Credit: Courtesy of Mike Polk
Local comedian Mike Polk Jr. qualifies as a YouTube sensation. He has 50 million combined views with his viral web videos, including The Factory of Sadness, The Cleveland Tourism Video and The One Semester of Spanish Love Song.

Polk’s live performances feature traditional stand-up and variety show production as he incorporates music videos and audience interaction into the mix.

Polk, who authored Damn Right I’m From Cleveland: Your Guide to Making It in America’s 47th Largest City, says he rarely leaves Cleveland’s west side. And yet he’ll venture east this weekend as he performs at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the “elegant” Club Velvet at Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park.    

This article appears in Aug 8-14, 2018.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.