photos by Tim Griffin

Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 came to a close on Sunday night. It was another successful year for the well-rounded music fest, and the end of its first in the larger (and much dustier) Auditorium Shores. And though Ryan Gosling may have been the most talked about artist at the festival (Danzig was a close second), the real star was festival organizer Transmission Enertainment for putting together such a kickass lineup on four stages for three days straight (not to mention a mechanical bull) (and skate and bike ramp and tons of good food and vendors and merch and posters and wrestling) (and Turquoise Jeep).

After Hum and then a quick set of comedy by metal comedian Brian Posehn (he did his Slayer joke and one that involved Pantera), Slayer closed out the large Orange stage on Sunday (the other metal acts played on the slightly smaller Black Stage all weekend, but the Orange was the biggest and actually specially built to Slayer's specs).

Slayer wasn't the only wild headliner of the day though. In fact, that's an understatement. Trash Talk played after Henry Rollins did his set of spoken word in the Yellow Tent because Trash Talk had to miss their originally scheduled set on the Black Stage earlier in the week due to a family emergency. Thanking everyone for missing Slayer to see them (actually not true because it ended up Trash Talk was done before Slayer even started), Trash Talk started their hardcore insanity by pointing out that they were on the only stage with no barricade (the stage comedians usually played). Circle pits, stagediving, stage crowding, grabbing the mic, pumping fists (and skateboards) and just general craziness characterized the next 20 minutes or so.

The always controversial Odd Future drew their own giant and enthusiastic crowd to their headlining set on the Blue Stage, and Blonde Redhead closed out the Black Stage to a more intimate and chilled out audience (in the location that was metal, punk, garage and hardcore the rest of the weekend).

Here is our second set of pictures from the final day of the fest, including Asobi Seksu, the reunited Hum, We Were Promised Jetpacks (who just played NYC and one of our CMJ day parties), Odd Future, G-Side, Austra, Grimes, MNDR, Mates of State, Budos Band, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Architecture in Helsinki, Del the Funky Homosapien, Brian Posehn, Flying Lotus, Brody Stevens, Trash Talk, Henry Rollins, and more SLAYERRRR.

We previously posted pictures from both day 1 and day 2, and a second set by BBG day 1, day 2, and day 3

The rest of day 3, below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 -- Day 3 pics (part 2) -- Henry Rollins, Brian Posehn, Odd Future, Trash Talk & more"

Didn't get a ticket to Louis CK? Live in Jersey and want to not pay a toll before seeing a show for once? As previously mentioned, the awesome Brian Posehn headlines Starland Ballroom TONIGHT (9/30) and tickets are still available.

But that's not all. The laughs continue this weekend in Hoboken when the Hoboken Comedy Festival takes over Maxwell's on both Saturday and Sunday. Hannibal Buress, Todd Barry, and many more will grace the rock club's stage over the two days. Godfrey and others also play the fest's first night at Clearview Cinemas tonight.

For more comedy, and in NY, check out the post we posted last night.

Slayer at Izod Center (photos by Samantha Marble)

Slayer, Thee Oh Sees, Public Enemy, Girls, Danzig Legacy, (Danzig + Doyle von Frankenstein playing Misfits, Samhain & Danzig), Hot Snakes, Diplo, Major Lazer, Henry Rollins, Ted Leo & The Phramacists, Spank Rock, Murder City Devils, Hum, Lykke Li, Passion Pit, Four Tet, Rakim, The Damned, Austra, Purity Ring, and Flynt Flossy are just a few of the acts announced today as part of the Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 lineup. Another amazing year! Check out the full lineup below and stay tuned for more announcements coming in August and September.

The new additions to the Austin, Texas festival, which takes place from 11/4 - 11/6, are in addition to the the previous "lineup leaks" that included Brian Posehn, Odd Future, Okkervil River, M83, X (performing "Los Angeles"), Reggie Watts, Flying Lotus, Tune-Yards, Ra Ra Riot, Kid Dynamite and others

2011 is the festival's sixth year, but first at its new home Auditorium Shores (no more Waterloo Park). Tickets are on sale now.

