Abrasiveness reigns in comedy nowadays. Even without a heckler, jokesters like Bill Burr or Eddie Pepitone push their audiences toward discomfort, needling them with observations about how they’re all horrible people. Mike Birbiglia runs counter to that style. He doesn’t curse, for one thing, and he builds his stories slowly and gently. In fact, fans struggle to find a good five- or seven-minute clip of his stand-up­­—his comedy is at its best when stretched out over an hour. His approach occasionally veers too much toward drama—the film adaptation of his comedic memoir, Sleepwalk with Me, is a perfect example—so it’s a good thing when he returns to tears of laughter, not tragedy. Birbiglia calls his latest special “Thank God for Jokes,” so don’t worry about feeling a little verklempt when he headlines the Warner Theater. Mike Birbiglia performs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. $41.50–$52. (202) 783-4000. warnertheatredc.com.