by Klaus Kinski

Pete Holmes @ Rock n ROFL 2008 (more by Elizabeth Weinberg)

In the Klaus Kinski Hall of Fame of Comedians Your Man Klaus Loves Endlessly Even Though They've Left NYC for Greener Pastures, Pete Holmes has his own gallery dedicated to his honor. Bear in mind that this hall of fame only exists in the meaty gore-locker between my ears so visitors are not permitted. But it is a very prestigious place to be, youbetcha. As a matter of fact, when our fearless leader BV asked me to curate a comedy line-up for the premier installment of our epic but short-lived Brooklyn Vegan and Klaus Kinski Present Rock n' ROFL, Pete was the first person I asked and first to commit to the bill. Back in those days, you could catch Pete practically any night of the week here in NYC. Nowadays he is in LA and, by Cod, he's thriving. From his website:

Pete Holmes is a comedian. Maybe you saw his half-hour Comedy Central Presents. Or on Conan. Or Jimmy Fallon. Or maybe you saw him on VH1. Or heard him as the e*trade baby or on Comedy Central's Ugly Americans. Pete was named one of Variety's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2011. Pete also draws cartoons for The New Yorker, wrote for NBC's "Outsourced" and currently writes for FOX's "I Hate My Teenage Daughter." He is a regular on CollegeHumor.com and makes videos with FrontPage Films.

That blurb fails to mention that he has his own podcast called You Made it Weird which is one of the best, most entertaining podcasts in a comedy world that is practically choking to death on half assed, shitty, so-called comedy podcasts. THEREFORE, I am thrilled to fits to tell you that not only is Pete coming back to NYC for a show, but that show will be a live podcast of You Made it Weird!! The show will take place on Saturday April 7th at 10:00pm at the Gramercy Theater. Guests will include Jim Gaffigan, Michael Ian Black, and the great Matt McCarthy!! You can get regular tickets or VIP tickets. But considering Gaffigan sells out some of the largest theaters in the country ON HIS OWN, I think the theater will be a madhouse. My advice to you? Spend the extra $$$ and get a VIP ticket so you get early entry (and a signed poster) and, thus, a great seat. Regular seats are only $12 which is a preposterous bargain, bro. This show is going to be a blast, and I promise it will sell out so get on this. More Pete dates below...

Oh, and speaking of live podcasts taking place at the Gramercy Theater, get a load of this; Klaus fave Doug Benson will be bringing his I Love Movies podcast to the Gramercy on June 11th at 8:00pm. I haven't a clue who Doug's guests will be, but I've been to his Doug Loves Movies live shows before and let me tell ya, he brings line-ups worth 8 times the price of admission.

I also noticed in the dates below that Doug is recording a live album in Bellevue WA. on 4/20 which totally reminded me that Brooklyn-based comedy hero Eugene Mirman will bring his normally Brooklyn-Based comedy festival The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival to Seattle Washington from March 29th - March 31st, 2012!! Such good news for Seattle-based BV readers! You are in for SUCH a treat! You'll be getting:

* Invite Them Up, 3/29 at The Crocodile Hosted by Bobby Tisdale w/ Eugene Mirman, Ron Funches and more TBA!
*Star Talk Live, 3/30 at the Neptune Hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson w/ Paul F. Tompkins, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman and special guests!
*Talent Show, 3/31 at The Crocodile Hosted by Elna Baker and Kevin Townley with Eugene Mirman, Bobby Tisdale and more TBA!
*Pretty Good Friends, 3/31 at the Neptune With Bobcat Goldthwait, Todd Barry, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Kurt Braunohler and more TBA!

Wow!

Tour dates below...

Continue reading "Pete Holmes touring, recording a podcast in NYC; Doug Benson too; Eugene Mirman Fest coming to Washington"

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)"

When I first saw Michael Showalter was appearing at a bookstore tonight (2/16) to promote a book, I thought, "wasn't that last year? Is it a new book??", but then I realized it's because the paperpack version of "Mr. Funny Pants" was recently released. Grab a copy. #TeamBev

You can also catch Michael tell some jokes at Union Hall on 2/25 as part of Heart of Darkness with host Greg Barris, and other guests Kate Berlant, Dr. Clayton Curtis, The Mast, and The Forgiveness. Tickets are on sale.

