The 2012 edition of Calgary, Alberta festival Sled Island is set to take place from June 20-23 at venues throughout the city. This year includes over 200 bands performing at 30 venues plus a large comedy schedule, film screenings, and art shows.

Sled Island 2012 will once again use outdoor venue Olympic Plaza as its main stage, featuring performances by Feist, The Hold Steady, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, The Dudes, Shabazz Palaces, Parlovr, and others.

Acts including Russian Circles, Hot Snakes, The Antlers, Boris, Thurston Moore, Willis Earl Beal, Trust, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Terry Malts, Neil Hamburger, How To Dress Well, The Evaporators (aka Nardwuar's band), DJ Jonathan Toubin, Hannibal Buress, Andrew W.K., Tim Heidecker, Archers of Loaf, and many more will be performing at various bars and venues. Check out the full lineup at the bottom of this post.

Festival passes, individual tickets for some clubs shows, and tickets for the Olympic Plaza events only are all on sale. The full festival schedule iwill be announced in June.

Full lineup and 2012 festival trailer below...

Continue reading "Feist, Stephen Malkmus, The Hold Steady and lots more playing Calgary's Sled Island Festival (full line-up)"

by Klaus Kinski

Neil Hamburger (more by Samantha Marble)

Speaking of those Faith No More reunion shows , it has been announced that America's funnyman Neil Hamburger (who opened those Faith No More shows) will be hitting the road with Duncan Trussell in June and performing at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on Sunday June 17th (as part of the Northside Festival). Tickets are on sale right now but get them now while it's on your mind (or you can try to get in with your Northside badge). Because you will forget, it might sell out, and your friends will have to put up with your belly-aching.

The great Hannibal Buress has his show in the front room that Sunday (and every Sunday for that matter), so for my money the Knit is THE place to be on Sunday June 17th.

All dates, including NJ and CT, are listed below...

Continue reading "Neil Hamburger schedules tour dates w/ Duncan Trussell"

Deer Tick (more by Tim Griffin)

As part of SummerStage 2012, Red Hook Park in Brooklyn will host free shows for a week in June including, AraabMUZIK, Das Racist, Deer Tick, and a Comedy Central showcase featuring Hannibal Buress, Kevin Barnett, and Josh Rabintowitz. Check out the full schedule below...

Continue reading "June shows in Red Hook Park (Deer Tick, Das Racist & more)"

today in NYC
* ASSSCAT 3000 @ UCB
* Horse Lords @ The Stone
* Ida Blue @ Manhattan Inn
* Lightyear @ The Ace Hotel
* Pretty Good Friends @ Union Hall
* Gotye, Kimbra @ Terminal 5
* The Psychedelic Furs @ Maxwell's
* The Residents @ Abrons Arts Center
* Francisco Lopez @ Issue Project Room
* Allman Brothers Band @ Beacon Theatre
* Peter Evans, John Hebert, Kassa Overall @ Zebulon
* comedy night w/ Hannibal Buress @ Knitting Factory
* Brooklyn Philharmonic, Brooklyn Youth Chorus @ Roulette
* Toots and The Maytals, Fear Nuttin Band @ Brooklyn Bowl
* King Giant, Backwoods, Payback, Order of the Owl @ Saint Vitus
* Echodeck, Cyphered Threads, Hoist, White Bike @ Death By Audio
* Tamrin, The Shakes, Bad Credit No Credit @ Big Snow Buffalo Lodge
* Lone Wolf & Cub, Wild Yaks, Lemon Dilemma, Ice Balloons @ Union Pool
* The Vandelles, Electric Eel Shock, Hard Nips, Hot Cha Cha @ Cake Shop
* Teeth & Tongue, Christine Hoberg, Tough Luck, Jus Post Bellum @ Glasslands
* Miniature Tigers, Geographer, The Chain Gang of 1974, Speak @ Bowery Ballroom
* Riot of the Blood, Resolution 15, Death Immortal, No Remission, Anesthetized @ Trash Bar
* Japanther, Cerebral Ballzy, Ghost Mice, Diarrhea Planet, Osekre and The Lucky Bastards, Liquor Store, EULA @ Le Poisson Rouge
* The Aussie BBQ w/ Big Scary, Bonfire Nights, Busby Marou, Jonti, Jordie Lane, Oh Mercy, Pets with Pets, Saskia Sansom, Sparkadia, Teeth & Tongue, The Jefferson, Traveller & Fortune, Voltaire Twins, Wazu @ The Bell House

Tonight is our free screening of "The Island President" at Knitting Factory (FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED). We already awarded one pair of Radiohead tickets. Another pair gets awarded at the show. See the movie and still be home in time for (set your DVR just in case) the season premiere of Mad Men and Eastbound & Down.

Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) & Tammy Powers (Lily Tomlin) - photo by Fred Norris

For those not rushing home to see TV, our screening will be over right around the time Hannibal Buress starts his weekly free comedy night in Knitting Factory's front room (screening is in the back).

Check out the latest edition of Evillive for more metal.

Aputumpu Festival ends at Le Poisson Rouge tonight.

The Psychedelic Furs are wrapping up a weekend at Maxwell's tonight (both shows are/were sold out)

For all the Australia-philes, the 2012 Aussie BBQ is happening tonight, featuring Big Scary, The Jefferson, Jonti, and Jordie Lane, among others. Check out the full lineup and more details here. It runs until midnight according to the flyer you can see below.

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
Follow @bvChicago for just Chicago stuff.
Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

Oberhofer played Letterman. Check out the video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

by Klaus Kinski

Pete & Pete reunion @ Bowery Ballroom, 2/24/2012 (photo by jenipherlyn)

Hey guys. So, lookit, you're about to ingest a lot of comedy data in a moment. But it's just the tip of the NYC comedy iceberg. No, it's less than the tip. It's a piece of dandruff that sailed from an Arctic explorer's head and settled on the tip of the iceberg. I don't have the time and you don't have the attention span to handle an entire survey of the NYC scene right now. What follows is a brief glimpse into some cool goings on in the coming weeks. Take it with a grain of dandruff.

First thing's first. Rob Delaney added a fourth NYC show, but you knew that. Moving on...

Did you miss the two Adventures of Pete & Pete reunion shows that happened at the Bowery Ballroom on February 24th? Bummer, right? Well, unfortunately the show I'm about to tell you about is already sold out, but where there's a will, there's a way (and that way could possibly include standby tix). Get a load of this. The great Kurt Braunohler has a late night talk show at The Pit called Night of the Living with Kurt Braunohler. The next installment of this show happens on Friday March 9th and features guest Mike Maronna (Pete) and Danny Tamberelli (Pete)! It's a fun sized, mini-reunion just for you! Also, Wyatt Cenac (Daily Show) will be there and a surprise musical guest who I am unable to mention, but whom we love and idolize here at BV headquarters (an internet cafe)! Hint, it is a man whose name may or may not rhyme with 'bread'.

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Thursday March 8th marks the return of Tom Shillue's story-telling-centric show Funny Story to the hallowed halls of UCB East. This time he will have guests Amine Zaitzeff (owner of Zaitzeff Burger), Mike Albo, the great Margot Leitman, and Stephen Gevedon. A super-diverse and well curated line-up. Show is at 7:30pm, tix are on sale.

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Speaking of burgers, Bob's Burgers is my favorite animated series on the TV and I was thrilled when it was (rightfully) renewed for another season (which premiers THIS Sunday March 11th on Fox). The casting a so fucking impeccable; H. Jon Benjamin, Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, Larry Murphy, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Andy Kindler as well as guests like Jon Glaser. Holy! Well get a load of THIS shit. On Friday March 9th you can see the CAST OF BOB's BURGERS LIVE AT THE BELL HOUSE!! And IT'S FREE. I am not an all-caps kind of guy, but that pronouncement certainly merited such action. OK, full disclosure, the Bell House show doesn't feature the entire cast I listed above. The show will feature Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, and Larry Murphy doing funnies and also previewing clips from the next season. You can only get in with a wristband, and those will be distributed starting at 5:00pm. So, wristbands at 5pm, doors at 8pm, show sometime after that. 21+. Sorry, junior.

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While I'm on the subject of TV-related comedy, NYU's Skirball Center will play host to John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show from March 10th through March 12th. The show, being taped for Comedy Central, will include sets by David O'Doherty, Hannibal Buress, Wyatt Cenac, Dana Gould, Michael Ian Black, Marc Maron, and a shit-ton of rising stars from with the stand-up world. You can totally get in to these things for free, but you gotta head on over to The Blacklist NYC and get yourself situated. And for the record... as far as people who put together audiences for tapings, The Blacklist is pretty tops. Very well managed, never confusing, very organized. Totally rad. Just saying.

