Last night's Zach Williams show at Bowery Ballroom featured an opening set by Sarah Fullen who happens to be a member of the Gregory Brothers who are the ones behind Auto Tune The News who just scored a hit song based on the words spoken by Antoine Dodson to a news team after someone tried to rape his sister in the projects (they also gained some notoriety just a month or so earlier thanks to their auto tuned Double Rainbow song). Well, Sarah brought the whole family (though not Antoine) along to Bowery Ballroom and gave a surprise to most in attendance. Video below...

Continue reading "the Gregory Brothers played 'Bed Intruder' @ Bowery (video) "

by Klaus Kinski

Islands at a show w/ comedians in 2008 (more by Eric Townsend)

Oh, hey guys. Lemme get these headphones off. There. Sorry, I've been listening to this Justing Bieber song that's been slowed down 800 percent non-stop since yesterday (sounds like a Justin K. Broadrick remix for crying out loud). Anyway, I almost forgot to tell you about some more very important comedy news. Keeping with the theme of great comedy coming to Brooklyn, Williamsburg's weekly Wednesday night comedy staple Big Terrific will leave the confine's of Cameo and grace the much larger stage of Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday August 27th (8:00pm doors). For the uninitiated and/or too-lazy-to-google, Big Terrific is a weekly show hosted by Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman, and Jenny Slate that showcases local talent as well as international comedic super stars. It is one of the many great weeklies in NYC, and it boasts one of NYC's most consistently stellar comedy line-ups, week after week after week, and has been doing so for over two years.

As far as I'm concerned, all really great comedy shows in NYC deserve to get dragged out of the back rooms and basements and given the opportunity to curate a larger scale show at one of our better venues (like Invite Them Up did at Bowery... 5 freakin years ago!? (5 years!? damn)). And the Big Terrific show at MHOW seems like the ideal scenario. It's on a Friday. It's on a payday (for some of us). It features the comedy whatnots of Todd Barry, Brent Sullivan, Joe Mande, Jesse Popp, and MORE. It features a live performance by Islands. It'll have a shitload of surprises that cannot be publicized because that's how the industry works people. It's ONLY 12 BUCKS. So if you're into amazing comedy, jaw dropping surprises, reasonably priced beer, great music, at a wonderful venue (that is turning three years old), I'd say your Friday night is covered. And if you don't like any of those things, I'm wondering why you read this far. Shouldn't you be opposing a mosque somewhere or something? Anyway, times are tough, so if you'd like to try and win a pair of tix, look below.

In addition to Big Terrific, your hosts Max, Gabe, and Jenny are pretty busy pups. SNL keeps Jenny very busy, but she will be returning to the new season of Bored to Death on HBO, which premieres in September. She also just released a short film she made with Dean Fleischer-Camp called Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. Gabe Liedman can be seen on the Short List on Fridays at 9 on VH1. And Max just finished filming a pilot for Comedy Central that will hopefully get picked up and then air for thirty years. Following the MHOW show, you can count on Big Terrific every Wednesday at Cameo.

Some videos (and the contest details) below...

Continue reading "Islands, Todd Barry & more fun added to Big Terrific show "

by Klaus Kinski

As I get older, I just I don't have the wherewithal to see as much comedy as I should. It's really depressing. There are so many goddamned GREAT comedy shows happening in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and even Queens that rather than pick one to go to, my brain shuts down and says "Just go home and watch Wheeler Dealers on the ole DVR, KK." It was easier to decide when Rififi was around. So thank Cod there's a yearly comedy festival in Brooklyntown that brings my ever flabbening body out of hibernation and reacquaints me with a sliver of the current roster of the greatest living comedians. That festival is the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, and this year it takes place from September 16th - September 19th and will impregnate The Bell House, The Rock Shop, and Union Hall (or as I like to call them, the most annoying venues to go if you don't have kids or play bocce) with its comedy seedlings.

As with previous years, the 2010 Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival brings together a supremely jaw-dropping group of comedians and performers. What can one expect? Oh, I don't know. Maybe (definitely) Emo Philips, Daniel Kitson, Jon Glaser, Max Silvestri, David Cross, Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler, Yo La Tengo, John Wesley Harding, Sarah Vowell, John Mulaney, and so many more I'm liable to puke with glee should I continue. What am I most looking forward to? Thanks for asking! I'd have to say it's a toss up between the bill Yo La Tengo falls on and a rare Tinkle performance (without Todd Barry, sadly)(although, Todd is opening for Superchunk at MHOW on September 19th, so that's something) (sold out though) (probably because Todd is on the bill).

The festival line-up will be tweaked, added onto, emboldened, modified, and made better as we make our way to the opening date, but have a gander at what's already planned below. In the immortal words of the person who put the roster together for me, "This is what's happening; but not everything that's happening". Ticket info to follow, but many shows will be on sale in advance. Also, please see a message from enfant terrible David Cross below...

Continue reading "the 2010 Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival is coming"

The Posies

The Posies will debut new material for the very first time at the Rock Shop in Brooklyn on September 23rd. That show is sold out, but now there are many more chances to see the band, and with Brendan Benson (of solo and Raconteurs fame) to boot. I also have two pairs of tickets to give away to the Brooklyn show. Details below.

After a month-long tour of Europe, The Posies will kick off a trek with Brendan in Milwaukee on November 5th. Their NYC show together will be at Highline Ballroom on November 13th (ticket on-sale date TBA). The Posies are promising a mix of new material and the hits at the shows. All dates below.

The Posies' Blood/Candy is out September 28 on Ryko. Brendan hasn't announced a new record (yet), but he can be found on Margaret Cho's new album which is out Tuesday...

