A Ben Stiller Show reunion highlights a new round of additions to the New York Comedy Festival which, as discussed before, is happening November 7 - 11. Tickets to this and other events will go on sale today (9/24) at noon.

A critical hit but ratings failure, The Ben Stiller Show got its start on MTV in 1990 and then moved to FOX for a season before being cancelled. In retrospect, it's a who's who of comedy talent, giving early breaks to Bob Odenkirk, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick and writer Judd Apatow, all of whom will be in attendance at the event which happens November 10 at the Paley Center (tickets), along with Jeff Kahn, and Rob Cohen. No sign of castmember David Cross though. A couple classic Ben Stiller Show clips are below.

Other new additions to the NYCF include Denis Leary discussing his new kids Christmas book for adults Merry F***in' Christmas (based on his song) on 11/9 at the Paley Center; a live version of Bravo TV's Celebrity Autobiography with Janeane Garofalo, Rachel Dratch, Mario Cantone and more on November 8 at Stage 72. Full fest schedule is here.

Continue reading "'Ben Stiller Show' reunion and Denis Leary among additions to New York Comedy Festival"

Real flyer on Grand Ave. 'HIPSTERS ONLY Please!' (via @adelaloconte)

Guy Fieri, Smashmouth frontman Steve Harwell and Sammy Hagar are teaming for what is likely to be the most exclamation-point-filled cookbook of all time. Also, maybe the worst.

Those of a certain age may have fond, fuzzy memories of MTV's sock puppet hosts Sifl & Olly. Well they're back! Reviewing video games? Sort of. Check out a video below.

Speaking of fond MTV memories, you can catch Kurt Loder in the flesh at at the Bell House in Brooklyn tonight (9/20) (with Julie Klausner who has other upcoming gigs too).

Bruce Springsteen plays again in NJ tonight tomorrow. Meanwhile check out his setlist from last night.

Fiona Apple got busted for hash possession at the same Texas checkpoint that got Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson. She's out on bail, but tonight's ACL Live show is canceled (which means no pictures tonight on the BVAustin Instagram).

Speaking of Austin, Ume is funding a new record via Kickstarter.

Speaking of Kickstarter, Gawker discusses their accountability problem, Amanda Palmer included.

That said, we're sure Owen Pallett, like many others, was happy to hear that Amanda is now paying all musicians.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for backers for your Kickstarter, Forbes listed the 400 richest Americans, Oprah Winfrey, David Geffen, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas included.

Speaking of money, Iggy Pop, Wayne Coyne, Ben Folds, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney and more will appear as guests on Ke$ha's new album, Warrior.

Speaking of Patrick Carney, congrats to him and his now-wife Emily Ward on their recent wedding. Will Forte officiated. Shaun White was arrested.

The first track from Neurosis's new LP Honor Found in Decay has slipped out. Stream "At The Well" at NPR now.

more stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Sifl & Olly are back, Smashmouth/Guy Fieri cookbook, Little Pete vs Lindsay Lohan, Patrick Carney, Neurosis & more"

by Klaus Kinski

'Pretty Good Friends' at Williamsburg Waterfront, 2011 (more by David Andrako)

I wish so badly that summer was almost over because this heat is basically killing me softly and enveloping me in depression and heat-related anxiety. By the time I get to work I'm as sweaty as Michael Moore after 8 hours of mowing lawns and people are all "Are you ok?" because they think I'm dying right before their eyes. Sadly, the reality that summer has hardly begun was made apparent when I realized that the concerts at Williamsburg Park kick off TONIGHT with the Outlaw Roadshow featuring Counting Crows, We Are Augustines, Field Report, and Kasey Anderson & the Honkies. Outlaw?! The fuck?! Yeah. Sure. Whatever, millionaires. Nothing says 'outlaw' like having a record that went 7× Platinum in both Canada and the United States.

I digress. What REALLY has me cranked is that Pretty Good Friends take their show from the tiny basement of Union Hall and return to the Waterfront again this year for a show on Thursday July 19th. This year's line-up is epic! Eugene Mirman will be joined by friends Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler, the legendary Bobcat Goldthwait, music by OK Go and many surprises! (And hopefully no torrential downpours like last year.) For me, the main event is Bobcat. Over the past several years he has evolved from type-cast goofball character actor to acclaimed director, writer, and comedian. This is a rare treat for NYC and THE SHOW IS TOTALLY FREE! More Kurt Braunohler dates below...

