Still no word on the impending Citizen's Arrest reunion, but you can officially nix a Brutalist Bricks broadway production. A new video of Ted Leo & The Pharmacists in training for the great white way (aka his video of "Bottled In Cork" featuring Paul F. Tompkins, John Hodgman, and others including some of you) is below - BBG.

Continue reading "new comedian-filled Ted Leo video (is the big reveal)"

Blitzen Trapper @ Bonnaroo (hshuldman)

Blitzen Trapper's current tour brought them through Bonnaroo, and to Webster Hall in NYC last night (6/16). Tonight, 6/17, they'll appear on Letterman, but first you can catch them live as the special musical guest at Celebrate Brooklyn's free ($3 suggested donation) comedy show in Prospect Park. Also appearing tonight at the bandshell: comedians: Eugene Mirman, Michael Showalter, John Hodgman, Jerry Minor, Kumail Nanjiani, and Janeane Garofalo. The show starts at 8pm. Gates open at 7.

"Lovering just DESTROYED the triangle part on the slow version on WAVE OF MUTILATION." - John Hodgman

Pixies @ Hammerstein - 11/24/2009 (photo by John Hodgman)

"The Pixies are a strange story, getting stranger. Perfecting the circuitry between punk and a lusher kind of art-rock, they existed for seven years, until 1993. Since first gathering for reunion shows in 2004, they've been in a lucrative post-history for five years. When five reaches seven, if they have still not made any new music (besides one song, "Bam Thwok") and are still playing phantasmagorically hot songs with a scientifically cool affect, they may come to seem out of balance." [NY Times]

Continue reading "Pixies played Fallon & Hammerstein again (video & setlist) "

by Klaus Kinski

Secret Wars @ All Points West 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

So we've got the Del Close Marathon happening this weekend (8/14-8/16) and we've got the New York Comedy Festival happening in November. And now it is with unbridled enthusiasm that I can achieve a comedy-festival-posting-hat-trick by announcing the EUGENE MIRMAN COMEDY FESTIVAL which is set to take over Brooklyn venues Union Hall and the Bell House from September 17 - September 20. OK, so we briefly mentioned the festival before, but with line-ups, showtimes, as well as venue and ticket info just released, it's time to spread the word.

Curated by the great Eugene Mirman, this year's festival has a gasp worthy line-up that is truly beyond belief and will feature stand-up, panels, videos, special guests, 'theme' shows, the occasional free drink, after-parties, and much more. The highlight of the festival for me are two Daniel Kitson headlining gigs at Union Hall. Daniel is a British Stand-up comedian who I've only had the opportunity to see once, but that one experience was epic. More monologuist than stand-up comedian, he is one of the smartest, funniest, most energetic and eloquent performers I have ever seen. We are blessed to have two chances to see him headline such an intimate room. Besides that, the festival boasts appearances by Reggie Watts, Todd Barry, John Hodgman, Bobby Tisdale, AD Miles, Kristen Schaal, Michael Showalter, Marc Maron, John Mulaney, Jon Benjamin, and many many more. And, of course, Eugene.

The schedule so far is below. According to the folks in charge, even more excitement will be announced in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!! Tickets for all shows go on sale Sunday August 16 Saturday, August 15 at noon via Ticketweb (Bell House, Union Hall).

Full lineup and more below...

Continue reading "Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival 2009 lineup (Daniel Kitson & more), an 826NYC benefit (tickets), a new Sub Pop album"

photos by Alex Erde

Harvey Danger somehow...got John Hodgman to introduce them. It was hilarious...Once they came out on stage, they were incredible. They played for about 2 hours and 40 minutes, longer than I've ever seen any band play for before in my life. By the end, there wasn't really too much left that they hadn't played. It was really awesome and didn't get boring at all...even if we were all insanely tired by almost 2AM when we finally walked out.

For the encore, they came out and did a lot of Q&A and took requests. A bunch of them.

They sounded really on all night too, even towards the end of the set, they were still playing well and having a great time on stage. If you didn't make this show, you messed up, big time. Below is the full set list so that you can kick yourself for missing the show...[ihaveamessage]

Harvey Danger's final, final show happens August 29th at The Crocodile in Seattle. More NYC pictures, some videos and that setlist are below...