In related news, Michael's Stella/State partner in crime Michael Ian Black also has a new book, but actually a new book, and his will be out, in hardcover, on February 28th. You can pre-order You're Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations at Amazon.

And Michael Ian Black also has a bunch of promotional appearances planned around the release of his book including one at the Strand and one at Greenlight. They're all listed below...

Continue reading "Michael Showalter & Michael Ian Black have new books & are appearing places"

by Klaus Kinski

OK, rather than bore you to tears with one of my usual exhausting preambles about how great the NYC comedy scene is, I am simply going to throw out a handful of shows coming up that are well worth your attention. (Unless you're a humorless slob who has nothing better to do than hate everything.) For everyone else, what follows is some totally awesome news. You're welcome, in advance.

First off, as mentioned already, the great Louis CK will be doing two pretty last minute shows at The Bell House on Friday September 30th aka TODAY at 7:00pm and 9:00pm. The shows go onsale Friday September 30th aka TODAY at 10:00am, so get those refresh button fingers limbered up. After that, your next official opportunity to see Louis in NYC is on Thursday November 10th at the Beacon Theater as part of the New York Comedy Festival.

And speaking of comedy in Brooklyn, don't forget that tickets are on sale for Mike Birbiglia's show happening on Tuesday October 18th at Union Hall. Though, there's a good chance the show will be sold out by the time you read this. This is a CMJ show believe it or not.

But back to the Bell House for a second. On Thursday October 20th, the really and truly wonderful Julie Klausner brings her podcast How Was Your Week? to the Bell House stage with a truly incredible line-up that actually sort of reads like the guest list on a good night of The Best Show on WFMU. The line-up so far includes Ted Leo, Paul F. Tompkins, Billy Eichner, and Special Surprise Guests. And knowing Julie, those surprises are bound to be way beyond worth the cost of admission. And speaking of the cost of admission, I am truly dumfounded that this show isn't sold out yet. Oh, but you know what is sold out? The TWO Paul F. Tompkins shows happening at The Bell House on October 22nd and October 23rd. You know what's nuts about those PFT shows? He won't be doing the same material both nights. Holy!

On Tuesday November 1st, the House will play host to a John Hodgman "That Is All" Official Book Release Party. The cost of admission will get you a copy of the book as well as other treats, including Jonathan Coulton. Totally brunchcore.

Yikes! Lemme loop back to CMJ comedy shows taking place at Union Hall this year. I'd be an idiot (well, a bigger idiot than I already am) if I didn't mention that one of NYC's most awe-inspiring comedy/variety/brainz shows Heart of Darkness will bless Union Hall with its majesty on Saturday October 22nd. The show is hosted by Greg Barris and will feature Greg Johnson, Dave Hill, Mind Warrior Michael Wigler and a SPECIAL GUEST! For the uninitiated, it might make sense to learn about the show here. Best to go into these things prepared.

Oh, but before I go to bed, here's another show worth noting, but be warned, this one takes place in Manhattan. Comedic wunderkind Michael Ian Black will be doing a show at Bowery Ballroom on Thursday November 10th as part of the New York Comedy Festival. Bowery does seem like an odd venue choice for me because, well, it's too small for MIB and, well, ya don't often see comedy there. I am pretty sure the last comedy show I saw there was the Invite Them Up CD release party way back in 2005. But I ain't complainin. Bowery is one of my favorite rooms in the city, and I love MIB ever so much. Tickets are on sale, though I doubt for much longer. Shit gone sellout ASAP, son.

In 2001, members of MTV's sketch comedy group The State came together with Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter, Marguerite Moreau, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, Christopher Meloni, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Zak Orth, A.D. Miles to star in the David Wain-directed film We Hot American Summer. The film, which initially flopped, is apparently/possibly/according-to-some, now considered a cult classic and in honor of its tenth anniversary, David Wain, Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black (collectively known as Stella) are hosting a celebration of the film at Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 26 "with tons of GUESTS and SURPRISES!!" Tickets for the Brooklyn event go on sale today (6/10) at noon.