I was out of town on Wednesday July 11th working on my tan and looking super hot and shiny on a beach which means I sadly missed BOB ODENKIRK and UCB PALS: A LOAD OF HOOEY! at the UCB Theater, Chelsea. This is a major heartbreaker for yours truly as Bob happens to be one of my idols, and seeing him perform in the flesh in NYC is beyond rare. Like, never happens. What makes it more painful was that his "pals" included the much loved/hated David Cross, Bob's partner in crime for many many years. I was gnashing my teeth at the idea that I missed a once in a life time reunion, but David quelled my anxiety with the following words on his facebook page.

Also, get your socks psyched for Bob and I to put something together for a low-key mini-tour of grandiose fucking around. We've been doing things with each other (not in a Penn State way) and they have been really fun and very well-recieved. I just jumped on a show he did at UCB here in NY last week. Super fun. So we'll be doing more of that hopefully late fall/early winter. Again, something very low-key, not a big production and in smaller theaters. Like 500 seaters, something like that. Keep it intimate.

Commence the high-fiving everyone! In the meantime, David will be hitting the road for a handful of dates. He's also gettin hitched; sorry ladies. And gentlemen. Anyhow, check out his scheduled, ok-to-publish publicized appearances below. With any luck, he'll be working out his material in small rooms all over NYC in the days leading up to these shows!

The Gramercy Theater on 23rd street is no stranger to awesome comedy events, and if I'm to believe what I read in my inbox the pattern continues. On Sunday August 19th, Klaus favorite Doug Benson will take over the Gramercy Theater for a whopping TWO SHOWS! First, The Benson Interruption Live Podcast will tear the roof off the place at 4:20PM. I LOVE THE INTERRUPTION. The premise is simple; Doug has his favorite comedy friends do stand-up while he sits there and derails their entire set. The results are some of the funniest shit I've ever seen. Once the place cools down and clears out, the doors will re-open at 7:00pm for Doug Loves Movies. This is a KILLER day of comedy in one spacious, air conditioned venue. If you're like me you're gonna want to go ahead and pick up the Official Doug Benson Combo Pass and make seeing both shows a total cinch.

And speaking of comedy at the Gramercy, Klaus favorite Pete Holmes just announced a show there on Friday December 21st. Tickets go on sale Friday July 20th at noon! Check out this website for more upcoming show info.

Oh and speaking of the Gramercy Theater and Klaus favorites, Klaus SUPER FAVORITE Todd Barry recently recorded a live album at the Gramercy Theater. Titled "Super Crazy," you can watch the performance on Comedy Central Saturday July 21st at 11pm. If you don't have a DVR, Comedy Central, friends with Comedy Central, or have other reasons why you can't see the special on the TV which are none of my business, Comedy Central Home Entertainment will release the "Todd Barry: Super Crazy" extended and uncensored DVD and Comedy Central Records will release the extended and uncensored CD and Digital Album on July 24. The CD fairy left a copy in my mailbox and, lemme tell you, it is fucking hilarious. Classic Todd.

Tour dates for Kurt Braunohler, David Cross, and Todd Barry are listed below.

Continue reading "Pretty Good Friends, Bobcat Goldthwait, Bob & David, Doug Benson, Todd Barry, Pete Holmes & more comedy news"

Future Islands at Bowery Ballroom in 2011 (more by Sarahana)

