by Klaus Kinski

Brett Gelman's 1000 CATS! @ Rififi, NYC (mister mark davis)

So I just got a myspace bulletin urging me to go to Gelmania at Rififi tonight (July 30, 2008), not only because it has a killer line-up featuring Tom McCaffrey, Baron Vaughn, and Adam Newman, but also because, as the message went on to tell me, the author "Just found out that Rififi is closing, come hang out one last time tonight!". This isn't the first time these words have been uttered. Reluctant to get suckered into this Boy Who Cried Wolf nonsense, I checked out trusted comedy authority The Apiary and sure enough they had a pretty convincing scoop on this most recent closing rumor. The Apiary included a note that Rififi's manager sent to the very funny Matt Ruby:

it's quite possible that thursday will be the last day that rififi will be open, it seems that the owner of rififi has come to an impasse with the landlord... as you might have known rififi has been occupying the space on a month-by-month basis since march and the landlord is now asking for substantially more money, it's possible that he's playing hardball but if an agreement isn't be reached by thursday then it will really be the last day that rififi is open.

i'm sorry we didn't have a couple of weeks to plan for this but the relationship between the landlord and the owner has always been somewhat unstable so it was hard to predict if and when the end would actually come... please be assured that all of the time and effort you put into producing your show has been greatly appreciated, if there is any change in the situation i will let you know as soon as i hear about it.

Rififi currently plays host to incredible weekly shows including Totally J/K, The Greg Johnson and Larry Murphy Show, Sweet Haven, Gelmania, as well as Mo Diggs' Open Mic Comedy Night. The potential loss of such consistently fun and talent-packed showcases will be one of the biggest, most devastating blows to the comedy scene in NYC as I, we, know it.

The Feelies @ Maxwell's - July 1, 2008 (Max Lang)

TODAY IN NYC
* FREE STUFF
* The Feelies @ Maxwell's
* High Places @ Stuvesent Town
* The Fleshtones on a Rocks Off boat
* Oxford Collapse & Frightened Rabbit @ Southpaw
* Gelmania comedy @ Rififi w/ Fred Armisen (flyer below)
* Kimya Dawson & friends @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

Stomp! Boink! (videos below)

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

The Futureheads @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - June 17, 2008 (Photo by Olga Bas)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* FREE STUFF
* Gelmania @ Rififi
* Annuals @ Sound Fix
* Annuals @ Union Pool
* Emmylou Harris @ Town Hall
* Steely Dan @ Beacon Theatre
* Stevie Wonder @ Jones Beach
* Maceo Parker @ Masonic Temple
* The Ting Tings @ Bowery Ballroom
* comedy benefit @ Knitting Factory
* The Futureheads, Man in Gray & comedy @ Pianos
* Retribution Gospel Choir & Thalia Zedek @ Mercury Lounge
* Maria Taylor, Johnathan Rice & Nik Freitas @ The Knitting Factory
* Jacob Golden, Battle of Land and Sea / Wildbirds & Peacedrums @ Union Hall

We picked a rough night to host a comedy show a Pianos. Tonight is also a benefit at Knitting Factory and the weekly Gelmania at Rififi. Gelmania host Brett Gelman is moving to LA, so this will also be his last Gelmania.

When Nik Freitas opened for Rilo Kiley I pointed out that he is on Team Love and stuff. Tonight he's opening for Johnathan Rice and Maria Taylor. Yesterday I noticed he's also in Conor Oberst's new band.

What else?

Okkervil River @ Sasquatch on Friday (more by Chris Graham)

today in NYC
* Eagles @ MSG
* Gelmania @ Rififi
* 'The Scale of Sound' @ The Tank
* A benefit for Scotty Hard @ Europa
* Birdmonster @ Mercury Lounge
* Slaraffenland & Efterklang @ Knitting Factory
* Ex-Models and Dark Meat @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Sea Wolf & The Jealous Girlfriends return to Mercury Lounge
* Simone of Blonde Redhead, Soft Circle, Lucky Dragons, Chairlift @ Studio B
* She Wants Revenge, Be Your Own PET, The Virgins, and Switches @ Irving Plaza

There are also free River to River events in Battery Park City.

The show at The Tank is described like this: "Amplification is magnification. Using voice, feedback installations, live soldering, wireless modular synths, photography, musical instruments and more, performers will play with amplification to change our perception of sound. Big sound, little sound, and everything in between."

John Oliver and Reggie Watts are both performing at Rififi tonight. Flyer below.

Baby Dee made a music video.

Hot Chip tickets are on sale.

Happy Birthday Chubb Rock (catch him in Prospect Park on June 28th).

RIP, Earle Hagen, `Andy Griffith' composer.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

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.."

by Klaus Kinski

Will Franken @ Rock n ROFL (more by Ryan Muir)

Holy Toledo. If ever there was a night when the NYC comedy scene presents you with two extremely tough choices of live entertainment, Wednesday April 16, 2008 is a doozie.

On the one hand, you've got the opportunity to see the truly brilliant comedic performance artist Will Franken unleash an HOUR-LONG SET at the Sidewalk Cafe (94 Ave A @ 6th Street) at 9:00pm. Will delivered a short, powerful and completely mesmerizing set at the last Rock n' ROFL that left me ready for a much longer, more involved performance. Tonight's our chance people. Oh, and it's ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Cripes, but on the other hand you've also got the opportunity to check out the latest installment of Rififi's (332 11th St. b/t 1st and 2nd Ave) new Wednesday night staple Gelmania. The show will be hosted by German entertainer Klaus Von Funn (not to be confused with Klaus Kinski), who I endorse completely and without hesitation. The roster of comedic guests makes me weep at the majesty of their caliber; guests include David Cross, Reggie Watts, Chelsea Peretti, Bobby Tisdale, Neil Casey and Anthony Antaminuik. Yes, all of them. Doors for this show are at 8:00pm and costs a mere $5.00.

It's stressful picking which show to go to, but no matter which one you choose, you will have chosen wisely. Gelmania flyer below....

Continue reading "Will Franken vs David Cross & Reggie Watts (TONIGHT!)"

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)"