Lately, it feels like comedians are the new rock stars.

Just survey the sheer number of major tours, streaming specials and nonstop podcasts constantly coming down the pike. After brisk ticket sales, comedian and writer John Mulaney added a second early afternoon show at the Altria Theater for March. Next month, actor-director Bradley Cooper’s big new dramedy “Is This Thing On?” arrives in theaters, starring Will Arnett as a struggling comedian with cameos by authentic ones.

And currently atop the stand-up scene, Nate Bargatze has brought “clean” comedy – not marked by excessive profanity, graphic sex or gross-out humor – to the top of the charts, selling 216,000 tickets and grossing $15 million off 14 shows just last month alone, according to Billboard. Now he’s reportedly developing a 100-acre family amusement park in Nashville called Nateland; clearly, he’s learned a thing or two from Dolly Parton.

Nothing against Nate, but I think I’d rather spend a day looking for decent coffee in Barryville, if there was a theme park named after medium energy New York comedian, Todd Barry (yes, the guy from “Pootie Tang” and “The Wrestler”). He’s also a fairly clean comedian, though far more deadpan and sarcastic than Bargatze; and it might take him a little longer than a month to bank $15 million. For my money though, he’s still one of the best comedians out there thanks to his dry wit, impeccable timing and ability to brilliantly improvise through his crowd work, so that each show feels unique and memorable. Plus he plays drums and occasionally will perform at Yo La Tengo’s annual series of Hanukkah concerts in New York. Like I said: rock stars, comedians … same difference.

Barry performed his last two local stops at Ashland Theater, which he says he likes, but he hasn’t performed in Richmond proper since a packed set at Gallery5 in 2015. Luckily, that all changes this Sunday, Nov. 30 at the Richmond Music Hall. Though I’ve found him to be somewhat of a minimalist in past interviews, I spoke to him by phone last week just to see what’s new and tried a different approach this time.

Style Weekly: I remember from our past interactions that you prefer a more natural conversation to regular interviews, so I didn’t jot much down and tried to keep any questions natural.

Todd Barry: I’m fine with whatever …

I just got off the phone a couple hours ago from an interview with your boy Chevy Chase, who you roasted on Comedy Central back in the day. I remember you told him, “Your movies get a bad rap. I think you make thought-provoking movies … the kind that beg the question: Is it OK to ask for your money back at a dollar theater?” Hilarious.

Aw, thanks. It was a wild experience, 15-20 years ago … I did “Roast Battle” [after that] a couple times and advanced a little bit.

Your last comedy special, “Domestic Shorthair,” I thought was one of your best, so you’re still peaking. What else is new with you?

Thank you. I think I’m going to film another special next year, not exactly sure when though. I need some more jokes …

Would you pick a specific place to film, or how does that work?

Depends if someone’s paying for it and they say, “we’ve secured this venue.” Generally, I don’t think I’ve picked the venue for most of my specials. But it has to be something that I like or I think will work. I might do mine in New York this year, or next year … there’s a place called the Bell House which is great. My last Netflix special was at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Are you excited to be back in Richmond?

Yeah, I like Richmond. I haven’t really explored it thoroughly.

In your book (“Thank you for Coming to Hattiesburg: One comedian’s tour of not-quite-the-biggest cities in the world”) you wrote that you stopped by GwarBar here, and it was really loud so you left. 

I did stop by GwarBar one time, that’s right. I don’t know what I was expecting.

Looks like pretty recently, you were out in LA doing shows with Marc Maron?

Yeah, I went to Maron’s kind of farewell party [for WTF podcast], he hosted a show at Largo. It was great, I love Largo, I love working with Marc. And I did a few nights later with Sarah Silverman and friends at Largo, then did a bunch of spots at the Comedy Store, at the Improv I did a night, and at this place called the Westside [Comedy] Theater. But it was raining a lot of the time I was there, though.

Are you still working on your own podcast?

No, I haven’t done it in years. I want to start something else, I think.

I’m sure you’ve been interviewed a million times by now, was it weird being in the other seat? Did you learn anything surprising about it?

Yeah, I learned that it was a little rougher when I dealt with someone who I didn’t know that well. I was maybe a little stiff, overprepared. But some of these people are good friends of mine, and we just shit on each other, so that’s pretty easy …

I also noticed from your IG that you have a beard now – how’s that going?

I don’t know if I like the beard or if I just don’t like shaving. I don’t trim my own beard, if I’m going to trim my own beard, I’ll just shave it off … I haven’t dove into beard culture much.

Last time at the Ashland Theater, I remember you going back in forth with a kid in the front row who was named after Nolan Ryan, the pitcher. My girlfriend and I were way in the back of the theater and we both laughed out loud at something. You heard us and said [deadpan], “I wish a crane would come pick me up and take me back there to those laughs … but that’s not in the budget here in Ashland, Virginia.” It made me wonder if you’ve ever had a favorite kind of laugh?

I mean, I’ll take anything for the most part. Some people have really unique laughs, and it’s hard not to point them out. Especially if they’re the only ones laughing.

How’s your cat (Michaeleen) doing?

She’s on my lap. She’s inches from this phone right now.

