alternate headline: GetHard with Tasteful Nudes

by Klaus Kinski

Back in January, I briefly mentioned the profoundly hilarious book A Bad Idea I Am About to Do by one of NYC's most brilliant performers Chris Gethard. I was so focused on all the other bullshit I was writing about in that article that my short, simple, brief mention of this masterpiece of a book was a profane oversight. Gethard is a phenomenal comedian and storyteller who also happens to have his own Manhattan cable access show every Wednesday night at 11:00pm. The show is absolutely crazy, insane, funny, irresistible, addictive and totally viewable LIVE online. Each week the show manages to feel somehow crazier and funnier. Sometimes Chris is in a great mood and the show is brilliant. Sometimes he's in a crummy mood and the show is brilliant. He's got a lot of help, care of his fabulous in-studio audience, but the dude carries that sucker to an unprecedented plateau of brilliance. But, the book... the book is one of the funniest, most well articulated canons of short (true) stories I've ever read. Even if you knew nothing about Chris, what he does, where he's coming from... if you read this book with absolutely no precedent or preconceptions about the author, you'd still laugh your eyebrows off. The stories are funny and even touching, but it's Gethard's agilities as an author that is most remarkable. I've said it before and I will say it again; I am nobody's shill. But when something is this good, this under-appreciated, this remarkably-not-in-the-hands-of-people-who-read-on-the-subway, I feel that it is my duty to make things right. Buy it. Unless you hate laughing. And good writing. Then f-off outta here.

In keeping with the concept of a bad idea someone (Chris) is about to do, Chris recently announced that he would be making his way from Los Angeles, California all the way to the 2012 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee on foot. By June 7th. Without any money. Or places to stay. Or a phone. Or anything. This is a fan-propelled mission. It sets out to determine whether a person can get from point A to point B with just the help of his admirers and fans. Murder, starvation, molestation, exploitation, dehydration, masturbation(?) are all perils of a project this stupidly brilliant. The entire journey will be documented for your viewing pleasure. Want to help out? Check out the video below and allow Gethard do the 'splaining for me. There's tweetables and hashtags and cyberwhatnots for you to know about.

Oh, hey! Speaking of comedians I love who are also now published authors and are into Bonnaroo, I am sure you have by now done the right thing and pre-ordered Dave Hill's new tome Tasteful Nudes, right? Another absolutely hilarious and well executed book from another absolutely hilarious and well executed NYC based comedian. At the end of May, Dave will embark on a completely non-pretentious book tour that will make its way to The Bell House on Thursday May 24th (one night after Dave has a public conversation with Ira Glass in SoHo). This no holds barred event will have Mr. Dave Hill pulling out all the stops with appearances by John Hodgman, Janeane Garofalo, David Rakoff and music by Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices, Nada Surf) and TAB the Band. There may even be an appearance by Little Michael Jackson, a bunch of lowrider cars, live animals, and maybe even a dunking machine. All tour dates, which were too difficult for me to cut and paste into this article because my hands hurt, can be found here. Tickets for the Brooklyn show, which are a measly $10, are available now. Oh, and buy the book if you haven't already because maybe he'll sign it or throw it out a window at one of his apperances, depending on the vibes. Check Dave's awesome book related rock and roll video, as well as a video featuring him, Dick Cavett, and Malcolm Gladwell, below.

Continue reading "Chris Gethard walking to Bonnaroo; Dave Hill touring with book"

Roundly praised, intermittently censored and occasionally eaten, Mr. Sendak's books were essential ingredients of childhood for the generation born after 1960 or thereabouts, and in turn for their children. He was known in particular for more than a dozen picture books he wrote and illustrated himself, most famously "Where the Wild Things Are," which was simultaneously genre-breaking and career-making when it was published by Harper & Row in 1963.

Among the other titles he wrote and illustrated, all from Harper & Row, are "In the Night Kitchen" (1970) and "Outside Over There" (1981), which together with "Where the Wild Things Are" form a trilogy; "The Sign on Rosie's Door" (1960); "Higglety Pigglety Pop!" (1967); and "The Nutshell Library" (1962), a boxed set of four tiny volumes comprising "Alligators All Around," "Chicken Soup With Rice," "One Was Johnny" and "Pierre." -[NYTimes]

Sendak's classic "Where The Wild Things Are" was of course turned into a film by Spike Jonze which was soundtracked by a gaggle of indie artists.

Angel Olsen at Glasslands in 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Chicago's Angel Olsen is in Brooklyn for two shows this week including Glasslands TONIGHT (4/4) with Sufjan/Sharon Van Etten collaborator Cat Martino, Doe Paoro , and Knox. Tickets for tonight's show are available.