"Can't wait until later this year for more Brendan goodies? Well, we have something to tide you over.

Brendan is making a cameo on Margaret Cho's comedy music album, Cho Dependent, due out on August 24th. You can pre-order the album now HERE and get an instant download of all 13 tracks, including "Baby I'm With the Band," the song Brendan co-wrote and performs on.

Other artists on the album include Andrew Bird, Grant Lee Phillips, Ben Lee, Tegan and Sara, Fiona Apple, Ani DiFranco, Tommy Chong and many more."

Continue reading "The Posies touring (dates) w/ Brendan Benson (who is 1 of many guests on Margaret Cho's new CD) ++ win Rock Shop tix"

Still no word on the impending Citizen's Arrest reunion, but you can officially nix a Brutalist Bricks broadway production. A new video of Ted Leo & The Pharmacists in training for the great white way (aka his video of "Bottled In Cork" featuring Paul F. Tompkins, John Hodgman, and others including some of you) is below - BBG.

Continue reading "new comedian-filled Ted Leo video (is the big reveal)"

The final lineup just got even finaler...

Continue reading "ATP NY adds Todd Barry, swimming & books "

by BBG

Kurt Vile at Brooklyn Masonic Temple (more by Lori Baily)

It's almost final and official, ATP New York is ruling. The best Hudson Valley festival to ever be held in a 1960s time capsule has announced the "final additions" including two comedians chosen by Syd Butler of Les Savy Fav (more to come... that's all "so far"), as well as a few new and interesting additions to the Jim Jarmusch curated date. Behold:

Continue reading "ATP NY announces (almost) complete lineup (GZA, Kurt Vile..)"

Damn I wish Hermes made edible snacks, Cheezits just ain't dope enough for my mouth. #PredictingKanyeTweets @kanyewest -Aziz

Just saw a girl with huge titties at Del Taco #PredictingKanyeTweets (@kanyewest) -Aziz

Tickets to Aziz Ansari's recently announced show at Beacon Theater went zoooom! Fortunately, those of you who want to hear Aziz talk about his cousin Harris and Kanye, and who live in the garden state and/or are willing to brave NJ Transit can head to Wellmont Theatre on 9/15 for another, just announced show as part of the "Deliciously Delicious" tour. Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday (8/13). The Wellmont show is the day before Aziz takes the stage at the also sold-out Town Hall on 9/16.

Full tour dates and some video are below...

Continue reading "Aziz Ansari adds NJ show -- updated 2010 Tour Dates"

Bear In Heaven is playing the Music Hall of Williamsburg on November 19th. Tickets are on sale now.

Tickets are on sale at noon for the Deerhunter, Real Estate, Casino Versus Japan show at Webster Hall (you can also catch Deerhunter and Real Estate for free much sooner).

Tickets are on sale for the Thermals / Cymbals Eat Guitars show happening at Irving Plaza.

Paul Weller is playing Nokia Theatre on November 7th. Tickets are on sale.

Samiam, The Casting Out, I Hate Our Freedom, and Vs. Antelope are playing the Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 13th. Tickets are on sale now.

Tickets are on sale at noon for the Wavves show at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Aziz Ansari is headlining the Beacon Theatre as part of the New York Comedy Festival on November 6th. Tickets are currently on presale. General sale starts Monday at 10am.

Other New York Comedy Festival tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster too., though the Louis CK show is on sale directly at Carnegie Hall.

Fitz & The Tantrums are playing The Mercury Lounge on September 25th. Tickets are on sale at noon.

Tickets are on sale at noon for the Primus show at The Wellmont Theater

Sharon Van Etten and Kyp Malone are playing The Mercury Lounge on October 9th. Tickets are on sale at noon.

Tickets are on sale at noon for The Sword show at Webster Hall

Tickets are on sale at noon for the Phantogram show at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Tickets are on sale at noon for the Black Mountain and Black Angels show at The Bowery Ballroom

Ra Ra Riot tourmates, Givers, are playing The Mercury Lounge on November 6th. Tickets are on sale at noon. It's Givers' only New York City show at the moment. They're not opening any of the four New York Ra Ra Riot dates.

Tunng is playing The Mercury Lounge on November 11th. Tickets are on sale at 9:30 PM.

Idlewild is playing The Bowery Ballroom on November 22nd and November 23rd. 2 Day Passes are also available for purchase. Tickets all on sale at noon.

Tickets are on sale Monday, August 9 for the Joanna Newsom show at Carnegie Hall

The Jesus Lizard at FFF 2009 (more here)

Dear lord. In their fifth year in existence, it looks like Austin, Texas's Fun Fun Fun Fest have gone all out. First, the previously two-day fest will expand to three (!). It's happening November 5th, 6th & 7th at Waterloo Park and will feature headlining sets from MGMT, DEVO, Mastodon, Bad Religion, Slick Rick, RJD2, A-Trak, GWAR, The Hold Steady, The Dirty Projectors... WEIRD AL YANKOVIC and more. In addition, look for sets from such notables as Cap'n Jazz, Deerhunter, Polvo, Wavves, Municipal Waste, High On Fire, Suicidal Tendencies, Jeff The Brotherhood, Floor, Kylesa, The Bronx, Devin The Dude, Yelle, Pharoahe Monch, and too many other names to count. Looks amazing, and tickets are currently on sale. - BBG

Get your plane tickets now. Full lineup of music and comedy (and veggie dog eating contest and wresting and air sex and...) and some video from last year is below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest outdoes self, announces 2010 lineup"