by Klaus Kinski

Kurt Braunohler

Hey readers. Long time no write, amIright? I haven't been writing much these days and I bet you thought/hoped I was dead or something. Wrong! Unlike most people (according to the news media) I have a job and lately it's talons have been dug so deep into my flesh and lard that I haven't been able to deal with anything else. I poked my head outta the trenches today to wipe the sweat and offal from my brow and noticed that we in the Tri State area are on a collision course for some seriously incredible comedy, like, really soon.

Friday February 10th really has us laugh-seekers in a right pickle as there are two amazing shows happening that night, but one happens on one side of the Hudson, while the other happens on the other side of the Hudson. I kall this phenomenon Klaus Kinski's Komedy Krawl.

First off, on Friday February 10th at 7:30pm the UCB Theater (Chelsea) will play host to the great and way-not-famous-enough Tom Shillue and his show Tom Shillue's Funny Story. The show is more a storytelling affair than a stand-up affair and will feature a STELLER line-up including Bobby Tisdale, Bob Walles, and Gavin McInnes. This is an EXTREMELY miraculous line-up and the fact that it isn't sold out tells me that there's probably only one or two tickets left. I cannot tell you how brilliant Shillue is. Get. On. It.

After that show ends, get those gorgeous hemispheres (bunz) of yours upstairs and down (or up) to the PATH train and make your way into Hoboken for a special, off-site-off-nite edition of the great Pretty Good Friends. PGF is usually hosted by Eugene Mirman every Sunday night in the subterranean confines of Union Hall. However, they are shaking the fuck out of things and bringing PGF to Maxwell's in Hoboken on Friday February 10th at 9:30pm. The show will be hosted by Kurt Braunohler and feature the likes of Andrea Rosen, Wyatt Cenac, and Todd Barry. Some tickets are still available, so get yours before they go the way of the Dodo. These two inexpensive events will bring you face to face with some of my personal favorites in the biz. Live it up! You CAN do this.

Oh, and speaking of Kurt Braunohler... Kurt got the gig as host and star of a forthcoming IFC comedy series called Bunk. The show will be taping live February 17th through February 24th at Manhattan Center Studios in NYC. Guest panelists will include Ethan T Berlin, Bobby Moynihan, Jordan Klepper, Damien Lemon, Matt Oberg, Chris Gethard, Kumail Nanjiani, John Gemberling, Eugene Mirman, Alison Rich, Michael Che, Dana Gould, Scott Adsit, Tom Lemon, Alex Borstein (no Dave Hill? tha fuck?). Wanna attend a taping or several of them? Head over to the Black List and throw your name in the hat for FREE TICKETS.

Last but not least... first there was ONE, then TWO, then THREE, and now there are FOUR Demetri Martin shows happening at NYU. The newest one happens at the Skirball Center on February 15th, at 9:30pm. Tickets are on sale, and we're also giving away tickets to the third one which is now sold out like the first and second.

ALSO
* Rob Delaney added a 2nd NYC show!
* Those in Chicago should go see Brian Posehn this weekend!
* Follow @bvComedy on Twitter!
* "SXSW Comedy" is expanding its offerings in Austin this year
* We're giving away a pair of tickets to see Tosh at Radio City.

Some videos below...

Continue reading "PGF in Hoboken, Tom Shillue, a FOURTH Demetri Martin show & other comedy stuff"

Daniel Tosh of Comedy Central's Tosh.0 has announced a comedy tour. That tour hits NYC for two shows at Radio City Music Hall in NYC on April 13 (early & late). Tickets for those shows go on sale at 10am. We also have a pair of tickets you can win! Details below.

LA Comedian Rob Delaney, who is part of the just-announced Sasquatch Festival lineup, will headline Bowery Ballroom on May 11th. Tickets, on AmEx presale now, go on general sale at noon. More dates are listed below.

As previously mentioned in a post that lists othre upcoming comedy shows, Demetri Martin added a 3rd upcoming NYC show. Tickets for that new date are still on sale and we have a pair you can win. Details below!

All contest details and Tosh dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Daniel Tosh touring & playing Radio City (WIN TIX); Rob Delaney playing shows too; and Demetri Martin (WIN TIX) "

Pat Kiernan

Demtetri Martin has added a third show at NYU which is on sale now. It doesn't appear to also be a taping (just a rehearsal), and happens towards the end of his tour and three days before his other two NYC shows which are tapings.

