Two of Jon Stewart’s worlds are set to collide next month when he opens for himself in Atlantic City. Yes, you read that right.
Before Stewart takes the stage for a standup set Friday, Nov. 6, at Ocean Casino Resort, he’ll warm up the crowd from behind the drum kit with his band, Church and State (TM).
Stewart announced the unusual double bill on Instagram, where he gave both of the evening’s acts the hard sell.
“Apparently the renowned half bearded emo outfit known as @church_and_state_tm will be making a much anticipated appearance alongside aging bloviator Jon Stewart!!!” he wrote. “Come early for the sweet tunes….stay for the bitter ramblings…win win!!!”
Church and State (TM) features Stewart on drums, Rick Barry on vocals, Andy Bova on guitar, and Jim Bova on bass. The group made its public debut in June 2024 with a performance at Asbury Park Brewery in New Jersey.
“You are witnessing the premiere performance,” Stewart told the audience that night. “We have never played in public. I certainly have never played music in public. We are called Church and State and we are delighted to be here and please, lower your expectations.”
Apparently, forming a rock band is becoming something of a late-night side hustle. Stewart, who returned to The Daily Show as its once-a-week host in February 2024, isn’t the only late-night veteran currently moonlighting as a musician: Conan O’Brien debuted his own band, The Vigodas, this summer, handling vocals and guitar in the five-piece group named for longtime Late Night favorite Abe Vigoda.
O’Brien, of course, has been playing guitar publicly for decades. Stewart came to his instrument considerably later.
In a 2020 interview with Howard Stern, Stewart explained that he took up the drums after leaving The Daily Show in 2015. He wanted to interact with music, but figured learning guitar would require a long wait before he was good enough to actually play along.
Drums offered a more direct route. “I know definitely how to bang on sh*t,” he told Stern.
Tickets for Stewart’s Atlantic City double bill are now on sale.