Wet Hot American Summer is currently Netflix on demand if you're into that kind of thing.

David also keeps busy working on Adult Swim show "Children's Hospital."

And David Wain hosted a 10th anniversary screening of the movie at the LA Film School theater (in LA) last night (6/9), and will be hosting a reception to celebrate a Wet Hot-inspired art show in Santa Monica tonight. The movie is also screening (sans David) in Boston tonight (6/10). More event info and the movie's trailer, below...

Continue reading "Wet Hot American Summer is 10, parties include a Stella-hosted show in Brooklyn"

Internet Week 2011 is coming to NYC this Monday (6/6). The festival consists of several events, including mixers, panels, conferences, classes, and parties. The Rapture, who are back on DFA, are DJing the official Internet Week opening party with The Hood Internet and DJ Frankenmack. Cold Cave also play a live set at the party. The same night an after-party will take place with DJ sets from Holy Ghost! and Night People. Check out the full event schedule for more events including a discussion with Judah Friedlander and Michael Ian Black and more.

The two parties are invite-only and can be RSVP'd to with an insider pass which can be obtained here for the hefty price of $249 (or HERE for $149). If you can't muster up the cash, even though it may be worth it if you plan on attending all the rest of the stuff Internet Week has going on, we're giving away two insider passes. Contest details below. You can also pick up a HQ pass for just $15 and a tweet about your purchase but will not be allowed access to the parties.

The Internet Week event is one of three NYC shows Cold Cave currently have scheduled this summer. They also play Knitting Factory on July 12 with Cult of Youth and Zambri and Bowery Ballroom on August 6 with Austra. Tickets are still on sale for Knitting Factory and Bowery Ballroom.

Contest details and more about what the Insider Pass gets you, below...

Continue reading "Internet Week is coming, Cold Cave are playing the opening party, The Rapture are DJing (win tickets!)"

"I'm in Austin TX! You know how I know that? Live music in the airport! #AndASignThatSaysAustin #SXSW" - Doug Benson

"Never realized how much I dislike music until hanging out in Austin, Texas during #sxsw" - Michael Ian Black

Tig Notaro at a BV party in 2010 (more by Tim Griffin)

Music is not the only thing will seem light in NYC next week, as many names in the comedy world are headed to Austin for SXSW as well. Scott Aukerman, Matt Bearden, Doug Benson, Michael Ian Black, Kurt Braunohler, Rob Cantrell, Chris Cubas, Joe Derosa, Chris Fairbanks, Dave Foley, Jena Friedman, Brett Gelman, Donald Glover, Chris Hardwick, Pete Holmes, Anthony Jeselnik, Howard Kremer, Ben Kronberg, Tom Lennon, Darryl Lenox, Al Madrigal, Marc Maron, Doug Mellard, Eugene Mirman, Kumail Nanjiani, Tig Notaro, John Oliver, Chelsea Peretti, Kevin Pollak, Amy Schumer, Brody Stevens, Bryson Turner, Brendon Walsh, Glenn Wool, and Hampton Yountare are among those that SXSW lists as officially being there. Esther's Follie's is the venue where much of it goes down.

Tig Notaro, who performed at a BrooklynVegan Austin event in 2010, returns this year with a few more items on her resume. Not only does she have a Sarah Silverman-produced "new comedy variety show for the Logo Network" to promote, but she has reportedly joined the Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar/Dead Oceans family whose official showcase she'll be MCing. She's also on the lineup of Sasquatch this year, and recently shared a bill with Jens Lekman in LA.

Brody Stevens & Zach Galifianakis

You might know LA's Brody Stevens from Due Date or The Hangover (and the Hangover 2 when it comes out). You may have seen him hanging out with his friend and co-star Zach Galifianakis, possibly on a scooter, or maybe in the audience of Saturday Night Live last night. Maybe you follow him on Twitter (like @BVComedy does) (follow @BVcomedy too!).

Brody and Tig (and Mirman and others) perform at Esther's Follie's on Friday, March 18th at 9:30pm, and I'm excited to announce that Brody will also host and tell jokes at the BrooklynVegan Day Party at Barbarella from noon-6pm on Thursday, March 17th! Full lineup TBA momentarily!