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Next Thursday, March 12th, Symphony Space will play host to an incredible comedy event called Uptown Showdown: Comedy Debate Series. This is not the first time Symphony Space has hosted this show, and I am wicked pissed at myself for not mentioning it to you people prior to earlier installments.

Uptown ShowDown is a comedy debate series that tackles some of the most important issues of our time, such as which decade was the coolest-the eighties or the nineties, is cake really better than pie and who would win in a showdown pirates or ninjas? Forget about school reform and health care, these issues, heatedly argued by some of the funniest, smartest, intensely wacky creative thinkers around, are the topics that keep us awake at night....in a good way. Past Performers include Michael Showalter, Leo Allen, Dave Hill, Jessi Klein, Julie Klausner, Andrea Rosen, A.D. Miles and more.

Next week's show will have Michael Ian Black and friends facing off with The talent Show's Elna Baker and Kevin Townley on the subject of Fashion vs. Comfort. Tom Shillue will host the festivities. Following the event, Mr. Ian Black will read from his new memoir You're Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations. He'll also sign your copy. I wish I could tell you how funny or awful this book is but I never got a galley copy because I am chopped liver or something. Tickets are on sale now, and I am also giving away a pair AND a copy of Michael Ian Black's book! Instructions below.

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The next installment of the mind-blowing experience known as Heart of Darkness will take place on Saturday March 17th at Union Hall. This time around, host Greg Barris will be joined by Joe Mande, Dave Hill, and more special guests that I shan't announce but are no doubt worthy of your attention. My thoughts? Get your tickets in advance, you.

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Speaking of Dave Hill, did you know that motherfucker wrote a book and that it comes out on May 22nd? If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, then you're thinking "Wait, Dave Hill is a flawless comedian. Dave Hill is a master guitar player, maybe the best in the world. Dave Hill is easy on the eyes. And Dave Hill can also write a freaking book? What can't that guy accomplish?" I know, right? The book is entitled Tasteful Nudes. If you like stories...

...about stolen meat, animal attacks, young love, death, naked people, clergymen, rock 'n' roll, irritable Canadians, and prison, you have just hit a street called Easy because my book talks about all that stuff and a bunch of other stuff, too.

I am nobody's shill and I wouldn't be saying this if it wasn't the Cod's honest truth; this book is absolutely impossible to put down. It is so funny and well written that I simply could not put it down. Pre-order it now, then forget you pre-ordered it, so then one day it shows up in your mailbox and you're all "Ha. Dave Hill's done it again."

And speaking of Joe Mande, he has a ton of upcoming dates all over the Northeast. Check out his tour schedule below.

And now, before I hang it up for the day, I am happy to report that The PIT is going to unleash its first ever NYC Improv Festival! The NYC Improv Festival will take place from March 21st to March 24th at Peoples Improv Theater and feature OVER 40 improv troupes as well as workshops. A TON of the shows are free, and some require tickets. You can also buy a festival pass for next to nothing that will get you into all the shows. I also have two UNLIMITED festival passes to give away. Instructions on how to win them are down there.

Joe dates and contests below...

Continue reading "Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon (Bob's Burgers, contests, dates, an improv fest, Tom Shillue, Symphony Space & much more)"

Though it doesn't say it on their website, Mike Birbiglia promises that he's performing "Sleepwalk With Me" at Comic Strip Live tonight (12/12).

UPDATE: Mike's show starts at 8:30 and tickets go on sale at noon.

I don't know what time it starts and ends, but if it's done early enough you can then head to UCB West for this week's edition of Whiplash with Leo Allen and guests.

Alternatively, you can spend your Monday night with Kurt and Kristen in Brooklyn at Littlefield. Their guests at Hot Tub this week include Michael Showalter.

Head back to UCB West on Wednesday after work for a live WFMU broadcast of "7 Second Delay" with guests Lou Reed and Suzanne Vega.

UPDATE: Lou Reed is also making an appearance at Book Court tonight.

In other "live" comedy news, tickets are on sale for Star Talk Live at The Bell House on Sunday, December 18th. The lineup includdes Neil de Grasse Tyson, Eugene Mirman, and John Hodgman.

One night after that is the Hot Tub Holiday edition at Littlefield with Kurt, Kristen, Jon Glaser, Hannibal Buress, Adam the Real Man, and musical guest River City Extension.

Speaking of Hannibal Buress, he opened two shows for Aziz Ansari at the Bell House on Saturday night. We posted pictures.

Speaking of the Bell House, Rocket from the Tombs plays there tonight!