Oh, is that what I just heard a minute ago? Sounded like somebody else laughing in the background.

No, she wasn’t laughing.

(Laughs). You played a slideshow last time, and it was clear that Michaeleen has really done a number on your furniture, more than once. 

Yeah, she did. I just got a velvet couch, they don’t like to scratch those as much.

Is it hard to leave her behind when you go on the road?

I’m on the road a pretty good amount. Yeah, I miss her. There are upsides though, no litter box, stuff like that. But overall, I do miss her a lot, yeah. I have a friend who stays here, or I have a cat sitter who comes by. I pay ‘em both.

[Not to derail the cat talk] but here’s a serious question: Feels like the biggest thing I’ve heard lately in the comedy world is the civil war of sorts that erupted over comedians who performed in Saudi Arabia at the Riyadh Comedy Festival [due to the Saudi government’s record of human rights abuses]. Have you weighed in on this yet?

I don’t weigh in on much, honestly. I might get political when I’m with friends eating lunch or something. You know, I know people who did it. I know people who didn’t do it, so … I think people will sometimes get an offer and they just think of it as an offer, and they don’t necessarily go with their moral inclinations.

It’s an individual decision, I guess. I could see it being harder for some comedians, because it might be life-changing money. But if you’re already doing alright, maybe it becomes easier to make a moral choice? I don’t know. What were they making again? Like $1.4 million each for a set? [Among the noteworthy comedians who performed: Dave Chapelle, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Hannibal Buress, Pete Davidson, Whitney Cummings, Jeff Ross, Tom Segura, Chris Tucker and many others]

I think some were making more than that … you know, it was a controversy, but like a lot of them, it’s probably 99% blown over.

When Fred Armisen was here, I told him he should do a tour with you, since you’re both drummers and comedians with great timing. He said he thought you were very funny, and he would do it in a second.

That’s nice of him. He’s a much better drummer. I’m the worst of the comedian drummers. He’s a real musician, he plays instruments. You could go on tour with him as your drummer, where you couldn’t do that with me. At least, I wouldn’t recommend it.

What else would you like to talk about? I feel like I should know this by now, but yet I’m still stumped.

I like talking about stuff that has nothing to do with comedy sometimes. Food, things like that.

OK, you regularly tour the world, what is the most essential thing that you bring with you on the road?

Oh, that’s a good question. Well, I still haven’t figured out how to pack efficiently. Um, I guess, hmmm. That’s a great question. Let me think about that. I will say I always make a checklist, but that’s not something I travel with, so …

Is proximity to good food an important part of how you travel?

Sometimes I’ll book a hotel based on its proximity to a coffee shop I like or something. I feel like a place that has good coffeeshops is also going to be a cool neighborhood. I don’t like being stuck in the middle of a highway or something like that. Sometimes a promoter will try to save $40 dollars, and you’re walking to a Chili’s across the highway.

[We discuss RVA coffee shops briefly] What about shopping for records? Because Richmond is full of great record stores. 

I have a turntable but it’s not set up, because I don’t know how to do it. I just don’t have the energy to find where the amp even is.

(Laughs) I may have asked some version of this before, but while I like your original jokes, I feel like you’re a genius when it comes to the crowd work, as well as your timing.  Just thinking on your feet and making something happen. Is there like an ideal ratio that you shoot for between those styles in your set?

I’ve never timed it. But I like doing the crowd work unless I feel like I’m padding things out with it, then I don’t like it. You know, if it’s organic, and I don’t feel like I have to do it because I’m looking at the clock. After all these years, I’m still a little paranoid that I’m going to shortchange people.

I feel like people have enjoyed it every time I’ve seen you … Are you still auditioning for film work? Somebody should put you at the center of a movie about a disgruntled but zen-like character … like Richmond filmmaker Rick Alverson did with Gregg Turkington (“Entertainment”).

I want to do more, I just haven’t booked much to be honest … Yeah, I’ve met Rick, and I’m friends with Gregg. Sure, I’d love to be the star of a weird little indie film. If anybody out there reads this.

I saw Rick outside of a concert not that long ago, and if I recall correctly, he said he was working on five different projects.

I’ll just do one of them then.

Do you have stuff that you like to sell after your shows? What did you have in Ashland last time, was it CDs or books?

Been awhile since I’ve sold CDs … stickers or posters, maybe? I’ve started working with a woman named Nicole Anguish out of Boston, who has done [posters] with friends of mine in Superchunk (Jason Narducy). I’d like to think of an idea, but I don’t have one. I was selling beanies this year, then I ran out. And I kind of didn’t jump to order more, even though now would be the best time to sell them, as it gets colder. But sometimes, I just don’t have the energy to pack them.

I’ve got an idea: How about an autographed glossy photo of you and your cat? Those wouldn’t be that hard to carry.

That’s not a bad idea … I don’t think I want to sell my autograph, though.

Maybe a calendar of the two of you? You could have your cat autograph it.

I’ll think about it.

Broadberry Entertainment Group presents comedian Todd Barry at The Richmond Music Hall on Sunday, Nov. 30. This will be a seated show. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here.