Workaholics

Comedy Central will also have a presence down at SXSW, most notably with the cast of their new TV show Workaholics which premieres on the station on April 6th. To quote their press release:

"Graduating from college and entering the real world isn't easy, especially for three unmotivated roommates. The new Comedy Central comedy Workaholics is a look at post graduates as they hilariously cope with working in the real world. Think Office Space if it were a stoner comedy.

Starring Mail Order Comedy's Blake Anderson, Anders Holm, and Adam DeVine, and with former Scrubs executive producer Kevin Etten at the helm, Workaholics is a scripted series that follows three friends fresh out of college who live and work together as telemarketers. Dress codes, deadlines, and waking up before noon isn't something these guys are used to.

They spend their days scheming together to avoid doing any real work and their nights looking for good times."

Good times will be had (despite it being during the day) when Blake, Anders and Adam all host the BrooklynVegan Day Party at Barbarella from noon-6pm on Saturday, March 19th. Full lineup of bands TBA momentarily!

You can also catch the Workaholics guys at Esther's Follies from 4-6pm on 3/17, and at Vice's Closing Night Pre-Party @ Starr Building on 3/9 from 10:30pm-12am. Check out some Workaholics previews, and Brody Stevens videos, below...

Continue reading "comedy @ SXSW (Workaholics, Tig Notaro & Brody Stevens)"

Tune in at 11am today (1/31) to catch Stella buds Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black streaming in Michael Birbiglia's Macys window (which he is still in through Tuesday).

In related comedy news, Michael Showalter is kicking off his "Mr. Funny Pants" tour on February 24th at Barnes & Noble in Union Square with special musical guest Neko Case. He swings back through town mid-tour to hit the Bell House in Brooklyn on 2/27. Tickets are still on sale for that special edition of "Pretty Good Friends" with Eugene Mirman, Reggie Watts, Kumail Nanjiani and special guests ("Please note this show will be mixed seated and standing. For best seat selection please arrive early and use the TicketFast print-at-home ticketing option. ").

Michael and Michael, as many know, used to be on a very funny show called The State along with red head Kevin Allison who is still doing his thing as well. Catch his show called "RISK! STORYSLAM" tonight (1/31) at the Pit at 6pm for FREE. If you miss it, there's always next Monday and the Monday after that and...

Also on Mondays (but much later): Whiplash at UCB. Jon Friedman, Myq Kaplan, Mike DeStefano and Adira Amram will all be there tonight.

Also coming up at the Bell House in Brooklyn: two chances to see "WTF With Marc Maron". Early and late March 10th shows are on sale.

Also coming up at the Bell House:

MON 1/31: 7:30pm doors / FREE

WONDER TWINS & RUSSCOMM PRESENT
THE 2011 BROOKLYN BEARDFEST & STACHE BASH:
NECKBEARD TELECASTER
LOS ENCANTADOS
JON MIZRACHI
BEARD-LESQUE
By members of Storybook Burlesque, featuring:
Magdalena Fox, Victoria Privates, and Jenny C'est Quoi with mustacio'd stage kitten Rosey la Rouge

Finally - a festival for bearded and mustached people and the people who love them! Come celebrate all things beard with us on Monday January 31st as we prepare to enter "Facial Hair February" with beardy bands, mustached DJs, vendors, contests, food and more.

DJ Russ and DJ Choyce Hacks will also be supplying the tunes at the Brooklyn beard event.

Speaking of tunes, piano-playing comedian Bo Burnham isn't even old enough to drink but he is big enough to headline Best Buy Theater in Times Square on February 4th. Tickets are still on sale. Maybe you caught Bo's special on Comedy Central. If not, it airs again on February 4th and February 11th.

Speaking of Comedy Central, Nick Kroll's special that was taped at Music Hall of Williamsburg aired on Saturday. I don't know when it will air again, but I only caught about 10 minutes and wish I saw the rest - in part because it's fun to see the barely recognizable Brooklyn venue on TV. Meanwhile you can watch two clips below.