Slayer also has a NYC performance coming up with Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth as part of the "Big Four" show at Yankee Stadium on 9/14. Tickets are still available.

Fun Fun Fun 2011 flyer and almost-full lineup is below.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 lineup (Danzig Legazy, Passion Pit, Slayer, Lykke Li, The Damned, Henry Rollins & much more)"

Fun Fun Fun Fest sort of revealed five of the artists playing the festival this year. The fest will take place from November 4-6 at Waterloo Park Auditorium Shores in Austin, TX. Watch this video to figure out who the five artists are, though You may want to use this guide for help. If you don't have the time to figure it out, we've listed the artists along with the embedded video below.

Also, all of Brian Posehn's (hint) tour dates are listed below, including a NJ show on September 30 at Starland Ballroom with Big Jay Oakerson and Bonnie McFarlane. Tickets are on sale now.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 'leaks' part of the 2011 lineup, comedian Brian Posehn schedules dates"

by BBG

Ludicra @ Santos (more here)

I guess dreams don't come true? Mayhem has cancelled all North American dates with Ludicra and Tombs, including the previously discussed show at Irving with Krallice. A statement from the band is forthcoming.

Ludicra is set to appear at Scion Rock Fest, and their new LP The Tenant will impact Profound Lore in March.

Tombs is scheduled to hit the road in March, tagging SXSW at Relapse's official showcase on 3/17 with Voivod, Howl, Graves of Valor, Kill The Client, Mammoth Grinder, and Brian Posehn. Flyer below...

Continue reading "Mayhem cancels entire upcoming North American tour"

August 25th, 2009 (Austin, TX) - Transmission Entertainment is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2009 Fun Fun Fun Fest, taking place on November 7th and 8th at Waterloo Park in Austin. Fun Fun Fun Fest made its first appearance on a cold Friday evening in 2006, offering a unique approach to festival booking, filling stages with talent bubbling from the underground: what sounded great, and what was making an impact, regardless of what mainstream media said was cool. What started out as a show for a few touring acts and local favorites has become a movement -- a festival that fans and bands alike realize needs to be experienced year after year.

Now in its fourth year, Fun Fun Fun Fest has made a significant impact on the country's winter calendar, successfully combining the vast worlds of indie, punk, rap, electronica and comedy while showcasing some of the city's most unique local businesses.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 lineup (Jesus Lizard, Of Montreal, Gorilla Biscuits, LSF, 7 Seconds, D.R.I. & DANZIG!! & more)"

Brian Posehn performs four shows at Comix in NYC Friday and Saturday night.

Dave Hill leaves NYC to make a couple of rare appearances in Philly - also Friday and Saturday.

Don't worry Dave won't be gone long though. He is scheduled to appear Monday at Knitting Factory with David Cross who will also be at the Union Hall holiday comedy show on Sunday.

The above picture has nothing to do with anything else in this post. It is courtesy of VICE.

Dave Hill will also be at UCB on Decemmber 18th, and you can see him getting wasted in the video (of his trip to the New York Bar show at the Javits Center) below...

Continue reading "Brian Posehn is in NYC, Dave Hill is in Philly & other comedy "

by Klaus Kinski

"Playboy & Program Signed by Patton Oswalt" (that's what it says)

If any of you have been wondering when the Comedians of Comedy will hit NYC again, I have the answer. NEVER! It was announced today (well, late last night) that Zach, Patton, Maria, and Brian (and special guests) will do their last show as a team on July 26th at the beautiful Spreckels Theater in San Diego CA. Tickets are on sale now. CoC shows were, for me, the funnest experiences of my comedy-going life. The core group is simply amazing and the friends they'd bring to the stage at each show was always awe inspiring. Obviously, the gang will probably make stops to NYC as individuals at some point in the future, but I sure am going to miss the sheer magnitude of what CoC delivered to fans across the country at each and every show. The entire farewell letter is below.

Also, I caught All Tomorrow's Parties Comedy Curator Patton Oswalt's 8:30pm show at Caroline's this past Saturday (Juen 28, 2008) and he, with the help of openers John Mulaney and Julian McCullough absolutely tore the roof off the place. Patton kicked the extremely diverse crowd's ass with huge pile of new material. It was so great. I wonder if it's only a matter of time before he has a solo show at a place like Town Hall. He should.