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.

photos by David Andrako

The 2011 Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival concluded on Sunday night (9/18) with two shows at the Bell House. "A Special Food-Themed Comedy Show For You" was hosted by Eugene Mirman and Leo Allen, with Ron Funches, Sarah Vowell, Larry Murphy, Raquel Pelzel and David Rees. "Pretty Good Friends", hosted by Michael Showalter, was with Eugene Mirman, Marc Maron (who plays the same Brooklyn venue again tonight/Monday), Hannibal Buress, Jared Logan and surprise musical guest Andrew Bird.

Andrew played four songs: Goin Home (Charlie Patton), So Much Wine (Handsome Family), Bein' Green (Joe Raposo), and Give It Away (new song).

Congrats to Mirman & co for another great year! Looking forward to 2012. Pictures from 2011 are HERE, HERE, HERE, and below...

Continue reading "Andrew Bird played! -- Eugene Mirman Comedy Fest Day 4 pics (Marc Maron, Sarah Vowell, Michael Showalter & more)"

All Tomorrow's Parties returns to the USA this September in the new location of Asbury Park, N.J. bringing an I'll Be Your Mirror event to the iconic waterfront. For the inaugural U.S. I'll Be Your Mirror, Portishead will curate and headline their firrst East Coast shows since 1998 on the Saturday & Sunday.

As well as Day Tickets, ATP have to date been selling two types of weekend pass - "Three Day Jeff Mangum" passes that include Jeff Mangum's Friday show and guarantee access to one of the Portishead shows (as well as everything else at the festival) and "Three Day Portishead" passes that do not give access to Jeff's Friday show but give guaranteed access to both Portishead shows as well as the rest of the festival. Today we announce a third type of weekend pass...

Portishead have invited Jeff to play an extra show on the Sunday night of the festival. Therefore this week we release new "Three Day Jeff Mangum Sunday Passes" - these give access to all three days of the festival to passholders who will see Jeff Mangum on the Sunday night and are guaranteed to see one of the two Portishead shows. The original Three Day passes for the event are now called "Three Day Jeff Mangum Friday Passes."

Say that all three times fast. All three day pass options are still on sale. More details on all ATP ticket options are below.

That means Jeff is playing Asbury Park three times, twice during the actual festival (see above), and, as you know, once on Monday (10/3) at Paramount Theatre (the day after ATP and not actually part of the fest itself). The Monday show has been sold out for a while now, but ATP are releasing a few more tickets for it. "To buy email feedback@atpfestival.com with JEFF MONDAY TICKETS in subject line, and tell us how many tickets you want. We will respond as soon as possible. Payments must be made by Paypal." A Hawk and a Hacksaw (ft. Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeremy Barnes) open the show.

ATP NJ has a few other lineup additions including Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 (they first reunited to play the Animal Collective ATP that recently happened in the UK), avant guitar hero Marc Ribot, avant sax hero Colin Stetson, avant comedian Reggie Watts, and others. Also: "Today we are also very pleased to announce that in conjunction with The Jonathan Levine Gallery, renowned artist SHEPARD FAIREY (who has created the art for this event and will also DJ) will be presenting an exhibition of his art over the weekend entitled Revolutions: The Album Cover Art of Shepard Fairey. More details of the exhibition will be confirmed soon."

The updated lineup is below, along with updated Jeff Mangum tour dates (he added a few other shows recently too)...

Continue reading "ATP NJ adds another Jeff Mangum show, a new kind of pass & some more bands to the lineup"

Reggie Watts' upcoming March 30th headlining show at Music Hall of Williamsburg "in celebration of his Reggie Watts Live at Third Man Records record release" has sold out, so they added a 2nd show happening later that same night. Look for tickets to the new show to go AmEx presale Wed at noon, and general sale Friday at noon.

Meanwhile Reggie is headed to Texas where he'll appear at 35 Conferette in Denton followed by a show at SXSW Interactive. And in RELATED news, there's a comedy show happening Tuesday night at Cake Shop that sounds really interesting. Details below...

Continue reading "Reggie Watts sells out MHOW, adds 2nd show & stuff"

Last week Littlefield wasn't listing any more editions of "Hot Tub" on their schedule, but it is in fact back tonight (2/7). Corn Mo, Brent Sullivan, Adam Cayton-Holland, and Free Love Forum will all join Kurt Braunohler (but maybe not Kristen) at the Brooklyn venue this evening. There's also a lineup listed for 2/14 - "Found Footage Festival, Sandra Bauleo, Surprise Guests, + more!" (and Kristen's name is on that bill).

