Dave Hill

When Dave Hill played with Cobra Verde, he wasn’t known as the funniest guy in a group of self-proclaimed comedians. But while his former band mates continue to work dreary day jobs (at least, the ones that can get day jobs), Hill has made his living as a stand-up and comedy writer ever since he moved out of town about five years ago. Last year, he published Tasteful Nudes, a tome of essays he appropriately subtitled “And Other Misguided Attempts at Personal Growth and Validation.” In it, he writes about everything from his mother’s death to the time he dressed up as Santa Claus. His sense of humor is particularly dry, which often makes it hard to tell when he’s joking. But you could say the same thing about Louis CK and a host of other great comics. Though Hill lives in New York these days, he still returns to his former hometown for the occasional gig. (Jeff Niesel)