That same week, astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson returns to the Bell House along with Eugene Mirman for another edition of Star Talk Live! Tickets just went on sale.

NY1's Pat Kiernan hosts trivia at the Bell House on February 27 (which is one day before Stephen Tobolowsky appears at the venue).

Meanwhile, you have ONLY THREE MORE CHANCES to see Daniel Kitson at St. Ann's.

Watch "Shit Pat Kiernan says" below...

Continue reading "Demetri Martin adds 3rd NYC show; Neil de Grasse Tyson & Pat Kiernan returning to the Bell House; Kitson done soon"

As the language they used when announcing the first one kind of accidentaly hinted, Demetri Martin is playing two shows at NYU on February 18th. Tickets for the early show are now sold out. Late show on sale now.

Demetri Martin is currently out on a comedy tour of cold places like Reading, PA and Madison, WI. The last date of his tour is back in NYC at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on 2/18, and it's a taping:

Demetri Martin tapes his next Comedy Central special live at NYU Skirball!
The DEMETRI MARTIN performances are being taped for COMEDY CENTRAL.
PLEASE arrive for the taping 30 to 45 minutes in advance for the performances.
YOU MUST BE IN YOUR SEATS FOR THE PERFORMANCE AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE CURTAIN.
There is no late entrance or early exit from the show.

Continue reading "Demetri Martin is on tour, filming a special in NYC (dates)"

Demetri Martin's book is out today, April 25th, the same day that he's making an appearance in the Union Square Barnes & Noble as part of a book tour. All dates below...

Continue reading "Demetri Martin made a book, touring bookstores"

by Klaus Kinski

Demetri

There are some big time comedy events upon us that require your immediate attention. First off, the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival kicks off TONIGHT (9/16) at The Bell House with An Evening of Comedy From 1986 featuring Emo Philips, Tony V., Larry Murphy, Ron Lynch and Jon Glaser, and Eugene Mirman. I am baffled that tickets are still on sale, but they are, so GET EM! The Fest continues through Sunday with some of the best line-ups this city has seen in ages. Participating venues include The Bell House, Union Hall, and The Rock Shop. See the full schedule below.

If you're a Manhattanite, just plain too lazy to make the trek out to Gowanus, or both, Tenacious D's less annoying half Kyle Gass will be tearing The Mercury Lounge a new one tonight with his band Trainwreck. This late show has doors at 9:30pm and tickets are still up for grabs. If you're a Brooklynite, just plain too lazy to make the trek out to Manhattan, or busy tonight, or all three, Trainwreck's tour also takes them to Brooklyn Bowl on September 21st. Tickets available for that too. All dates below.

Wait, are you telling me that neither of these shows are floating your boat? WTF? Well, howsabout a very titillating plan C? Longtime friend of BV Aziz Ansari headlines the massive Town Hall tonight. Looks like tickets for the show are gonzo, but check in with the box office later (or Craigslist) (or outside the venue) as they may have a few kicking around. You can alternatively go see him at the Beacon Theatre in November. Tickets are still available to that show that is part of this year's New York Comedy Festival.

And while we're on the subject of comedy happening at Town Hall, Demetri Martin has a whopping TWO SHOWS happening there on Friday September 24th and Saturday September 25th. Tickets to both shows are currently still on sale. I realize that in these tough times, it might be difficult to buy tickets for such a show. Luckily for you I have a pair of FRONT ROW TICKETS to give away to one, super lucky winner (for the Saturday show). Follow the procedure below and maybe, just maybe, you'll get all Charlie Bucket and whatnot. All dates and stuff down there too....

Continue reading "Mirman Fest kicking off, Demetri Martin playing shows (WIN FRONT ROW TIX), Trainwreck on tour (NY shows, other dates) "

Kelli Garner, Demetri Martin & Paul Dano in Taking Woodstock

While [Woodstock Ventures'] most promising idea -- a one-day mini-Woodstock in Prospect Park in Brooklyn this August -- fizzled when they could not find sponsors, that doesn't mean others haven't coaxed a few more marketing miles from the creaky Woodstock bus.