Tonight is also another edition of Kevin Allison's Risk! Storyslam at the Pit, and of course Whiplash at UCB (with Jay Pharoah, Adam Cayton-Holland, Brooke Van Poppelen & Roger Hailes).

Speaking of UCB, the Chris Gethard Show returns to the venue on February 19th. Chris recently returned from a tour that kicked off with some help from Diddy.

Speaking of Diddy (not actually), the great Reggie Watts has announced another big headlining show. Having already sold out Manhattan's Highline Ballroom, his next big NYC conquest will be Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 30th. Tickets for the "partially seated show" go on sale Friday at noon.

Reggie will also join Eugene Mirman (and Kumail Nanjiani) for a special Boston edition of "Pretty Good Friends" on March 1st. Meanwhile catch the next edition of Mirman's "Pretty Good Friends" at its usual home of Union Hall in Park Slope this Sunday (2/13), and don't miss the extra-large Brooklyn edition coming to the Bell House on 2/27 in honor of Michael Showalter's new book.

And speaking of The Bell House and new books...

TUE 2/8: 8pm / FREE
JON GLASER BOOK RELEASE PARTY
Please join us for an evening of readings and music from Jon Glaser's new book "My Dead Dad Was In ZZ Top" (Harper Perennial), followed by general hanging out good times. Paul Rudd, Scott Adsit, John Hodgman, Zoe Lister-Jones, Ira Kaplan, Jon Hamm, and other special guests are scheduled to appear. Books will be on sale, plus the first 25 people to purchase books receive a special free un-named gift!

That's like half the cast of the new New Pornographers video all in one place and it's free!

Last but not least, Tuesday night live comedy series "Tell Your Friends" (who are advertisng a secret musical guest for this Tuesday's show) are releasing a movie! Trailer (starring Reggie Watts, Kurt Braunohler, Kristen Schaal and many others) and more details below...

Continue reading "Hot Tub, Reggie Watts, Whiplash, Jon Glaser's book, Tell Your Friends the movie, Chris Gethard & more shiat"

Considering Brooklyn comedian Myq Kaplan's CD was recorded live at NYC comedy club Comix and named one of the best comedy albums of 2010 by Dusted and has a name like "Vegan Mind Meld" and was released all the way back in April, I'm a little slow to this party, but better late than never.

Catch Myq (who was also on the lineup of last night's Whiplash) do standup for FREE TONIGHT (2/1) at Royal Oak with Hannibal Buress, Giulia Rozzi, Micah Sherman, and The Pendulum Swings featuring Jason Trachtenberg of The Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players.

Alternatively, Todd Barry is on the lineup of Tell Your Friends! at Lolita Bar tonight.

Listen to Craig Ferguson say "vegan" and watch other videos below...

Continue reading "I just realized Myq Kaplan's CD is called 'Vegan Mind Meld'"

Tim & Eric have added a November 27th late show at the Best Buy Theatre in NYC, so they're now playing two shows at the same venue in one night. Tickets are on sale. More dates HERE.

On other comedy news, check out Eugene Mirman's posted set of tour dates:

Sun, Nov 7 - Tearing The Veil of Maya @ Union Hall
Sun, Nov 14 - Tearing The Veil of Maya @ Union Hall
Sat, Jan 22 - Opening for Aziz Ansari @ Carnegie Hall

You can also catch Eugene at Brooklyn Bowl in November and at the Rock Shop in December, and probably many other Sundays at Union Hall in the future (as Tearing the Veil of Maya is semi-regular occurrence that recently turned four)

And don't forget you can catch Hannibal Buress (friend of Avey Tare?) for free every Sunday at Knitting Factory in another section of Brooklyn, including on Halloween (Tearing the Veil of Maya is taking that day off).

PREVIOUSLY: Nick Kroll has some tapings coming up

Check out a video of Reggie Watts playing a song about pancakes on his iPhone below...

Continue reading "Tim & Eric add a show, Eugene Mirman & Hannibal Buress every Sunday & other comedy stuff too"

words by Jessica Timlin

Avey Tare release party crocodile cake (Pushkar)

I knew I had followed the obscure directions to Secret Project Robot correctly when I got to the loading docks and found a building dripping of colorful paint and christmas lights. The place was set up for Halloween, but meshed perfectly with the "swamp and death" theme that Animal Collective's Avey Tare had imagined for his album release party (Monday night, 10/25).