Continue reading "Harvey Danger played their final NY show -pics/video/setlist"

by Black Bubblegum

TMBG performing ninja moves avec their golden statuettes

Not to put too fine a point on it, but tickets are still available for They Might Be Giants at Le Poisson Rouge on Feb 28th, part of their previously mentioned residency.

After the sold out success of their last show, the band will once again perform their platinum album Flood in it's entirety, as well as a warm up set of songs new, old and possibly brand new. Flansburgh and Linnell will be backed up by their super-killer band Marty Beller on the drum, Dan Miller on guitar and Danny Weinkauf on bass. The show will also include an appearance by The Tricerachops Horns featuring Dan "The Machine" Levine on trombone, Curt Ramm on trumpet, and Stan "The Optimist" Harrison on saxophone and clarinet.

TMBG are also happy to welcome back their good friends all the way from Belfast, Northern Ireland--the always great, never late duo you can't overrate: Oppenheimer!

In other TMBG news, congrats to the guys on their Grammy win for "Best Musical Album For Children", Here Come The 123's! If you missed that broadcast, check it out here and scroll to 41:30 to see TMBG... and don't forget to check out an about-to-pop MIA, Lil Wayne, TI, Kanyeezy, and Jay-Z as well as Radiohead with a marching band.

And TMBG's winning streak in the kid's department continues. Their song, sung by John Linnell, is featured on the Coraline soundtrack.

This song was recorded for the movie Coraline. Due to cuts, this is the only song TMBG ended up providing for the film. It takes place when Coraline's other father (voiced by John Hodgman) shows how his piano plays him rather than he plays the piano. He proceeds to sing a song about how great Coraline is. The repeated mention of eyes and buttons plays on the fact that the Other Father's eyes are buttons. [this might be a wiki]

They Might Be Giants were one of the last musical guests on Late Night With Conan O'Brian, but not THE last musical guest. Video from the February 12th episode is also, below...

Continue reading "They Might Be Giants - a Grammy, Coraline & FLOOD AGAIN"

photos by Tim Griffin

You include actual examples from your own life growing up. How did you decide how much to divulge of your own background? "One of the things I liked about the book is that it's partially truth and partially a lie and it's not revealed except what you could believe reasonably to be true," he said. "I like the format of the book...I think that it's good to have real stories and things, and then also good to make lots of stuff up. It sounds like I will enjoy my book." [the comic's comic]

Continue reading " Eugene Mirman's book party (David Cross, Hodgman, Schaal, Tompkins & Mr Brownstone) @ the Bell House, NYC - pics "

photos by Natasha Ryan

As I write this, we're only hours away from sundown on Hanukkah night four, otherwise known as the fourth night in a row Yo La Tengo will play a show at Maxwell's in Hoboken. You already heard all about night two (12/22). The Magnetic Fields opened. Here are the rest of the pictures from that one...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo, John Hodgman, Doug Gillard & Ira's mom @ Maxwell's in Hoboken (Hanukkah night 2) - pics"

Ira's mom @ Maxwell's in NJ - Dec 22, 2008 (by Liz Clayton) (via)

We actually have more pictures of last night's show coming, but in the meantime I can confirm that The Magnetic Fields did open Yo La Tengo's 2nd 2008 Hanukkah show at Maxwell's. Stephin Merritt also stuck around to sing again during the encore, John Hodgman was the comedian, and Doug Gillard and Ira's mom were the other singing special guests.

Tonight/Tuesday is night three (12/23), and I'm not sure we've figured out who the opener will definitely be yet. Do you know? Night one and two's setlists below...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo Hanukkah continued, 2008 setlists so far"

Eugene Mirman's new book The Will to Whatevs will be releaed on February 10, 2009. Coincedentally that is the same day he is having a party celebrating the release of the book at The Bell House in Brooklyn. Sarah Vowell is DJing, and John Oliver, John Hodgman, Kristen Schaal, Paul F. Tompkins, and "more special guests" are also performing at the $15.00 show.