Dozens of projects are planned to commemorate the August 1969 concert, including an Ang Lee movie called "Taking Woodstock" [starring Demetri Martin, trailer below], a Heroes of Woodstock concert tour (with Jefferson Starship and Melanie) and at least 13 books, including one for children co-authored by a second cousin of Max Yasgur, the farmer who lent his land in Bethel, N.Y., for the original event. Target is set to run a "Summer of Love" promotion featuring licensed Woodstock merchandise, like beach towels with the symbolic white dove perched on a guitar neck.

The operators of the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, on the grounds of the original Woodstock concert, gave up trying to work with Woodstock Ventures and announced on May 4 that they were going ahead with their own commemorative concert Aug. 15, called the Bethel Woods Music Festival, which will include acts from the Heroes of Woodstock tour.

...[Woodstock promoter Michael Lang] has not given up hope that he can pull off another last-minute event. He said they were speaking with a potential sponsor and city officials for a free concert in Prospect Park in the fall. "We would have 150,000 ticketed and an overflow area for 150,000 more with video screens," he said, speaking more animatedly when the logistics of a show were being discussed than he was when the subject was finding sponsors and working out issues with Mr. Rosenman.

"It would be noon to 11 p.m., eight to 10 bands on the main stage," Mr. Lang continued. "On-site solar and wind power; biodiesel for generators; organic and local produce; recycled paper goods. We'd like to give away one-day free passes on city transit with a ticket." [NY Times]

As stated above, that's far from the only thing celebrating Woodstock this summer. Tickets are on sale for The Bethel Woods Center show. Levon Helm (who hosts regular jam sessions in his Woodstock, NY studio), Jefferson Starship, Canned Heat and others are on the bill.

And as stated above, many of the acts at that event will be traveling with the Heroes of Woodstock tour. That show has dates across the US, including a Wednesday, August 12th show at NYC's Nokia Theatre Times Square. Tickets are on sale.

NYC is also hosting its own set of Woodstock anniverary concerts at Castle Clinton, with four nights of free music planned. That kicks off with the Music of Sly & the Family Stone: "It's a Family Affair" on Thursday, July 16th.

Not actually related, but close enough... this weekend (May 29th-31st) in the Catskills, not too far from Woodstock, Mountain Jam is happening in Hunter, NY. Bands on the bill include the Gene Ween Band, The Hold Steady, Girl Talk, Coheed & Cambria, Gov't Mule, Allman Brothers Band and more. Tickets are still on sale.

One place that won't be having a "Woodstock" anniversary event is San Francisco, where its tribute concert organizers were recently served with a cease and desist order from Lang and Woodstock Venture for using the trademarked name.

Check out the trailer and poster for Taking Woodstock, with all Demetri Martin and Heroes of Woodstock dates, below...

Continue reading "Demetri Martin stars in 'Taking Woodstock', Prospect Park show status & other 40th Anniversary news "

Tickets went back on sale for tonight's Demetri Martin show at Bowery Ballroom (2/19), and for tomorrow's at Music Hall of Williamsburg (2/20).

The Appleseed Cast added a 2nd NYC show at Mercury Lounge. Now they're playing twice, early and late, at the same venue on April 18th. Tickets are now on sale for both. More dates HERE.

Tickets are on Am Ex presale for a May 14th Thao and the Get Down Stay Down show at Bowery Ballroom

Kevin Devine is playing Bowery Ballroom on April 24th. Tickets are on sale.

Illinois is playing Mercury lounge on May 5th. Tickets are on sale.

Jane's Addiction - @ Echoplex, Los Angeles - Feb 16, 2009 (revolute)

Live Nation and Adam Zacks are pleased to announce this year's line up for the Sasquatch! Music Festival at the legendary Gorge in Eastern Washington. The festival, now in its eighth and most ambitious year yet, has evolved from a unique, homegrown & low key fest into a full blown three day extravaganza. A festival-goer's dream, it comes complete with camp-outs, canyons, sunsets, three stages and new this year, an expanded comedy and dance music tent. The tent will feature performances from comedians throughout the day, and then come dusk, will spotlight electronic and dance music artists.