today in NYC
* America @ BB King's
* Big Terrific @ Cameo
* Marika Hughes @ Barbes
* Cody Chesnutt @ SOB's
* Man Forever @ The Stone
* Arthur Doyle @ The Stone
* NRBQ @ Iridium Jazz Club
* Slaughterhouse @ BB King's
* Jonathan Batiste @ Joe's Pub
* Ace Frehley @ Best Buy Theater
* Bob Odenkirk & UCB Pals @ UCB
* Chez Deep @ Santos Party House
* Foxes, Seasick Mama @ Pianos
* The Mandingo Ambassadors @ Barbes
* Nellie McKay @ Madison Square Park
* New York Philharmonic @ Prospect Park
* Femminielli @ WIERD at Home Sweet Home
* Los Lobos, Livingston Leo @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Rakel, Pamela Rodriguez @ Knitting Factory
* Kayo Dot, Mossenek, MV Carbon @ Saint Vitus
* Def Leppard, Poison, Lita Ford @ Prudential Center
* Happy Ending Music & Reading Series @ Joe's Pub
* Guantanamo Baywatch, The Numerators, Big Tits @ Cake Shop
* Buddy Guy, Quinn Sullivan, John Mayall @ World Financial Center
* Cloud, Cloud, SeaPost, Ari Why (DJ set) @ Big Snow Buffalo Lodge
* The Click Clack Boom, Motive, Dead Stars, Indyns @ Public Assembly
* Wolf In a Spacesuit, BZARYN, Spooky Cheddar, Big Girl @ Glasslands
* Summerscreen w/ Colin L. Orchestra, Indian Jewelry @ McCarren Park
* Future Islands, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, Darlings @ Death By Audio
* Morning Musuko Brass Band, Benninghove's Hangmen @ The Paper Box
* Nice & Smooth, Ed O.G. and The Awesome 2 @ Summerstage - Crotona Park
* Missy Mazzoli & Victoire, Skeletons Big Band (free) @ Pace Schimmel Theatre
* U Say USA, The N'ere Dowells, I'm Turning Into, Swimming @ Shea Stadium
* The Byzan-Tones, Stathos Karavani Orchestra, Jeremiah Lockwood @ Zebulon
* Woodyfest w/ Steve Earle, John Hammond, Tim Robbins, Diana Jones @ City Winery
* Communion w/Lucius,Seasick Mama, Faces On Film,David Doobinin,Howth @ UnionHall
* Alexander Hacke, Danielle de Picciotto, Algis Kizys, Pharmakon, Chaos Majik, Pharmakon @ XPO 929
* Rebirth Brass Band w/ Brother Joscephus & The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra @ Beekman Beer Garden
* La Santa Cecilia, Monica Lionheart, Xenia Rubinos, Alex Anwandter, Martin Buscaglia, Gepe, ArtOfficial @ Mercury Lounge
* Mala Rodríguez, Ximena Sariñana, Profetas and The Sconek-T @ Central Park Summerstage
* Celestial Shore, Les Bon Hommes, Young Unknowns, Emerald Lakes @ Delinquency BLVD

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Montreal's electronic artist Femminielli makes his U.S. debut at the WIERD party at Home Sweet Home. Italodisco fans will want to check out the video for his single "Atlandia" below.

Ace Frehley at Best Buy Theater... Def Leppard, Poison, and Lita Ford @ Prudential Center? What's a hair metal fan to do?

Breaking Bad's final season starts Sunday, but meanwhile you can catch Saul at UCB tonight.

The Spy Music Festival continues with a performance by Man Forever at the Stone tonight.

The Todd P-curated music portion of Summerscreen starts tonight in McCarren Park.

Advance tickets to Future Islands at Death By Audio tonight are sold out.

Rebirth Brass Band with Brother Joscephus and The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra play Beekman Beer Garden by the South Street Seaport tonight, where the 4Knots Festival and afterparty happen on Saturday.

The All Stars Project "is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting human development through the use of an innovative performance-based model. The ASP creates outside of school, educational and performing arts activities for thousands of poor and minority young people. It sponsors community and experimental theatre, develops leadership training and pursues volunteer initiatives that build and strengthen communities."

OFF! Has a new video for "Borrow and Bomb" / "I Got News For You" featuring Kids in the Hall's Dave Foley and you can watch that below.

Bloc Party have a new video for "Octopus" from their forthcoming album Four and you can watch that below as well.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Yo La Tengo Hanukkah 2011 Night 1 (photo by Jack2point0)

Yo La Tengo played their first of eight Hanukkah shows at Maxwell's last night (12/20). We have a full set of pictures coming, but in the meantime, check out last night's setlist complete with openers/guests listed, via Frank & Earthy, below...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo Hanukkah 2011 night 1 was The Sea & Cake, Mac McCaughan, Jon Benjamin & Jon Glaser (setlist)"

The Black Keys @ Coachella 2011 (more by David Andrako)

This is what the label says:

The Black Keys' new album El Camino will be released December 5 on Nonesuch Records. Produced by Danger Mouse and The Black Keys, the 11-track album was recorded at singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio in the band's new hometown of Nashville during the spring of 2011.

In advance of the release, the album's first single, 'Lonely Boy', will be released on October 26. The complete track list is below; further details will be announced shortly. Pre-orders of El Camino begin today at www.theblackkeys.com and www.nonesuch.com.

The band only have European dates scheduled at the moment (listed below), but are in NYC for a private T-Mobile sponsored show TONIGHT (10/12). It's nearly impossible to get in (invite only, small space), but the show will be streaming online at 11pm on T-Mobile's Facebook.

