K-von tour comes to West Chester

Comedian K-von performs at the West Chester Heritage Building. The show marked the performer's second trip to the small town in as many years. While it’s an unusual place to stop on a national comedy tour, Kevan “K-von” Moezzi said he wanted to support the community that helped him during the pandemic. (Kalen McCain/The Union)

While West Chester is a small community of 144 people, performers said the crowd of close to 100 was more than double the average they could expect to see at comedy clubs. (Kalen McCain/The Union)

WEST CHESTER — Comedian Kevan Moezzi, better known by his stage name of “K-von,” brought his national tour to West Chester Saturday night. The show at the city’s Heritage Building was his second year performing in the town of 144 residents.

Moezzi said the community had supported him when other shows canceled during the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, the government labeled comedians nonessential, which hurt my feelings,” he said. “I went on my YouTube channel like, ‘Look guys, I’ve lost all my gigs. If anyone wants me, front yard, backyard, private event, country club, let me know.’ And West Chester reached out to me … I said, ‘I don’t know where it is, but of course, I have nothing else to do.’”

In return, the performer pledged to bring an L.A. comedy show back to the small town every year they would have him.

“Once someone shows you that respect when you need them most, these people are more than just a comedy gig,” Moezzi said. “These people were there for me when it counted.”

Despite the small size of the community, Moezzi said the crowd of roughly 90 people was on the larger end of the spectrum for comedy performers, which often perform for groups of 20-40 in smaller clubs.

“A 100-person show is considered a great night in Hollywood,” he said. “Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, all the greats will practice with a crowd of 20, 30. That’s like Ping-Pong. When you get to 100 or more, you’re playing tennis … and this gym has good acoustics, where the laughs bounce around.”

The former school gym is a trip back to a performer’s roots, according to Moezzi.

“When you start as a comedian, you perform any club, any place, anywhere,” he said. “I know many comedians who only perform in the comedy clubs, and if you don’t have the perfect fishbowl environment … they melt down.”

Justin Rivera, the opening act for the night, said small town performances had a charm of their own.

“It keeps things interesting and different, it changes it up,” he said. “I do a lot of comedy clubs in the major cities, and sometimes there’s a little arrogance, these snobby crowds … sticklers of comedy or whatever. Places like this, they just want to laugh and be entertained. I think I just like that aspect of it.”

The event brought visitors from around Southeast Iowa. West Chester Heritage Association President Dean Greiner said he was glad for the boost to the group’s goal of fixing the old building’s roof.

“Our cost right now is about $50-60,000, depending on what they find when they lift the original roof up,” he said. “We want to go for the casino for a matching grant this fall so we can do this. Everything we make tonight is going to go to that, and I feel good that we’re going to get a new roof this spring.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com