Comedy will be music to spectators’ ears when J. Chris Newberg takes the stage Saturday night.

He’s “not your typical comedian,” said Comedy Coordinator Chris Stanfield.

Newberg used to be in a band and began his comedy career telling jokes between songs. He has toured with bands like Oasis and the Counting Crows, Stanfield said.

“I got bored of the whole music thing and decided to do the comedy thing,” Newberg said.

He said that most of the jokes people might hear during the show at 9 p.m. in the 7th Street Underground are about relationships and “strange, offbeat observations about life.” His shows consist of funny songs and jokes, Newberg said.

“It’s like two comedy shows in one,” he said.

Students may recognize Newberg from shows on Comedy Central such as Premium Blend and the Laugh Riot Stand Up Competition, Stanfield said.

Newberg performs a lot of shows while on the road. He performed at many colleges in Illinois in the past two or three weeks, including Bradley University in Peoria, Western Illinois University in Macomb and Rockford College in Rockford, he said.

“Last week I did five shows; this week I’m doing two,” he said.

The show is cosponsored by the University Board Comedy Committee and Mainstage Committee. The Comedy Committee tries to have an average of one or two comedians visit Eastern per month, Stanfield said.

“We’re trying to do more. When it’s cold outside we try and provide more inside events,” Stanfield said.

Newberg said his show seems to be well received.

“Most people who see it enjoy it, and they want to see more,” he said.