By Jeremy Burgess

Hannibal Buress has an unusual name.

If you’ve heard his albums or seen his specials, you’ll know that it’s made his life interesting. Especially when it comes to meeting girls.

But it’s a name worth remembering, because if you like to laugh, it’s one that you’ll be hearing a lot in the future. Last month, Buress inked a large multi-platform deal with Comedy Central that includes a one-hour stand-up special, a pilot commitment (featuring Buress himself as star and executive producer) and a nationwide tour.

This Tuesday, the Chicago-born, New York-based comedian will be making his Birmingham debut at Iron City, the first touring comedy show on the bill for the new venue.

It won’t be the comedian’s first show in Alabama. He performed at Auburn University last year and at a New Year’s Eve show in Gadsden years ago.

Buress is on the road to try out new material before recording a new stand-up special in October. And what better way to test out new jokes than to perform in front of a new audience.

“I’m trying to hit cities that I’ve never been to before, and Birmingham is one of them,” Buress said during a phone interview. “I know some people that’ve worked there and had good shows, so I wanted to come through for a day and check it out.”

Most comedians that come through Birmingham can be found at the Comedy Club Stardome or the BJCC. But for Buress, performing at a music venue is nothing new.

He joined the likes of Matt & Kim and Dillinger Four in 2008 for part of the “F Yeah Tour” (which came to Birmingham’s Bottletree Café before Buress was added). Performing before rock ‘n roll bands was a new event for the young comedian (he chronicles such experiences on his 2012 “Animal Furnace” album and stand-up special), but the day-to-day schedule was just as foreign.

“I hadn’t really done the road like that,” said Buress. “Early on, when you do comedy gigs, you do maybe three to four nights at a comedy club in that city, then you go home. So the idea of touring, hitting different cities every night, was really exciting to me.”

Buress is no stranger to playing music either – in his own humorous way, of course.

“I was into rap before I started doing comedy,” he said. “I used to record songs goofing off with my friends, and we always used to freestyle. I usually do a song called ‘Jibberish Rap’ at my stand-up shows.”

His musical abilities have worked their way into his television gigs as well. As a co-star of “The Eric André Show” on Adult Swim, Buress has kicked around the idea of a mixtape to promote the show. “We have a lot of musical guests and some music people that are fans of the show,” he said. “It would be a fun thing to do.”

And if he could share the stage with any musician?

“It would be cool to do a show with Kendrick Lamar,” Buress said. “He’s pretty awesome.”

While music is certainly an interest of his, Buress isn’t looking to become a Renaissance man – he’s solely focused on being a comedian.

As a former staff writer for “30 Rock” and “Saturday Night Live” (which he also recalls on “Animal Furnace”), Buress has plenty of experience working on larger projects. But now that he’s finalized a deal with Comedy Central, he believes it’s time to focus on his own brand.

“I’m done writing for other people for a while,” Buress said. “It’s probably going to be several years before I take a staff writing job. I’m focusing on stand-up and writing my own projects.”

He’s certainly got an impressive track record. Along with the “Animal Furnace” album/stand-up special and his first album, 2010’s “My Name Is Hannibal,” this 30-year-old has already been featured on the likes of “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Conan.”

With that in mind, Buress’s performance at Iron City will be more than just his first time in a new city – it’ll be Birmingham’s introduction to a star on the rise.

But what exactly can audience members expect?

“Look up some of my videos on the internet,” Buress said. “It’ll be similar to that, with more cursing.”

A Tuesday night may not be the norm for a stand-up comedy show – especially a one-night-only performance. But in Buress’s eyes, the decision is simple.

“Think about what you’re doing on June 18. Would that be more fun than my show? If so, then go do that thing you wanted to do. If not, then come to my show. We’ll all be fine and we’ll go about our lives either way.”

Hannibal Buress at Iron City, 513 22nd St. South, Tuesday at 8 p.m.; Tickets are $16; 205-202-5483 or www.ironcitybham.