All Euro tour dates, the album's tracklist, and a video ad for the album starring Bob Odenkirk (aka Saul Goodman), below...

Continue reading "Black Keys announce new LP, playing private show in NYC tonight (which is streaming online)"

"Just returned from tonight's Pavement show. When I grow up, I want to be Bob Nastanovich." - Eric Weaver

Pavement setlist - September 19, 2010 (michaeldayers)

"Pavement were amazing. They went on 8:10, done by 9:50. Endless Boogie were cool. Other opening band (jenny and something) was awful. Pavement did 25 songs and all 25 of them were among the best 100 songs ever written." [Anonymous]

One down, four to go.

Also, Bob Nastanovich is DJing the Living Room Monday night. Flyer below...

Continue reading "Pavement played NYC! (Williamsburg Waterfront setlist) "

Built To Spill @ MHOW in 2009 (more by Chloe Rice)

Built to Spill have extended their US tour that will keep them on the road from the middle of September until late November, but first they'll play the handful of previously announced dates that include the BV-presented Rocks Off Boat cruise happening this THURSDAY, 9/2. Tickets are still available (not many, but some).

The tour is in support of There is No Enemy, the band's release from the tail end of last year. The LP features "Hindsight" which recently spawned a Bob Odenkirk (Mr Show, Breaking Bad) directed video. Chew on that, with all tour dates, below....

Continue reading "Built to Spill announce tour, playing a boat Thursday (dates) "

David Cross @ Knitting Factory (more by Eric M Townsend)

upcoming guests @ Sleepwalk With Me

Jan 07 - Janeane Garofalo
Jan 14 - Jonathan Ames
Jan 21 - David Cross
Jan 28 - Andy Borowitz

upcoming shows @ 92YTribeca

Jan 08 - Janeane Garofalo, Paul F. Tompkins, David Cross, Kristen Schaal
Jan 27 - Best Week Ever, John Hodgeman, Paul F. Tompkins

In other comedy news, Demetri Martin has a couple of shows coming up, and Jessi Klein, Ryan McKee & Cock Lorge will be telling Stripped Stories @ UCB on Thursday. Penis Photographer video below...

Continue reading "David Cross, Janeane Garofalo & other comedians playing 92YTribeca & Sleepwalk With Me"

DOWNLOAD: Neil Hamburger - At Least I Was Paid (MP3)

Well, what else do we need to say about this? "America's Funnyman" ("The World's Funnyman," actually) has decided to sing America's music at last! The country crooning of Neil Hamburger (though some would call it moaning) fits the white blues that is country music to a T! Neil's life story is perfect fodder for the "tear in the beer" genre as well - and Neil's original tunes, such as "At Least I Got Paid," "Three Piece Chicken Dinner" and "The Recycle Bin" bring his personality to the fore. His crack "Nashville West" band includes such luminaries as Dave Gleason, Atom Ellis, Prairie Prince, Rachel Haden and Joe Goldmark, all of whom play and sing their country-fried hearts out to create a sound that is decidedly old-school honky-tonk. All this plus cover versions of John Entwistle, Mark Eitzel and Billy Edd Wheeler add up to a powerful singing debut from America's newest hat act, Neil Hamburger!

Neil Hamburger Sings Country Winners is out this Tuesday April 22nd on Drag City! Some tour dates and a video at the end of this post.

I recently mentioned that Bob Odenkirk and David Cross would soon begin work on a pilot for HBO. Lo and behold, production of David's Situation begins May 9th, 2008 in sunny Los Angeles, with a live audience and everything. This show can't be completed and devoured by my eyes and ears soon enough. If anyone goes to the taping, tell me everything.

In related news, not only is Bob Odenkirk co-writer and director of David's Situation, but it turns out he'll also be playing Mike Birbiglia's older brother in Mike Birbiglia's CBS pilot Mike Birbiglia's Secret Public Journal, a pilot you can read about here.

much, much, much, much more below.....

Continue reading "Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon (04/21/08)"

by Klaus Kinski

HBO has wisely picked up a pilot written and pitched by Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. They begin production of said pilot in April or May of this year. According to an MTV Movies Blog the show will be Mr. Show-esque in some ways but will rely heavily on playing on the conventions of your average sitcom. David will star as a dude who was fed up with Hollywood left it for a gated community in the suburbs somewhere. He's roommates with a super right wing guy and a super left wing hippie liberal. Also, according to their newsflash, there will be room for 150 audience members. Mr. Show completely changed how I view televised comedy and I'm nauseaus with anticipation for this next endeavor.