Tattered mesh hung from the ceilings with interesting film clips being projected on and through them accompanied by Avey's sister Abby Portner's installation. The installation reminded me of Animal Collective's installation at the Guggenhiem a few months back. By the entrance, they had shirts and of course, the new album "Down There," both on vinyl and cd. As I made my way around, I saw Dave (Avey) chatting with both close friends and fans.

The vibe was very laid back, an interesting scene, and much more casual than I imagined. There were many other familiar faces that showed up, including Deakin from Animal Collective. At about 9:45, the imaginative Avey made his way up to the small stage, thanked everyone for coming and introduced his cousin, comedian Matt Baetz, to tell a few jokes. Matt seemed a bit nervous, standing with a beer in hand, as he spoke to a room that was half-full of people that didn't seem to have a sense of humor - Beyond that, he was very funny, without really trying at all.

The sounds continued with a few people including Brian DeDraw of Gang Gang Dance manning the dj booth towards the back, while Dave cut into a massive crocodile cake - red velvet - and dished out pieces to everyone present.

A while later, Comic and former SNL writer Hannibal Buress took to the stage. I'm a big fan of his current writing for the show, 30 Rock and found him to be hysterical. He commented on the interesting contrasts between the vibes he was getting from the crowd, some laughing with tears streaming and others staring at him with their "Serious Artist" personas. I couldn't agree more; but the set was great. The music returned and people kept on mingling until it came to an end around 12 am. A great experience overall.

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UNRELATED FACTS?: Avey DJ'd a Crocodiles (the band) show at Glasslands in September. Crocodiles' next scheduled NYC-area show was supposed to be tonight (10/26) at Maxwell's, but they cancelled yesterday (the same day as Avey's crocodile cake release party).

Avey's new Crocodile-adorned album "Down There" is out now. Album art and the new crocodile-filed video made by his sister, below...

Continue reading "Hannibal Buress performed & there was crocodile cake (at Avey Tare's release party @ Secret Project Robot) "

words & photos by David Andrako

Daniel Kitson / Jim Gaffigan

The 2nd night of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival (read about the first here) featured two shows: "Montreal Callbacks" and a super sized "Invite Them Up."

The first show of the evening was held at Union Hall and was billed as "Montreal Callbacks" - a reference to the Montreal Comedy Festival. Kurt Braunohler began the show with a brief set before he assumed the role of host for the evening. The night featured young stand-ups many of whom can be found performing weekly at clubs in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Mike Lawrence, Greg Johnson, Max Silvestri, Andrea Rosen, Ken Reid, Dan St. Germain and Hannibal Buress.

Highlights of the show included Ken Reid's set, which featured stories of his "white trash" childhood growing up in Massachusetts, Dan St. Germain's self depreciating tales of living in Brooklyn and Andrea Rosen recounting awkward encounters with celebrities and long lost friends. I caught the first few minutes of always great Hannibal Buress's set before heading off to The Bell House for the second show of the night.

Invite Them Up, the much beloved weekly comedy show that Eugene was involved with from 2005-2008 returned for a sold out performance at The Bell House. The show was again hosted by Bobby Tisdale, and featured performances by ITU co-host (and the host of the night) Eugene Mirman, A.D. Miles, , Maeve Higgins, Morgan Murphy, Reggie Watts, Daniel Kitson and special guest, Jim Gaffigan.

Jim Gaffigan, who headlines SIX shows at the Best Buy (formerly Nokia) Theater in December, was greeted with some of the loudest cheers of the evening and the fact that the comics from the earlier show had made their way down to The Bell House to watch his set from the back of the room speaks to his status as a massively respected comedian. His unannounced appearance strengthened an already packed show.

Daniel Kitson, the British stand-up and storyteller, ended the show with an hour long set that featured some impressive crowd work and allowed him to display his razor sharp commentary and lightning fast wit. After admitting that he "didn't have the professionalism to be a middle act," Kitson launched into quizzing audience members on their names and occupations only to later weave them all together in a freestyle rant comparing audience members to each other. In addition to his biting commentary, he wasn't afraid to display his vulnerability explaining that, "I'm quite lonely and I live alone. This is my chance to chat." He also addressed his stutter, which was apparent during his performance. At the age of 33, his stand-up act is impressive and made even more impressive by the fact that Kitson has turned down most television work in the US and Britain. He has performed both story shows and stand-up at the past eleven Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.

The 2010 Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival concludes Sunday night. Read about Thursday night HERE. More pictures from Friday below...

