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COMEDY | ALBUQUERQUE

Cowboy comic: William Lee Martin gives 30th anniversary performance at Hyena’s

Comedian William Lee Martin will perform at Hyena's Comedy Club on Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16.
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William Lee Martin

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WHEN: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 15; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16

WHERE: Hyena’s Comedy Club, 2100 Louisiana Blvd. NE #434

HOW MUCH: $23.60-$29.25 at

Veteran comedian William Lee Martin, formerly known as “Cowboy Bill,” is performing at Hyena’s Comedy Club in Albuquerque on Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, as part of his “Seemed Smart at the Time” national tour. 

His Albuquerque appearances come on the eve of his 30th year in the comedy business.

“I’m a fifth-generation Texan, and I started out my career at Hyena’s in Arlington (Texas) on May 17, 1996,” Martin said. “… So, my weekend in Albuquerque … coincides with the anniversary of my very first time onstage. I’m there the 15th and 16th. And the 17th will be my 30th year (in stand-up).”

Performing at the same comedy club chain that launched his career is a full-circle moment.

“Very ‘Lion King’-ish,” he quipped.

Martin described his comedy style as autobiographical storytelling.

“I’m absolutely a storyteller. I’m not a setup-punch guy,” he said.

Martin often folds tales of tragedy into his comedy — an approach popularized by Dave Chappelle, Hannah Gadsby and others.

“I’ve been doing that style of comedy way before Chappelle made it cool,” Martin said.

His current set ends with a piece about writing an obituary for his father, who died four years ago.

“The last 10 minutes of my show is not the funniest, but it’s the stuff that’s the most impactful,” Martin said.

He said writing his father’s obituary made him realize he didn’t know his father nearly as well as he would have liked.

“I knew all the stats. I knew when he was born, when he died, how many kids he had, when he married my mom — the whole thing — but I actually didn’t know if he died happy, fulfilled and loved,” Martin said. “... I don’t want to give away the whole show, but I teach people in the last 10 minutes how to write your obituary, which can lead you to figuring out those three questions: ‘Am I happy?’ ‘Am I fulfilled?’ ‘Am I loved?’”

Martin’s storytelling is rooted in his life experiences, including growing up around real Texas cowboys and ranchers.

“I was raised around horses, and my Uncle Leon taught me how to ride and rope,” Martin said.

His family also taught him to value “honest hard work,” which has paid off in his career, he said.

“In this business, you better have some discipline, or you won’t make it,” Martin said. “... I tell young comics all the time — I’ll hold up my thumb and finger and make a little U shape, and I’ll say, ‘If you just work that hard, you’ve already beat everybody from my thumb down to the ground’ — because people won’t even put in that much work.”

Martin calls himself a “clean-ish” comedian, although his shows are 21 and up.

“I don’t get vulgar, and I don’t drop the F-bomb,” Martin said. “... But there’s a reason why I’m not on the church circuit. I’m a Christian, but my life has had a lot of bad decisions in it. That’s why the tour is called ‘Seemed Smart at the Time.’ The bad decisions usually make the best stories.”

While Martin’s set explores some dark themes, he said it’s still a comedy show at the end of the day.

“It’s funny. And I really want the audience to leave feeling lighter, especially with everything going on these days,” Martin said.

Logan Royce Beitmen is an arts writer for the ϼ. He covers visual art, music, fashion, theater and more. Reach him albeitmen@abqjournal.com or on Instagram at .