Continue reading "Patton Oswalt played Caroline's, Comedians of Comedy RIP"

by Klaus Kinski

Patton Oswalt and Brian Posehn

On Friday May 9, 2008 the NYC UCB Theater has an incredible night of comedy lined up, but two shows in particular are absolutely worth seeing.

Continue reading "upcoming Patton Oswalt shows & Mike Birbiglia too"

Posehn about to go on stage @ Mess With Texas 2008

Klaus didn't go see Brian Posehn at Comix last night because he (Klaus) came down with some laryngitis or something. Ironically, that is the same reason he (Brian) couldn't tell his jokes when he performed at the Mess With Texas Festival in Austin during SXSW a couple of weeks ago. The remedy: Brian whispered his (dirty) jokes in Eugene Mirman's ear and Eugene told them instead. It was sunny and warm out and the middle of the afternoon.

Tickets are still available for Brian's 3rd & 4th shows at Comix in NYC tonight (March 29) (late and inside). More photos from Austin below....

Continue reading "BRIAN POSEHN - @ Comix tonight ++ Mess with Texas pics"

Brian Posehn on strike (cred)

Mess With Texas, an annual party thrown in Austin, in the south by southwestern region of the US, at the same time as a certain other major music festival, has expanded in its second year to a massive, outdoor, FREE, ALL AGES event with three stages and an exclusive Austin performance from headliners The Breeders and NOFX and A-list comedians likeJaneane Garofalo, MTV's Human Giant and Brian Posehn.

Continue reading "Mess With Texas messes with SXSW"

by Klaus Kinski

Leo Allen @ Occhi's Lounge,Comix, NYC - Feb 1, 2008 (Maryanne Ventrice)

I've never been a big fan of 'comedy clubs'. The two drink minimums, the sterility, the ticket prices, the middle-of-the-road risk-free comedians, the touristy crowds, the fact that people feel the need to dress nicer than usual and over-cologne themselves.... The whole vibe is pretty repellant to a slob like me. And although Comix is guilty of some of the above offenses to a certain degree, I feel that the venue makes great efforts in supporting and nurturing the local NYC comedy scene. They keep their ticket prices a fraction of what a place like Carolines would charge, they often have discount codes readily available, and they opened a downstairs lounge called Ochi's that has great indie comedy for free (with a one item minimum) six nights a week.

I am always happy when comics we're used to seeing at Rififi, Union Hall, The Pit, or UCB get the chance to shine in the main showroom of Comix. I'm comforted in the fact that they're probably making a halfway decent bit of coin and that they're reaching a more diverse audience. I think it's important (if we can afford it) to support our pals by attending these bigger shows. That said, I strongly recommend the following shows. Todd Barry's complete tour schedule also follows......

Continue reading "Comix ain't so bad, Todd Barry is touring, Brian Posehn.."

We hosted a Flight of the Conchords (FOTC) contest. Some winners won passes to a screening of the first episode of the new HBO series. Now EVERYONE - even those who don't have HBO (like me) - can watch the first episode thanks to the kind folks at HBO.com. Look for appearances by UCB, Rififi and Union Hall regulars Arj Barker, Eugene Mirman, and Kristen Schaal.

Speaking of Kristen Schaal who was also a guest on the 24 Hour Human Giant Marathon on MTV, we asked all those entering the FOTC contest to tell us who their favorite stand up comedian was. We got something like 50 comedian names total, but these were - by a small margin - the top seven:

your favorite comedians
1) Demetri Martin
2) David Cross
3) Mitch Hedberg
4) George Carlin
5) Aziz Ansari (tie)
5) Brian Posehn (tie)
5) Kristen Schaal (tie)

That's right - you like Kristen Schaal as much as you like Aziz Ansari who you like just as much as Brian Posehn WHO LOVES METAL.........

Continue reading "Flight of the Conchords, Human Giant, Kristen Schaal, YOUR FAVORITE COMEDIANS, Michael Showalter, Brian Posehn & MASTODON"