Continue reading "Jim Gaffigan showed up & Daniel Kitson was there at night 2 of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Fest (pics & review) "

words and photos by BBG, more photos by Samantha Marble

Thurston & Jim @ ATP NY (photo by Abbey Braden for ATP)

My 11 Most Notable Moments at ATP NY 2010 by Adrienne Day

(11) Book club with Samantha Hunt and Luc Sante. Apparently Nikola Tesla thought he was married to a pigeon. #ThingsIlearnedatATP

(10) Jim Jarmusch and Thurston Moore's silly but entertaining exchange about "weird New York"

(9) @janelerner's Mary-Poppins-like bag with its bottomless supply of comforts from home

(8) Sleep's defibrillating two-hour-plus set

(7) Blagdon Lake at dusk: http://twitpic.com/2m59gh

(6) Beak> opening with the terrific "Blagdon Lake" and keeping it surprisingly cohesive / groove-able for the whole set

(5) Injuries sustained while losing at air hockey: a heavily bruised knee and what feels like a torn rotator cuff

(4) Years of incontinence producing an unmistakably ripe aroma in Kutsher's front elevator

(3) Stooges scholarship ("Williamson should go back to designing computer chips"; "Iggy's slowed down a bit but still, holy shit")

(2) This little pumin has apparently already been featured on Brooklyn Vegan: http://twitpic.com/2m59bb

(1) no wifi as its own time warp, leading to in-depth convos and contemplative gazing on the lake

Our own ATP NY review now concludes with a recap of Sunday. If you're just joining us, start with Friday and then read Saturday, before continuing...

Ron Jeremy & new friend @ ATP NY Sunday night

How do you get out of a conversation with Ron Jeremy? It's 1:30 AM on Monday (Sunday night), my friends are talking to the porn legend, and all I can think about is rest. It's been a brutal weekend of fantastic performances, great conversation, contact highs, 30 packs of beer, fantastic people, not to mention great music. But by the end of Sunday (the final day of ATP NY 2010), I just needed some Zs.

After a day-opening set of psychedelia from White Hills on stage two (which I enjoyed though it didn't manage to give me the kick in the ass I needed), The Greenhornes held down my interest for what I caught of their set. The Detroit Cincinnati band's garage pop played to one of the biggest early day crowds that I had seen on all three days. Kurt Vile's garagey punk followed on the second stage, sounding much heavier live than I had anticipated.

Fucked Up was next on the main stage, so I made sure to secure a primo slot for the mayhem. Madman Pink Eyes, who sang 2/3 of the show from the crowd, did all of the following during his set in the Stardust Room: crushed a coke can like Stone Cold Steve Austin, sprinkled Cocoa Puffs on the crowd, smeared himself with Oreos, performed all of "Crusades" with a plastic bag on his head, laid down in the center of the crowd, instigated a group hug of 20-30 people, and took audience members on piggy back rides. After two days of festival madness, it was definitely the shot in the arm I needed. Vivian Girls, who followed them on the second stage, was a bit of a comedown, but then again who wouldn't be?

GZA's set was moved to later that night on stage two (which I would end up missing due to Altar), so his stage one slot was filled by comedian Hannibal Burress who had also performed Friday night. I missed his set and ended up catching Wooden Shjips' powerful psychedelic set on the second stage. There were many retro-leaning bands playing over the course of the weekend. My favorite sets in that category came from Dungen and The Black Angels. Powerful, trippy and fantastic.

With the lights down low, Hope Sandoval played xylophone and crooned with her enchanting voice to the Stardust Stage crowd. On any other occasion, I might have found the set mesmerizing, but at that moment another pick me up was needed and I surprisingly found that in Girls's sunny Elvis Costello brand of pop directly afterward. With all of the recent brutality (Fucked Up, Wooden Shjips, and in a much different way, um, Vivian Girls) it was a fun change to see the band run through tracks like "Laura" from their recent LP. Great set from this Cali crew.

T Model Ford

Of all the artists walking around Kutshers during ATP weekend, the two that seemingly had the most fans/people clamoring to meet them were Sunday's curator Jim Jarmusch, and T-Model Ford. It didn't hurt that T-Model was apt to take his guitar out and play anywhere with a little battery-powered amp. The bluesman finally got his time under the lights of the second stage on Sunday night though, and the adoration continued, with people cheering while he tuned (multiple times).