Angel also plays another Brooklyn show at Littlefield on Sunday (4/8) with Companion, Emily Reo, and Alex Drewchin. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Angel Olsen is working on a new album which will be out sometime this year on Bathetic, who released Strange Cacti on vinyl last year. You can stream a track from Strange Cacti at the Bathetic website or listen to the whole album on Spotify. Below, check out a solo performance of the song "Barrier of Bodies," which will "most likely be on her record to come." For her NYC shows, Angel will be joined by Emmet Kelly on bass, guitar, and vocals and guitarist Leroy Bach will also join them both at Glasslands tonight.

As mentioned last year, Angel Olsen (like Mariee Sioux who we profiled earlier today) is one of many Will Oldham collaborators and has toured as a member of his band(s).

Speaking of Will Oldham collaborators, the mostly David Byrne-produced soundtrack for This Must Be The Place has finally been given a release date (4/23), which he and David Byrne contributed multiple songs to under the name The Pieces of Shit. Check out the track, "Open Up," by The Pieces of Shit below. Other contributors to the soundtrack include Jonsi & Alex, Iggy Pop, and Julia Kent (who plays Issue Project Room with Julia Holter during Unsound later this month).

Will Oldham also wrote a book called Will Oldham on Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, which according to the NYTimes, "answers nearly every question one might wish to ask about his prolific output." Here's what he has to say about the moniker Bonnie 'Prince' Billy:

"Bonnie Prince Billy is such a ridiculous name. It had no preconceptions to it; nobody could say what the music was going to be like on hearing the name. But it turned the music into an individual, which seemed to be what everyone -- the audience, or at least the people that I was forced to talk to about the music -- was seeking. They were seeking some sort of individual responsible for things, and I was just like, 'O.K. We'll make one up. One who doesn't really exist, and therefore I can continue to feel confident that there is no individual responsible for things, but you can think that there is one!'"

All dates for Angel (and Doe Paoro too), video, and song stream below...

Continue reading "Angel Olsen is here, playing 2 NYC shows; author Will Oldham & producer David Byrne are The Pieces of Shit"

Mike Watt's new book

Hellride East (Murph, Mascis & Watt)

Happening at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC:

On Wednesday, May 2nd, 7 p.m., Three Rooms Press presents the NYC book launch for Mike Watt: On and Off Bass at Le Poisson Rouge. The event will feature live performances by Mike Watt + J Mascis + Murph, with opening acts Appomattox and Dead Trend, plus a reading & signing by Mike Watt along with additional very special surprise guests. The new book will be available for purchase at the event.

This is a general admission, standing event. Happy hour from 7-8pm including $3 beer and $5 well drinks.

J Mascis recently played with Sharon Van Etten at SXSW where he also played with Murph. Check out a video of Dinosaur Jr. at Bar 96 in Austin, below.

Mike Watt's book of "photography, reflections and diary excerpts" will be available for preorder at Three Room Press soon. They write:

Order "Mike Watt: On and Off Bass" between April 1 and April 30 and receive a copy of the book signed by Mike Watt PLUS an 8 x 10 photographic print of an image used in the book, also signed by Mike Watt. NOTE: Pre-orders will be available beginning April 1 through April 30 only. The link to the preorder will be available at threeroomspress.com at 10 am (EST) on April 1. Pre-order quantity is extremely limited, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Continue reading "J Mascis & Murph will play with Mike Watt, help him celebrate the release of a book (preorder in April)"

by BBG

DTV (Direct to Video) packaging for the novel and the disc

Soundtracks were all the rage in the 90s. Many of them left much to be desired, but a select few left an indelible mark on my young mind... namely records like the Judgement Night soundtrack ("Just Another Victim!"), Singles, and The Crow. So when I heard that bulldozing Motorhead-as-black-metal quartet Wolvhammer had taken on "Burn" by The Cure from The Crow soundtrack, I was more than intrigued. Stream "Burn" below; it's definitely an unexpected melodic turn from such a piledriving metallic workhorse.

"Burn" is going from one soundtrack to another. Wolvhammer's version is for the forthcoming soundtrack to he Andrew Bonazelli novel DTV (Direct to Video) which surfaces via Handshake Inc next week (3/30):

The book is a super-cool fusion of literary prowess and action-movie bravado, and though fully aware of the inherent, unintentional comedy found in the genre, Bonazelli has avoided the tongue-in-cheek route, instead crafting a story that celebrates the machismo, animal magnetism and culture of American action movies from the '80s and '90s. The novel itself is a brilliantly fun and poignant read, and could do for action movies what the nouvelle vague did for Hitchcock and Orson Welles.