Kurt Braunohler and Kristen's next edition of Hot Tub @ Littlefield in Brooklyn (the only remaining Hot Tub on Littlefield's schedule for now) happens tonight (1/31). Their guests include Dan St. Germain, Matt Higgins, Dr. Uke and Daughters, "+ more!"

It won't be long before you see more of Kurt though. He's starting a new talk show at the Pit called "Night of the Living." "This monthly show will feature special house band Adira Amram and the Experience, and bits and sketches from New York City's finest comedians. Come see the beginning of something very cool. And very stupid. Because that's how we like it." Its first episode happens live on February 4th with special guests Eugene Mirman, Jon Glaser, and a secret musical guest. Tickets are on sale.

Daniel Kitson played his final show at St. Ann's Warehouse last night.

Neil Hamburger is touring in February and March. Tickets are on sale for a March 17th Brooklyn show at Knitting Factory with "The Kenny 'K-Strass' Strasser Yo-Yo Extravaganza" and "Major Entertainer Mike H." All tour dates are below....

Continue reading "Michaels in Birbigs' window, Neil Hamburger tour, Beardfest, Bo Burnham, Marc Maron, Nick Kroll, Kurt Braunohler & more"

Bert Jansch @ the Bell House last week (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

* Whiplash @ UCB
* Bert Jansch @ Iridium Jazz
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Citizen Radio LIVE! @ UCB
* Afrika Bambaataa @ Good Units
* Body Language, Two Fresh, MeLo-X @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Gunfire-N-Sodomy, Begorrah, Zombie Reach Around @ Cake Shop
* Team Robespierre, Guts For Garters, Babes on Bikes Burlesque @ Bruar Falls
* Jason Myles Goss, Melanie Edwards, Tony Sherr Trio @ The Living Room
* Arms, We Are Country Mice, The French Kings, Dead Stars, Iyez @ Glasslands
* La Res, The Secret History, Dandelion Wine, Redlight Cinema @ Mercury Lounge

Whiplash tonight will feature Michael Ian Black (The State, Stella), Kumail Nanjiani & Sean Conroy.

Michael will also take part in the 9:30 Citizen Radio LIVE! show at UCB along with Jack Dishel (Moldy Peaches, Only Son) and Adam Green (Moldy Peaches).

Darlene Love is on Letterman tonight.

What else?

by Klaus Kinski (of Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon)

Two films I've been dying to see quickly made their way in and out of our fair city this past June. Being an idiot that cannot seem to prioritize anything, I missed them both. The films I speak of are Big Fan starring Patton Oswalt and Visioneers starring Zach Galifianakis. You may recall from previous articles that Zach and Patton are among my favorite comedians of all time; thus the eagerness to see these films and the anguish at missing them. Big Fan is the directorial debut of Robert Siegel, the man wrote The Wrestler, a film that featured comedian Todd Barry (another favorite). In Big Fan, Patton plays the role of Paul.

Paul is a 35-year-old toll booth operator from Staten Island who lives and dies by his New York Giants. When he has a chance encounter with Giants linebacker Quantrell Bishop, however, things go horribly wrong and a brutal beating at the hands of his idol tests Paul's allegiance to the team. Comedian Patton Oswalt delivers a heartbreaking, layered performance in this pitch-black comedy that reveals the disturbing side of obsessive fandom.

Thankfully, word is out that Big Fan will begin showing in theaters in New York and Philadelphia August 28th, Los Angeles, D.C, Dallas and Houston theatres September 11th and then expanding! In the meantime, visit the official website for trailers and whatnot. And definitely check out Patton's diaries from when Big Fan played at Sundance back in January. Trailer below.

Having seen the trailer last year, I feel like Visioneers has been on my radar for a really long time. It definitely looks to be a somber, Orwellian, supremely dark comedy. The film, directed by Jared Drake, stars Galifianakis as George Washington Winsterhammerman.

George lives a comfortable yet completely uneventful life, and when he starts having dreams in which he's the first President of the United States, his doctor informs him that they could be signs of impending explosion. Later, as the dreams become more frequent and his co-workers continue to detonate, George is prompted to reevaluate his mundane existence.