Already the official opener to summer for music fans, the Sasquatch! Music Festival is becoming a certified monster of a musical event: this year features another exciting and diverse line-up for the musically adventurous, and ups the ante on an event already hailed for its independent spirit. Tickets go on sale Saturday February 28th at 10AM

Today it was announced that Jane's (feat. all four original members), NIN, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, Silversun Pickups, Bon Iver, Santigold, and many others are playing this year's Sasquatch Festival (May 23, 24, 25, 2009 @ The Gorge in Quincy, WA). Full lineup and ticket info below...

Continue reading "Jane's Addiction played LA, headlining SASQUATCH Festival (which just announced most of the 2009 LINEUP)"

"[Demetri] Martin, along with one of his writers, Michael Koman, whom he'd met while working on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and an editor, Bryan Shelton, was cutting together an episode of his forthcoming show, Important Things With Demetri Martin. They needed to get the episode down to 22 minutes for its premiere on Comedy Central on February 11. They'd been at this process, on various episodes, for weeks. (When Flight 1549 went down in the Hudson River, Martin didn't know about it until he saw the plane being towed along in the river outside the building's window.) As a result, the editing suite had the slightly stale air of a missile-firing silo in which the men, bleary-eyed, have been locked together for too long, hands on the firing keys, ready to launch."
[NY Magazine]

Continue reading "Demetri Martin's new TV show & a free NYC comedy show "

Lady Sovereign @ Pianos last night (Colleen AF Venable)

Wildbirds & Peacedrums @ Webster Hall last night (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Dave Deporis @ Pianos (free)
* The Answer @ Mercury Lounge
* free comedy at Pianos w/ Demetri Martin
* Sonya Kitchell @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Lykke Li & Wildbirds & Peacedrums @ MHOW
* Tibet House Benefit (The National Vampire Weekend, etc) @ Carnegie Hall

"The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that officials were seeking a way out, but now the two sides claim the rights deal for Citi Field will remain in place."

"Welcome to the MTA New York City Transit Lost and Found web page, created so that you can inquire about property you may have lost in the bus or subway system, and find out how to claim it through the Lost Property Unit."

"the music died 50 years ago today. and what do we have to show for it?"

"A one-time only edition of Can You Imagine? at Pianos this Tuesday night (2/3) at 9:30 pm." Demetri Martin and Kumail Nanjani are both performing. This happens after the free Dave Deporis show, and downstairs from the dance party. Lady Sovereign played at the same venue last night.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday? (the Day the Music Died)"

The Onion AV Club: The first season [of Flight of the Conchords] is almost an encyclopedia of the New York alternative-comedy scene, with Kristen Schaal and Eugene Mirman in recurring roles, and guest appearances by Todd Barry and Demetri Martin. Was there a thought that that might be a good way to get the show to an American audience?

Bret McKenzie: No.

Jemaine Clement: It can go a long time with just New Zealanders, but we try to make sure there's American characters in it. I'm always aware when we're looking through the script that in the first few scenes, there should be an American character.

BM: We didn't cast them to try and break into a market or anything. We cast them mainly 'cause we knew them. And we didn't want to have people that were well-known.

JC: It really is like, "Who do we know?" Todd, Demetri, Arj [Barker], and Eugene are all the Americans we knew.

UPDATE: They added a 2nd show at Radio City - on pre-sale since 1:15 pm.

All (updated) tour dates below...

Continue reading "Flight of the Conchords ticket presale starting (password), updated tour dates (w/ Mirman, Schaal, Barker)"

by Klaus Kinski

Max & Gabe D & friend @ MoMA - Jan 6, 2009 (by Fred Benenson) (via)

I don't get to see nearly as much comedy as I used to, but the scene is as vibrant as ever. If the mood strikes and I find myself wanting to get my yuck-on there is absolutely no shortage of one-off shows and recurring weekly shows. The Tribeca branch of the 92nd St Y has been booking some insane comedy shows recently. I caught Zach Galifianakis there a few weeks ago and was mightily impressed by the performance space and the insane, reasonably priced beer list at the bar. Sound Fix in Williamsburg has free comedy every Wednesday and Thursday. Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkle host Totally J/K every Wednesday at 9:30pm, while Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman and Jenny Slate host Big Terriffic at 8:00pm on Thursdays. These shows fill the void left by the demise of Rififi and its staples Invite Them Up and The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show by attracting big names like Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Janeane Garofalo, Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman, and zillions more. Speaking of Greg Johnson, he's got a free show every Sunday at Pianos. And speaking of Invite Them Up, former host Bobby Tisdale now has a semi-regular, RSVP only show happening in Greenpoint called Wards of Merkin. It's usually $10 and there's usually free booze and top shelf comedians. And don't forget that the UCB Theater and The Pit have calendars bursting with options as does Comix's underground lair Ochi's. And that's just barely scratching the surface of the goings ons. Below are some shows currently on my radar...

