You know that feeling when you're listening to a podcast and you realize you're basically eavesdropping on four best friends who have zero filter? That’s the vibe of This Is Important. But taking that energy from a controlled studio environment and throwing it onto a live stage in front of thousands of screaming "Boarders" is a totally different beast. The This Is Important Live Tour wasn't just a live recording. It was a chaotic, high-energy, and surprisingly sentimental victory lap for Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, and Kyle Newacheck.
If you weren't there, you missed the soundboard. Oh, the soundboard. It’s the fifth member of the group. Hearing those drops—the "popcorn," the "is it real?", the "naked grandma"—blasting through arena-grade speakers hits different.
What Actually Happens at a This Is Important Live Show?
People go in expecting a standard podcast recording where guys sit in chairs and talk. That is not what this is. Honestly, it’s closer to a rock concert mixed with a 90s game show. The Workaholics crew has this weird, telepathic chemistry that only comes from decades of being in the trenches together.
When they launched the This Is Important Tour, they knew they couldn't just sit there. They brought out "The Wheel." This isn't some high-tech digital thing; it’s a physical wheel of destiny that determines the chaotic segments of the night. Sometimes it’s a deep dive into someone's embarrassing middle school photos. Other times, it’s a "best body" competition that usually ends with Kyle being the butt of the joke.
The live shows usually start with an intro that feels way too epic for a comedy podcast. Think pyrotechnics, heavy bass, and the kind of entrance usually reserved for WWE superstars. They lean into the absurdity of it. They know they're just four guys who like to argue about whether a hot dog is a sandwich or if they could beat up a wolf, and they treat it with the gravity of a Super Bowl halftime show.
The Cultural Impact of the Boarders
Fans of the show call themselves Boarders. It’s a reference to the soundboard, obviously, but it’s become a legitimate subculture. At the This Is Important Tour stops in cities like Chicago, Austin, and Irvine, the crowds weren't just fans; they were participants. You’d see people dressed up as characters from Workaholics, sure, but more often you’d see people wearing inside-joke merch that makes zero sense to an outsider.
- People wearing "Luggage Talk" shirts.
- Fans holding up signs demanding to know more about Adam's "diet."
- Thousands of people chanting "ZUUU" in unison.
It’s niche. It’s weird. It’s why it works. Most mainstream comedy tours try to appeal to everyone. This tour does the opposite. It doubles down on the specific, the weird, and the incredibly stupid. That’s the secret sauce. You’re either in on the joke, or you’re completely lost.
The Logistics of Chaos: Behind the Scenes
Planning a tour like this is a nightmare. You’ve got four guys with massive solo careers. Adam Devine is doing movies, Anders is writing, Blake is doing everything from fashion to voice acting, and Kyle is directing. Getting them in a tour bus together is a feat of engineering.
They traveled across the US, hitting major theaters and mid-sized arenas. The production value stayed surprisingly high. They didn't just show up with a couple of mics. They had a massive LED screen that fed the audience visual gags, real-time soundboard metrics, and "evidence" for whatever argument they were having that night.
Why the Soundboard Matters
The soundboard is the heartbeat of the This Is Important Tour. Kyle Newacheck, who usually mans the boards, is like a DJ for comedy. He has to have the reflexes of a pro gamer. If Adam says something even slightly "sus," Kyle has to have the "That's a huge bitch!" drop ready in half a second.
If the timing is off by even a heartbeat, the joke dies. On the live tour, this was amplified. The delay in a big theater can be tricky, but Kyle turned the soundboard into a percussion instrument. It provided the rhythm for the entire night.
Is the Tour Over? What’s Next for the Crew?
The most recent legs of the This Is Important Tour proved there is a massive appetite for live podcasting that doesn't feel like a lecture. While the initial massive run of dates has settled, the guys have hinted at pop-up shows and potential international dates.
The dynamic has changed since the early days of the pod. They’re older. They have kids. They have "dad energy," but it’s the kind of dad energy that still wants to stay up late and talk about aliens.
One of the biggest takeaways from the tour was the realization that the Workaholics DNA is still very much alive. Even though the movie got famously cancelled by Paramount+ at the last minute—a sore subject that they definitely brought up on tour—the live shows gave the fans the closure and the "new content" they were starving for. It was a way to say, "The show might be over, but the friendship is the real product."
Actionable Tips for Seeing the Show (or Catching the Vibe)
If you’re looking to dive into the world of the This Is Important Tour, don't just jump into a random episode. You need context.
- Start with the "Essential Drops" episodes. Go back through the podcast feed and find the episodes where they explain the origins of the soundboard drops. You won't appreciate the live show if you don't know why everyone is screaming "POPOZÃO!"
- Follow the social clips. The guys post a lot of the visual gags that you miss on the audio-only versions. Seeing the physical comedy—especially Adam’s facial expressions—is 50% of the experience.
- Keep an eye on Ticketmaster and AXS. These shows sell out surprisingly fast because the fan base is so dedicated. They don't usually do massive marketing blitzes; they announce on the pod and the tickets vanish.
- Engage with the community. Check out the subreddit. It's one of the few places on the internet that isn't totally toxic. It's just people sharing "Is it real?" moments from their own lives.
The This Is Important Tour isn't just about four dudes talking. It’s a testament to the power of long-term friendship and the idea that being "immature" is actually a pretty great way to make a living. It’s loud, it’s gross, it’s often nonsensical, and it’s exactly what live comedy needs right now.
Keep your ears open for the next round of dates. And for the love of everything, don't forget to stay hydrated. Being a Boarder is hard work.