It looks like that June 3 screening at the 92Y Tribeca may have been my only opportunity to see it theatrically; it comes out on DVD July 21st (using Zach's role in The Hangover to reach a broader audience) and there only seems to be independently organized screening parties scattered across the US. Trailer below.

Zach did a split 7" with Ted Leo a while back, available only via Chunklet.com and only available if you purchased another item from the Chunklet store. Now you no longer need to buy a second item in order to purchase the record. This extremely limited edition 7" is only $5 and is available on four different types of wax. Get 'em while they're hot!.

In Other News........

Continue reading "comedy news: Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Zach Galifianakis, Ricky Gervais, M Showalter, ATP & more (by Klaus Kinski)"

Executive produced by Black, Showalter, Jim Biederman ("Whitest Kids U Know," "I'm With Busey") and Lou Wallach, "Michael and Michael Have Issues" stars Black and Showalter in a new twist on narrative and sketch comedies that features the long-time comedic partners as the hosts of their own fictitious sketch show. Sketches will be interspersed throughout the narrative thread of each episode."

Michael and Michael is a new show that premieres on Comedy Central on July 15th. That same night, the State/Stella veterans "will perform comedy sets leading up to the live broadcast of the show" at The Bell House in Brooklyn! Tickets are on sale.

Last Thursday, M&M shot "a theater scene in front of a live audience". Videos below...

Continue reading "Michael & Michael Have Issues - on TV & live in Brooklyn"

Amadou & Mariam @ All Points West 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

The contest to guess the lineup of this year's All Point West festival continues. I honestly don't even know the lineup yet - I'll be receiving it right before I post it at 7am Monday morning.

Will Coldplay be on the lineup? A lot of people seem convinced based on the band's current tour schedule (which you can see in its entirety below). If they are playing the fest, well, that will be weird.

UPDATE: yes, Coldplay are in fact playing the festival

Amadou and Mariam played All Points West last year, are touring the US with Coldplay in July, and have some headlining dates scheduled in June (including a show at Webster Hall on June 8th). The Mali duo was also just added to this year's Bonnaroo lineup.

Also recently added to Bonnaroo (music and comedy): Public Enemy, Ani Difranco, the Itals and Wailing Souls, Murs, Shadows Fall, High on Fire, Janelle Monáe, Pretty Lights, Tony Rice, Passion Pit, Hockey, White Rabbits, Jimmy Fallon, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, John Oliver, Rob Riggle, Rory Albanese, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Aziz Ansari, Kristen Schaal, Arj Barker, Todd Barry, Nick Thune, Wayne Federman, Nick Kroll, Kurt Braunholer, Amy Schumer, Kumail Nanjiani and Pete Holmes. Full Bonnaroo (June 11 - 14 in Manchester, Tennessee) lineup below...

Continue reading "Coldplay, All Points West, Amadou & Mariam & Bonnaroo"

photos by Eric M. Townsend

"On Tuesday night (12/9), a few of us ventured into Times Square to catch comedy troupe Stella at the Nokia Theatre. Stella is David Wain, Michael Showalter, and Michael Ian Black, all founding members of another comedy troupe, The State. Also, all film/TV actors/writers/directors. The Stella style of comedy is not for every taste, but it's for me. On Tuesday night's homecoming gig, the trio offered up a head-spinning assortment of absurd and abstract jokes, bits, and riffs. Their comedy is a stream-of-consciousness style that is hard to summarize, but it recalls the so-clever-it's-silly routines of Monty Python or the Marx Brothers.

Part of the show included a funny cameo by Paul Rudd, who has worked with the guys in films such as Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, and The Ten. Opening the show was fellow geek comic Eugene Mirman, stacked with his trademark dry wit and abstract social commentary. Both sets probably played best to the chemically-enhanced members of the audience. For those of us sticking to liquor, it was still a delight." [Matt Dentler]

Tonight/Wednesday is the 2nd of two NYC shows. More pictures from last night below...