Continue reading "NYC comedy @ 92Y, SoundFix, Comix, Pianos, UCB, places"

Demetri Martin in Hawaii - Oct 26, 2008 (hunting ghosts)

Well, they're not as big as the show I remember he played at Town Hall in like 2007, but roughly-600 person venues are much bigger than places like UCB, Rififi, Pianos and Sound Fix. Comedian Demetri Martin is headlining Bowery Ballroom on February 19th, and Music Hall of Williamsburg the next day. Tickets for both shows go on Am Ex presale Wednesday at noon.

Eugene Mirman also has two big nights of shows coming up. So does Aziz Ansari.

Demetri Martin was not a special guest at any of this year's Yo La Tengo Hanukkah shows, but Jon Benjamin was.

Demetri Martin reminds me of Mitch Hedberg (RIP) who had an album come out in 2008.

Comedy Central presents Demetri Martin, in the video below...

Continue reading "Demetri Martin playing 2 big shows in NYC & other stuff"

Stella @ Hammerstein Ballroom (more by Zach Dilgard)

If you missed last weekend's Stella comedy show, don't fret -- you'll get two more chances to see Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain back in action in an intimate space! We have just announced two back to back shows at Union Hall this Saturday, November 29! Union Hall will sell 50 tickets for each show on Ticketweb starting at noon on Wednesday, November 26. Last week they sold in 16 seconds, so get your Internets ready for the race.

Saturday, November 29
STELLA
with Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain
8pm & 10pm

Tickets available at Ticketweb starting at noon on Wednesday, November 26

In other NYC comedy news, Demetri Martin has a show coming up at the UCB Theatre on December 1st.

Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices) and John Oliver (The Daily Show) will be Dave Hill's guests at the UCB Theatre in NYC on May 22nd.

Dave Hill and John Oliver are also playing that benefit with The Mountain Goats and Rock Plaza Central at Brooklyn Masonic Temple this Friday May 16th. Tickets are still on sale!

John Oliver is also taping his show "Political Animal" @ UCB on May 21st.

Mike Birbiglia does 60 Minutes of New Comedy @ UCB on May 15th & 23rd.

Demetri Martin and Dave Hill and many other comedians will also perform at Gelmania at Rififi TONIGHT (May 14). Flyer below....

Continue reading "Doug Gillard, John Oliver, Dave Hill, Demetri Martin, etc.."

It's been a while since I posted much comedy-related news, and the last thing I did post turned out to be somewhat of a false alarm caused by completely erroneous listings on Ticketmaster and Live Nation (which they've since corrected). Sorry about that.

Eugene Mirman & Bobby Tisdale cakes, final Invite Them Up (Anya Garrett)


One of the bigger bits of NYC comedy related news was the final installment of Invite Them Up which took place at the still-to-remain-open Rififi on 2/27/08. It was the last of three final shows and, having heard the crowds weren't actually that insane at the previous two, I decided to get there at 8pm sharp. That was a huge mistake. When I arrived the bar was so full that I couldn't even close the door behind me. As the crowd began to file into the live room, I knew there was no way I'd fit in there either, so I decided to watch the show on a large flatscreen from a stool at the bar. The evening's line-up was absolutely insane and featured Kristen Schaal, Jim Gaffigan, Slovin & Allen, Todd Barry,Chelsea Peretti, Eugene Mirman, Jon Glaser & Jon Benjamin, and Demetri Martin. Craig Baldo did the very final "30 Seconds of Stand-Up" during which Rififi received a noise complaint from one of the neighbors.

a cop storms Rififi (Heather Fink)

Because the bar itself was completely packed and everyone was really focusing their attention to the flatscreen, I don't feel like I missed anything by not being in the actual live room. Plus, being at the bar I never had to wait for a beer which was truly joyous. Like every other ITU I've gone to, I left this one extremely drunk and amply satisfied with the fantastic comedy they gave me for a mere $5. Although I am sad to see ITU go, the reality is that it isn't the only cheap, awesome, and reliable comedy showcase in town. We've still got Greg and Larry, Totally J/K, Tearing the Veil of Maya, CBS/NYC, Sweet, ITU's replacement Gelmania, and so many more. So cheer up.

