Ah, February. It’s darn near springtime in Austin when, as Alfred Lord Tennyson infamously quipped in his ill-fated standup act, “a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of … comedy!” It’s the month when the famed Barton Springs Salamander hoists its lungless carcass out of the water and, if it sees its shadow, we have six more weeks of ironic facial hair. Here are some of the month’s live comedy highlights:

J.B. Smoove

Feb. 7-9

The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” cast member and former “Saturday Night Live” scribe, who delivered a blisteringly foul-mouthed set during last year’s inaugural Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, is back in town. He’s landed motion picture roles opposite Tina Fey, Matt Damon and Sacha Baron Cohen and his animated vocal stylings have been used to great effect in family films including the “Ice Age” and “Smurfs” franchises. But you’re not likely to find the family man delivering family-friendly material during this Austin stand. 8 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cap City Comedy Club, 8120 Research Blvd. $18-$22. 467-2333, www.capcitycomedy.com.

Russell Peters

Feb. 13

The Canadian comic’s Austin gig will be a bit more intimate than his 2008 show at London’s O2 Arena, where 16,000 fans watched him crack wise. He played to 13,000 at Sydney, Australia’s Acer Arena in 2010. Look — I’m not saying that Peters is so used to playing in gigantic arenas that he’ll be shouting into the microphone, but that would be pretty funny. His press materials claim his recent shows in Dubai sold out faster then Madonna’s but contain no comparative observations as to how he fills out a cone bra. 8 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. $48-$53. 474-1221, www.austintheatre.org.

Chelsea Peretti

Feb. 13-16

Another Moontower vet, Peretti’s material has made it to “Parks and Recreation,” “The Sarah Silverman Program” and Comedy Central’s new sketch series “Kroll Show.” As a performer, she’s been all over the festival circuit, from Aspen, Colo., Montreal and Las Vegas to Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot and, of course, South by Southwest. 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cap City Comedy Club, 8120 Research Blvd. $9-$54.95 (Valentine’s packages available). 467-2333, www.capcitycomedy.com.

Bill Maher

Feb. 16

Television host. Best-selling author. Documentarian. Emmy nominee. “Bob” in the 1983 Mr. T movie, “D.C. Cab.” Is there anything Maher can’t do? The noted agnostic and weed enthusiast has built a career on speaking truth to power, first on the Comedy Central (and later, ABC) panel show, “Politically Incorrect” and currently as the host of HBO’s “Real Time.” It’s a good bet that the Vegas headliner will give you plenty to laugh (and think) about. 8 p.m., ACL Live, 310 W. 2nd St. $39-$79. 225-7999, www.acl-live.com.

The Second City

Feb. 20-23

The American theatrical comedy institution (its founding Chicago company, along with a Canadian counterpart, has fed future household names to the worlds of standup, television and feature film) brings its road show to Austin. See these comics today and you’ll be able to say that you knew them when. 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 7:30 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Stateside at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. $38-$48. 474-1221, www.austintheatre.org.

Brian Regan

Feb. 22

A road veteran, Regan routinely brings his comparatively clean act to more than 80 cities each year. A regular on the late-night television circuit, he has appeared in two Comedy Central specials and guested on Jerry Seinfeld’s Web series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” 8 p.m., Bass Concert Hall at the University of Texas, 2350 Robert Dedman Drive. $39.75-$45.75. 477-6060, www.texasperformingarts.org.

One Man Star Wars Trilogy

Feb. 26-March 3

I’ve got a good feeling about this. This Charles Ross guy takes audiences through the entire original “Star Wars” trilogy in just 75 minutes. The performance has been lauded by the New York Times, Conan O’Brien and Spin Magazine, which claims the show is “funnier than you can possibly imagine.” And if you’re a “Star Wars” fan, you’ve got a good imagination. Rollins Studio Theater at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Drive. $34-$39. 474-5664, www.thelongcenter.org.