Speaking of bad film and fun bands, Graf Orlock (who are also on DTV) ALSO have a new release in Los Angeles which comes with three different covers inspired by the film Heat.

There are 600 copies of this bastard, broken down into three different covers. The covers will have actual me-shot bullets holes in them, so technically, each is a 1/1 because even though i have ridiculously accurate and tight firing patterns, no two are the same. For you wieners trolling discogs, they are all black vinyl.

DTV contributors Wolvhammer and The Atlas Moth will be in LA on March 31st to play a Scion label showcase along with Yob, Loss and Pallbearer. Entry is FREE with RSVP. Yob will be in NYC in May, as will Loss/Pallbearer.

Listen to both versions of "Burn" below...

Continue reading "Wolvhammer covers The Cure for DTV (Direct To Video) soundtrack (listen); Graf Orlock prepare "Los Angeles""

by Bill Pearis

Rob Sacher had a hand in three iconic New York rock clubs in the in the last three decades: Sanctuary (1981-1986), Mission (1988-1993), and Luna Lounge (1995-2008). He's written about those experiences and more in a new self-published memoir titled Wake Me When It's Over which just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign. Here's more from Sacher himself:

I grew up in Brooklyn. Raised on the girl groups, I discovered The Beatles on the first day their first single was radio played in New York. Rocked at the age of eleven when I first heard an electric twelve string guitar, it was then that I knew that I would be a musician, spend my time around music, and live my life among friends who played and made music too.

This is my story, a musician and entrepreneur who created and co-owned nightclubs, now part of the history of music and nightlife in New York City. Starting with my first club, Sanctuary, and continuing with Mission in Manhattan's East Village and ending with the highly regarded Luna Lounge, this is the first book to cover a part of the New York rock music scene that came after punk, new wave, and no wave.

Cake Like, Lotion, Muckafurgason, and Space Needle may have played Brownies just as many times (not to mention Coney Island High) but Luna Lounge was free, and that front room with the couches and foosball was a real hangout. If you had nothing else to do, you could always see who was at Luna Lounge. No doubt Rob has some stories from that time.

You can order Wake Me When Its Over directly from its website, where you can read excerpts as well.

When I first saw Michael Showalter was appearing at a bookstore tonight (2/16) to promote a book, I thought, "wasn't that last year? Is it a new book??", but then I realized it's because the paperpack version of "Mr. Funny Pants" was recently released. Grab a copy. #TeamBev

You can also catch Michael tell some jokes at Union Hall on 2/25 as part of Heart of Darkness with host Greg Barris, and other guests Kate Berlant, Dr. Clayton Curtis, The Mast, and The Forgiveness. Tickets are on sale.

In related news, Michael's Stella/State partner in crime Michael Ian Black also has a new book, but actually a new book, and his will be out, in hardcover, on February 28th. You can pre-order You're Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations at Amazon.

And Michael Ian Black also has a bunch of promotional appearances planned around the release of his book including one at the Strand and one at Greenlight. They're all listed below...

Continue reading "Michael Showalter & Michael Ian Black have new books & are appearing places"

Dear ridiculously attractive person who just so happens to be looking at this webpage about Tasteful Nudes right now,

Hi. My name is Dave and this is my very first collection of essays. As you can probably imagine, it pretty much has everything. In fact, if you like stories about stolen meat, animal attacks, young love, death, naked people, clergymen, rock-n-roll, irritable Canadians, and prison, you have just hit a street called Easy because my book talks about all that stuff and a bunch of other stuff too.

Getting back to that prison thing for a second though, I can think of almost no place better to read my book than from within the confines of a correctional facility. For starters, you will definitely have the time. Also, cozying up with a good book in front of your fellow inmates is a great way to show them a softer side that for some reason no one ever wants to hear about in the yard.

Fear not though, non-convicts: my book makes for a solid read outside of prison too. At the beach, on the subway, while whitewater rafting, during couples counseling, under local anesthesia--I have personally seen to it that my book is totally readable in all these scenarios as well as most other scenarios out there today. It will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even think so much that it will make you forget all your problems while simultaneously creating a few new ones. In limited instances, it has been known to cause severe dehydration and the occasional groin pull, but honestly I don't know what that's about. That said, it's probably not a bad idea to keep a glass of water handy and really stretch things out before strapping yourself in for a literary thrill ride you will want to experience again and again until you are either dead or your eyesight fails completely, whichever comes first. In fact, if I end up being wrong about any of this stuff, you can kick me right in the privates. Also, I will send you a nice ham (serves twenty). In short, you really can't lose on this one.

