The Bastion has been meaning to throw some questions at former Defiant Thomas Brothers member Seth Thomas for quite awhile. As is always the case, there just wasn't enough hours in the day, and soon weeks slipped by. We finally got a chance yesterday to chat for a few minutes with Seth, who has been producing and hosting a monthly stand-up showcase at Town Hall Pub, 3340 N. Halsted. Tonight's show features Chad Briggs, Kristen Carney, Bill Cruz, Paul Sigwerth, and Dustin White with special guest DJ Cameron Esposito. It starts promptly at 9:30 p.m., right after a set from improv troupe Dirty Water.

How has the audience been these last few months? I haven't been to the show in awhile. The audience is always awesome. There is always a lot of love in the room. Number wise – it’s a steady 25+.

Have you been feeling the room becoming a regular go-to place for comedy? Sure. The Town Hall Pub hosts all kinds of stuff from bands to improv and I just happen to have the comedy night. It’s great for them and it’s great for me.

Does the audience change, or are they a set of loyal Fourth Fridays fans? Both. Fourth Friday’s has a loyal fan base of friends and friends of friends. And every show, we get walk-ins or people who read about the show on line.

What's the future of Fourth Fridays? Just to keep it going as long as we can and keep providing a cool place for folks to tell jokes.

Will you remain at Town Hall indefinitely, or are you considering a move? I am definitely staying at the Town Hall Pub. My relationship with the management has resulted in cheap cover and beer money for the comics regardless of who comes to see them. Besides that, it’s an awesome place. I love the vibe, the price of drinks, the staff, everything.

K-Rock of the Bastion, who is regularly quoted in your press releases, wants to know: when will the Southside come back to play at Fourth Fridays? I don't remember them ever coming unless Reynald is from the southside. That first show in January seemed to be more colorful, but I believe they were all a part of the “Northside rotation” with the exception of Karen Williams who came in from Cleveland...I've been running this show by word of mouth. So, maybe I need to shout louder so the Southside comics will hear me.

Let me add that I believe that the show has been very diverse in styles. I have chosen to focus more on gender than race and have committed to keeping women in the line-up. The unfortunate truth is the pool of women comics in town is smaller than the pool of men and so over the course of the year, they will play the room more often.

How has your experience with the Defiant Thomas Brothers informed your stand-up? Going to Aspen [U.S. Comedy Arts Festival] and seeing the stand-ups there gave me a more realistic look at what it takes to be a successful comic in the states. Doing the Fringe in Edinburgh gave me perspective on what it is to be a comic from the states in Europe.

What other comedic experiences has Seth Thomas taken part in? Second City Conservatory, a large amount of student shows there, a Bud Select voiceover, a marriage, a divorce, a new ladyfriend, and Windsor Pilates.

What is going on right now with Seth's music, and what exactly is the deal with that? I am currently writing new songs and planning to go to the studio. I want to have a new album or at least an EP done by March. The deal? My buddy and I have always made music together and I still love to do it. We call our music Patna Music cause we do it for our friends who like the sound.

You're an MC, right? I am an emcee, yes. A mixmaster? No. A regulator? And no.

What are your plans for 2008? Music – new album for the homies. Comedy – just try to do as much work as possible local and abroad and everywhere in between.

Were you able to guesstimate how many beers I had already had by the time I ran into you at Lollapalooza? My money is on five beers because I was on six.

How freaking cool was Iggy and the Stooges? MY GOD! May I have the balls to rock out like Iggy when I’m old as hell.

- Kristy Mangel