employee number 018980). 

3. He has 157 podcast episodes of the Dave Hill Goodtime Hour. If you like comedy, then you should listen to them here.

4. He and his band Valley Lodge, wrote the theme song to HBO's The John Oliver show and made a rad music video for it too.

5. Dave Hill is the American Dream because he says and does exactly what he wants. 

6. As an author Dave has written books about reconnecting with his dad, tasteful nudes, and hockey. You can and should check out his books here.

7. He’s from Cleveland OH. You can usually trust a man from Cleveland. 

8. He’s in a gang called The Dangerous Snakes Who Hate Bullshit. Rumor has it that you have to wrestle Jay Brewer and 5 of his largest snakes to join.

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You can and should catch Mr. Dave Hill on the road if you get a chance. You can find his live shows on his website. https://www.davehillonline.com/live