Your man,
Dave Hill

Catch Dave live at The Rejection Show Valentine's Day Heartbreak Haven taking place at Littlefield on 2/14 with "Lizz Winstead, Dave Hill: The One Man Heat-Bringing Machine, Sara Benincasa, Mandy Stadtmiller, Eliot Glazer, Elna Baker, Adam Wade, Katina Corrao, Ted Travelstead, Tom Shillue, Jordan Carlos, Bridey Elliott, Giulia Rozzi, Liam McEneaney, Blaise Kearsley, The Defibulators, Colleen AF Venable, and pie by the slice by Daly Pie!", and then again at Littlefield on 2/18 for The Lindsey Buckingham Appreciation Society performs MIRAGE ... and more. Yes there will be Fleetwood Mac.

by Klaus Kinski

"I bought hummus at Costco. Now I have an intimidating amount of hummus. Every time I open the fridge, it eyeballs me. - Kurt Braunohler

The great Ted Leo closed out 2011 with a bang with sold-out full-band shows at the Bell House on December 30th and then on December 31st at Maxwells in Jersey. The comedically great Kurt Braunohler opened both of those shows, which is why I simply could not resist posting the troll-baiting tweet you see above.

Anyhow, it seems like Ted, aside from the benefit he's playing in Austin, is starting off the new year with a whimper because the Ted Leo calendar has absolutely nothing on it. Blankness. Bupkis. However, your man Klaus knows better. For example, it's a little known fact that Ted Leo will participate in the Rejection Show Music Series at Littlefield on Thursday January 19th at 8:00pm:

The Rejection Show Music Series gives musicians the chance to let loose, take risks, and perform songs that have yet to be heard, have gotten them through a time of rejection, or to simply cover their favorite songs of love, loss, and heartbreak. Featuring TED LEO performing excerpts from a musical that he penned, but has yet to be seen. The musical centers around the United Fruit Company, US corporate and military imperialism, bananas, and of course a love story! CORN MO performing songs based on the theme of Rejection, and more! Hosted by JON FRIEDMAN and featuring the REJECTION SHOW BAND.

I just read Gethard's book A Bad Idea I'm About to Do: True Tales of Seriously Poor Judgment and Stunningly Awkward Adventure (pictured above) and it was truly one of the funniest, most brilliant comedian-penned books I've ever read... more on that someday soon, but let me get back on track here...

Back to Ted... Your second opportunity to see Ted is at How Was Your Week? LIVE! on Thursday February 2nd at 8pm at the Bell House. How Was Your Week? is a podcast hosted by the unbearably funny and so f-ing on her game Julie Klausner (love that last name prefix!). This live Klausner experience will feature the absolutely brilliant Best Show on WFMU host Tom Scharpling, the incomparable Sandra Bernhard, as well as house band Ted Leo! There will be surprise guests too, trust me. This show gets Klaus Kinski's This WILL Sell Out guarantee, so buy tickets NOW.

Chris Gethard, who also plays Whiplash tonight (1/9), takes on fellow author Stephen King in the video below...

Continue reading "upcoming comedy shows w/ Ted Leo; Chris Gethard's book"

Josh Ritter at BookPeople in Austin in October (more by Tim Griffin)

Singer/songwriters Josh Ritter, John Wesley Harding (aka Wesley Stace), and Steve Earle are also authors, and all three of them put out novels this year. They'll be teaming up for "a night of talk and songs" at the Celeste Bartos Forum of The New York Public Library on Tuesday (12/6). Tickets for the event are on sale now.

Josh Ritter made a promotional appearance for his novel, which is titled Bright's Passage, in Austin this past October. As you can see above, it was also an event that included some music. Pictures and full recap, including a part where Josh says Wesley was one of his writing inspirations, HERE.

Ritter has also been added to the bill of the previously mentioned WFUV show, which is happening on 12/5 with Dawes, Mavis Staples and The Head And The Heart at Beacon Theater. Tickets are still available.

Dawes played Occupy Wall Street today and according to Rough Trade, they put out the 48th best album of 2011. They also have two more shows at Maxwell's after the Beacon show (12/6 and 12/7), but both are now sold out.

Steve Earle recently announced a residency at City Winery with Allison Moorer taking place from January 9 to February 6. Tickets for all five shows are still on sale.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Josh Ritter added to WFUV Holiday show @ Beacon Theater, appearing @ NYPL w/ Steve Earle & Wesley Stace"