Podcasts to packed venues, Joe Santagato kicks off From the Basement to the World Tour in KC

Frank Alvarez and Joe Santagato. Photo Courtesy of Kansas City Music Hall

As likely many people would agree, the cost of podcast equipment should be significantly higher as more and more nonsensical shows sprout at every turn.

But for Joe Santagato and Frank Alvarez, it should be free of charge.

Their charming, yet clueless bravado and intoxicating humor makes their every episode a memorable one, regardless of its lack of structure or direction. It’s not about politics, interviews, or advice, it’s just two guys talking. Somehow, it’s just what the millions of fans of The Basement Yard crave.

“As soon as we are done recording, I’m like, ‘Oh god, we have to come up with the title,’” Santagato says. “And I don’t even remember what we talked about.”

What humbly began in Santagato’s mother’s basement where he would create content with friends has evolved into one of the top 10 comedy podcasts in the nation. The Basement Yard is now the chaotic yet endearing home to millions of followers, and they’re bringing their unscripted, unfiltered, and unrelenting show to Kansas City.

Kicking off the “From the Basement to the World” Tour Friday at the Kansas City Music Hall, Santagato and Alvarez are breaking out of the screen and onto the stage.

“We try to throw as much elements from the (podcast) as we can into the live show, so that’s why we called it the Basement Yard Experience—because we want people in the crowd to feel like, ‘Oh, we’re kind of watching the podcast,’” Santagato says. “I personally did not think it was worth people’s time if we just sat in a chair and looked at each other and talked the entire time.”

Photo Courtesy of Anderson Group Public Relations

The live shows are also an opportunity for fans to take the stage alongside Joey and Frankie, becoming a character in the very show they spend their free time enjoying.

“There’s a good amount of crowd interaction where they can kind of be a part of the madness,” Santagato says. “Some of the best parts of every show are when fans are involved in that, so we try to get them involved.”

The tour also includes new stories and video assets, bringing the entire experience of The Basement Yard to downtown KC.

Although they’re embarking on their second tour in as many years, Santagato still feels a sort of anxiousness before stepping from behind the curtains.

“It’s like when you’re a kid and it’s like Christmas Eve, and you’re waiting for Santa Claus to come, and you’re just like, nervous, and you can’t sleep and whatever,” Santagato says. “I’m not scared of Santa Claus, but I’m just really excited, so now there is still this giddiness, whereas in the past, it was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m so nervous I’m gonna black out.’”

But no matter the nerves or the size of the audience, Santagato has the company of Alvarez. The lifelong friends and co-hosts grew up on the same block in Queens, and after spending years together and understanding each other’s cadences, Santagato finds comfort on stage with Alvarez alongside him.

“One of the things that is super important is you can’t talk over someone or step on someone’s punch line,” Santagato says. “And when you know someone who you’ve been doing that with for many years, I think we’re at an advantage during a live show.”

After launching The Basement Yard in 2015, Santagato and Alvarez’s show didn’t fully take off until 2022, on a fateful day where the duo tackled their most serious topic yet: their favorite Pop Tarts.

In an episode titled “Harry Styles Could Spit On Me If He Wants”, the hosts dive into one of their most heated debates that even found its way onto Good Morning America. And yes, you read the episode title correctly.

“Dude, what’s your favorite Pop-Tart?” Santagato asks Alvarez in the clip.

“Obviously, it’s the strawberry one,” replies Alvarez. “But there’s—”

“That’s such a basic fucking bitch answer.” Santagato quickly discounts.

“All right, you want a real answer, Joey?” asks Alvarez, his tone growing heated with Joey’s disapproval.

“Yes!” Santagato says.

“The 2002 tie-in merch Pop-Tarts that came out for the Spider-Man movie. Look it up,” Alvarez replies defiantly. “Those are my favorite Pop-Tarts, Joe. The Wild Berry.”

Their war of words reached virality and fans flocked to the basement for more of Joey and Frankie’s coaxing chemistry. With the fan base growing larger than they ever expected, Santagato still finds ways to stay grounded, treating The Basement Yard like a job and preventing it from seeping into his life outside of work.

“I have my own personal life and social life, and I’ve had the same friends for many years,” Santagato says. “I like doing regular stuff. I don’t like spending my weekend being like, ‘Oh, I gotta film this,’ or ‘I gotta worry about being a quote, unquote influencer,’ or something like that. It’s not really my objective, or I don’t have any interest in that, so when we turn it off, we turn it off.”

Photo Courtesy of Anderson Group Public Relations

With the podcast having grown into live shows, Santagato is unsure of what the next steps of The Basement Yard will look like in the years to come, just that they’ll pour their focus into their upcoming tour.

“It almost feels like we’re still in the thick of it,” Santagato says. “It feels like doing this second tour is our main focus, and we’re putting all of our focus and effort into making these next 20 something shows as best as they can be.”

Having never been to Missouri before, Santagato is eager to find what the Show-Me state has in store with shows in both Kansas City and St. Louis on back-to-back nights.

“We’re definitely looking forward to going there and meeting the people and seeing what kind of the crowd is like,” Santagato says. “I don’t have any expectations for Missouri at all, it’s gonna be fun.”

Tickets are still available to catch The Basement Yard Friday at the Kansas City Music Hall at 8 p.m.