Maddog Mattern is a Vegas native. He knows the drill, the misconceptions. Once, while waiting tables at Margaritaville, a customer turned to him and quite seriously inquired, "Do you live out here?" Indeed, the aspiring comedian did—for 28 years straight. "People think Vegas is the Thunderdome or District 9 or something," Mattern jokes. "It's so foolish."

The pursuit of comedy eventually moved him to New York City, where he makes rounds in the stand-up circuit. He has also appeared on BBC 5 and Howard 101 on Sirius radio. Now, Mattern returns to Vegas with fellow one-time locals Sam Tripoli, Bryan Bruner, Nathan Lund and John Hilder for the Las Vegas Comedy Homecoming at Beauty Bar. It's a fitting lineup for a city that, in its own way, helps hone talent. Nothing beats having to compete for your audience's attention against a video poker machine. It's going to be a riot, Mattern adds. "Maybe it will be District 9 after we're done."