Raekwon took the stage a touch late with an introduction from Ron Jeremy, running through the classic Wu material: "Protect Ya Neck", "C.R.E.A.M.", "Ice Cream", set opener "Motherless Child", "House of Flying Daggers" and many more. Though I nerd out to the tracks and even ODB classic-that-felt-like-set-filler-in-a-Raekwon-show "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" on the Stardust Room system, the set felt phoned in. Not to sound insensitive, but is a few-minute shout out to your grandfather who is buried in Monticello really necessary? GZA, Kim Gordon, and Thurston Moore watched the set from the sides of the stage.

I missed GZA's rescheduled set completely on the second stage (because of Altar), but he reportedly delivered a freestyle-heavy set. The Wu-tang rep later showed up at The Deep End Bar to greet the legendary Kool Herc who was DJing late-night...

GZA & Kool Herc ATP (Kory Grow)

Partway into [Kool Herc's] set, in walked Wu-Tang Clan's GZA, who had played a sort-of aggressive set at the same time as Altar (I went back and forth between the two.) ...in the presence of Herc, he was nothing but reverent. He nonchalantly stepped behind the turntables and said hello. ...It was one of those rare moments where you felt like you were seeing something rare and historic. GZA grabbed the mic and talked about what a legend Kool Herc was and thanked him before leaving.-
[Sadness Is Delicious]

After leaving Altar, I spent a good portion on my way out saying goodbyes to the many new friends I had made at ATP. The festival is more than a string of shows, a worn-down hotel, and a few too many beers; it's a community of like-minded and friendly people that I have not experienced anywhere else. ATP New York was tons of fun, and I spent a good portion of Sunday lamenting that my experience was almost over and I'd have to wait another year. But I'll definitely be there.

Pictures from Friday HERE and Saturday HERE, and the rest of Sunday, below...

Continue reading "ATP NY 2010 - Day 3 pics (Jim Jarmusch, Thurston Moore, Ron Jeremy, Fucked Up, Girls, T Model Ford, Raekwon & more) "

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..)"

'It's amazing what these sick f#%ks will do right out in the open' - Dave Hill

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the two Scissor Sisters shows coming to Bowery Ballroom.

Lupe Fiasco is playing Irving Plaza on April 10th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for the show Gogol Bordello are playing at Irving Plaza on March 9th.

Tickets are on sale for the Dead Meadow & Imaad Wasif show at Bowery Ballroom.

Dave Hill brings his "Big in Japan" show back to the UCB Theatre in NYC tonight (3/1) and March 11th.

After Dave Hill's show you can stick around UCB for Whiplash. Tonight's guests include Hannibal Buress (SNL), Kumail Nanjiani, Sheng Wang & guest host Sean Patton.

For more shows happening tonight, check out "What's Going on Monday".

Leo Allen benefiting Haiti @ MHOW on 1/23 (by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Aziz Ansari added an extra two shows to his previously-announced run of CD Release shows at Comix. The new total is eight shows over four days (2/3-2/6) and they all appear to be sold out. "Friends scheduled to appear throughout the weekend:" Todd Barry, Moshe Kasher, John Mulaney, Max Silvestri, Joe Mande, Kristen Schaal, Hannibal Buress, Leo Allen, Kumail Nanjiani, and Anthony Jeselnik. A fine set of openers indeed.

Don't have a ticket, but still want to see Aziz during his now-rare trip back to NYC? You can also catch him tonight (2/2) for free at the Apple Store in SOHO. Sarah Silverman will appear in the same venue one night later.

Speaking of Max Silvestri, don't forget to catch his Big Teriffic show every Wednesday night at The Cameo (free!).

Speaking of Kristen Schaal, you can catch her tonight (2/2) as part of Sara Schaefer & Kim Armstrong's new free weekly Tuesday night comedy show in the front lounge of The Bell House (which is also hosting a "TOTALLY SOLD OUT" Lost premiere party this evening as well).

Speaking of Kristen Schaal performing comedy at The Bell House, tickets are on sale for a February 27th show described as "Friends of Celebrate Brooklyn present Winter Warm-Up featuring Comedy with Eugene Mirman & Pretty Good Friends, Special guests include Kristin Schaal & Michael Showalter".

Speaking of Hannibal Buress, he hosts a comedy show every Sunday night at Knitting Factory (free!).

Todd Barry, John Mulaney and Hannibal Buress all return to Comix on the same (February 18th) night (code TBAF saves $5).

Leo Allen hosts Whiplash every Monday night at UCB

A few shows other shows coming up at UCB and other surprises below...

Continue reading "Aziz Ansari at Comix & The Apple Store, Sarah Silverman, Hannibal Buress & other upcoming comedy shows"