Demetri Martin, Invite Them Up RIP (Driven By Boredom)

One night later I co-hosted our first installment of Rock 'n' ROFL at Pianos, but more about that HERE. Stay tuned for another announcement coming any second with the lineup of our March 31st edition.

Keep reading for news, upcoming shows, videos and more....

Continue reading "Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon (03/22/08)"

Demetri Martin, Invite Them Up, RIP (Marianne Ways)

Tonight (March 10, 2008) @ Pianos goes something like this:

11:00 SOUTH (UK)
10:00 KRISTOFFER RAGNSTAM
8:00 IT IS IT

Continue reading "'It is It' comedy @ Pianos (Demetri Martin) before South"

I met Demetri Martin, comedian, at a bar called ’51st.
State’ in Washington D.C. I had just caught his act on the Late Show
the night before. We had a couple drinks and shots. He’s a real cool
guy.
-Andy

Chris Rock is playing the WaMu Theater @ MSG on April 30th, May 1st & 2nd - part of a huge tour he's currently already on. He played the bigger Madison Square Garden on New Years Eve. Regular onsale for the new shows starts February 4th via Ticketmaster. All dates below...

Continue reading "Demetri Martin @ Radio City, Chris Rock @ MSG, Will Ferrell"

this picture (by Joel Barhamand) isn't even of comedy, but it did happen at Rififi where comedy often happens.....

I already posted a reminder that Human Giant is at UCB again tonight, but I didn't mention the "It Is It" show happening earlier in the evening at Pianos:

hosted by Adam Lowitt of the Daily Show
with special guests:
Demetri Martin, The Daily Show
Rob Cantrell, Last Comic Standing
Sara Schaefer, host of the DL
Matt Goldich, Comedy Central
Joselyn Hughes, The Slumber Party

Max Silvestri @ Rififi, NYC - Oct 29, 2007 (CRED)

In addition to all the special comedy shows always going on, don't forget that there are plenty of shows that happen weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly in NYC that are always reliable, rarely over $5, and usually feature some of the biggest comedians in the business. Why, just the other day Invite Them Up featured Jim Gaffigan, Demetri Martin, Nick Kroll, Andy Blitz, and Max Silvestri. Nuts, right!? Here are some other recurring shows I highly recommend.

• Totally J/K with Joe and Noah: Every other Monday at Rififi with Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkle
• At Night with Gabe and Jenny: Mondays at Rififi
• Sweet: Tuesday at The Slipper Room with Seth Herzog
• Invite Them Up: Wednesdays at Rififi with Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale
• Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy: Fridays at Rififi with Greg Johnson and Larry Murphy
• It is It: Monthly at Pianos with Adam Lowitt (The Daily Show)
• Tearing the Veil of Maya: Sundays at Union Hall with Eugene Mirman and Michael Showalter

Tickets go on sale Friday for Revenge of REVENGE OF THE BOOK EATERS: a benefit for 826NYC

THE COUNTRY’S MOST CELEBRATED SONGWRITERS, WRITERS, AND COMEDIANS COME TOGETHER FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT OF LITERATURE-MEETS-MUSIC TO RAISE MONEY FOR 826NYC, A CHILDREN’S WRITING CENTER IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. IN WHICH:

A.C. NEWMAN (New Pornographers) sings alone. GRIZZLY BEAR is a band. FEIST reads from a book. JIM JAMES (My Morning Jacket) croons. SARAH VOWELL speaks. DEMETRI MARTIN hosts.

Demetri Martin & Pete Yorn (CRED)

Crowd Surfer?(CRED)

More photos and sad Ornette Coleman news below....

Continue reading "More photos and what not from Bonnaroo 2007"

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"