Also on Eugene's calendar: four headlining shows at Comix in January. Actually:

@ COMIX in NYC
Jan 02 (early) - Todd Barry
Jan 02 (late) - Todd Barry
Jan 03 (early) - Todd Barry
Jan 09 (early) - Aziz Ansari
Jan 09 (late) - Aziz Ansari
Jan 10 (early) - Aziz Ansari
Jan 10 (late) - Aziz Ansari
Jan 03 (late) - Todd Barry
Jan 16 (early) - Eugene Mirman
Jan 16 (late) - Eugene Mirman
Jan 17 (early) - Eugene Mirman
Jan 17 (late) - Eugene Mirman

BUT/AND/ALSO, unlike Todd Barry and Paul F. Tompkins, Eugene Mirman will NOT be opening any of the Yo La Tengo shows this year. All of Eugene's dates below...

Continue reading "Eugene Mirman's new book, parties, special guests, Comix shows & other tour dates (but no Yo La Tengo)"

DOWNLOAD: The Mountain Goats - Palmcorder Yajna (MP3)

Hodgman, Oliver & Darnielle (The Three Johns) (Lalitree)

March 19, 2008 Australian Tour Cancelled

As some Australian ticketholders have already heard, we have had to cancel the Australian tour. This is really devastating for us to do. Everybody knows I don't cancel a show unless I absolutely have to; what's worse, coming to Australia is the highlight of our year. So many of our favorite shows ever are from our Australian tours, and we were excited about showing everyone the full-band lineup. The note sent out by our wonderful Australian agents, Handsome Tours, says "for personal medical reasons," and that says as much as need be said; if it weren't serious, I would be leaving for Oz next week, believe me. You'll be doing me a great favor if you keep me in your thoughts and prayers, and if you know in your heart that I don't play around in doing right by the people I love: I will be back to make this up to you.

Thank you for your understanding and again I am really really sorry. Love to you all

John D.

For more Mtn Goats, check out a feature on NPR and an article at the Guardian about his love for monsters and Black Sabbath.

DOWNLOAD: The Mugs - Frank (MP3)

Dave Hill & John Hodgman @ UCB, NYC - June 21, 2007 (CRED)

It was almost a year ago that I said "Union Hall | a new Brooklyn music venue in Park Slope", and so it's time to celebrate:

"Union Hall presents our 1st anniversary week!"
July 09: MATTHEW CAWS (of Nada Surf) + THE RAVEN MAYHEM + guest MC Sara Schaefer
July 10: JONATHAN COULTON + special guests + MC Dave Hill
July 11: SECRET SCIENCE CLUB with Nobel prize winning neuroscientist ERIC KANDEL
July 12: TIM FITE + THE MUGS + guest MC Reggie Watts
July 14: 8pm: ENON + special guests

Nada Surf @ Brooklyn Ale House - June 3, 2007 (CRED) (post-Domino)

Related facts

• Matthew Caws was recently spotted at the White Stripes show, and was last seen at Union Hall on stage with John Vanderslice.
• MC Sara Schaefer hosts a (weekly?) game of "Name that Tune" at Union Hall - the next one is June 24th.
• Jonathan Coulton and Dave Hill were last seen on stage together LAST NIGHT! Dave Hill will be on stage again with his band Children of the Unicorn at Mercury Lounge tonight!
• Dave Hill once MC'd a show that The Mugs played at.
• Reggie Watts is hosting ROFL at Joe's Pub TONIGHT
• Gabby Glaser of Luscious Jackson is playing Union Hall on June 28th.
• Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals is playing Union Hall on September 22nd.

Michael Showalter @ Sasquatch - May 29, 2007 (CRED) (Develop Don't Destroy!)

Michael Showalter, co-host of the weekly "Tearing the Veil of Maya" comedy show at Union Hall, star of the State, Stella and other stuff - is recording a CD - to be released on JDub records. He'll do it @ Union Hall Thursday July 26th at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Tickets go on sale today at noon.

Tim Fite is going on tour. Dates below...

Continue reading "UNION HALL's anniversary, MICHAEL SHOWALTER JDub CD recording, TIM FITE Tour Dates, etc"