Continue reading "Eugene Mirman, Stella & Paul Rudd @ Nokia Theatre - pics"

Stella in Time Out, March 1997

The Stella comedy tour is underway and hits Nokia Theatre in their hometown of NYC tonight/Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets are still on sale, AND I have a pair for each show to giveaway...

Continue reading "Stella is here (again) - win tickets to Nokia Theatre"

Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter (2/3 of Stella) are playing a free MySpace Secret Stand Up show at Caroline's Comedy Club in NYC on Thursday November 6th. As you can see from the picture above, the show is affiliated with the New York Comedy Festival that kicks off today (Wednesday, November 5th).

All of Stella are touring, and playing 2 NYC shows, in December. You can watch them discuss president-elect Barack Obama in the video below...

Continue reading "Michael Showalter & Michael Ian Black - free MySpace show "

Photos by Chris La Putt

STELLA REUNITES FOR MEDIUM TO MODERATELY SIZED-WAIT! THEY-NEVER-REALLY-BROKE-UP-TOUR

JDub Records is delighted to announce that renowned comedy trio Stella will be back on the road this November. Formed in 1997, Stella features comedians David Wain, Michael Ian Black and everyone's favorite goof-off Michael Showalter.

Showalter first came to recognition as a cast member, writer, producer, and director of MTV's half hour sketch comedy show, The State, which aired from 1993-1995. Michael later went on to co-write and star in the cult classic film Wet Hot American Summer (2001), write, direct, and star in The Baxter (2005), as well as write, produce, and star in Comedy Central's televised Stella (also 2005). In addition to these many feats, Showalter also hosts the excellent online interview show The Michael Showalter Showalter on CollegeHumor.com (you can see the episodes here: http://www.collegehumor.com/tag:michaelshowalter); recent guests include Andy Samberg, Paul Rudd, David Cross and Michael Cera. Showalter's 2007 album, Sandwiches and Cats, out on JDub Records, gleefully inhabits "the comedy danger zone that hovers between too far and just enough" (The New York Times).

Though they rarely tour as a collective, a typical Stella show guarantees audiences a playful mix of mainstream comedy and surrealist wit. Their absurd approach to the mundane promises that no show is the same as the last. So why don't you find out for yourself?

They never really did break up. In fact, you might have caught the trio earlier this month at NY Mag's 40th Anniversary party @ Hammerstein Ballroom. Individually, they are not that rare either (which is a good thing), well Michael Showalter especially, who, for instance, just performed with John Vanderslice at the opening of the 92YTribeca way back before CMJ (10/18). That's where the pictures in this post came from.

Stella play the Nokia Theatre in NYC on December 9th and 10th. Tickets are on sale. More tour dates below...

Continue reading "Stella (reunited) (again) - 2008 (comedy) Tour Dates"

Photos by Zach Dilgard

NY Magazine held their 40th anniversary party at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC on Friday night (Oct 10, 2008). Their were musical sets by Grizzly Bear and The National, and comedy by Stella's Michael Showalter, David Wain, and Michael Ian Black. More pictures from the evening (Oct 10, 2008) below...

Continue reading "NY Mag's 40th party (Grizzly Bear, The National & Stella) @ Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC - pics"

photos by Chris La Putt

Stella Hosted, Nina Persson, Alberta Cross, OK Go & Joan as Policewoman played

Paul Rudd also showed up at the event. More photos & videos below...

Continue reading "Shudder To Think reunited @ Get Up & Vote @ Bowery"

Craig Wedren @ Pianos, NYC (BV CMJ), NYC - Oct 20, 2007 (Bao)

Craig Wedren helped put together this "Get Up And Vote" show at Bowery Ballroom on February 4th. All his friends from Stella will be there, his former bandmate Nathan Larson, Nathan's wife Nina Persson, Joan as Policewoman, AND: OK GO (of YouTube fame) are headlining. More details below.....

Continue reading "Barack Obama "Get up and Vote" show @ Bowery Ballroom"

For fans of The State, there is some good news and some bad news floating about. The bad news is that the highly anticipated State DVD has been put on hold by our friends over at MTV. This truly pisses me off. From the official State website:

* * * NOTE (Nov 1, 2007): We are sorry to report The State DVD is now NOT being released this fall. We worked closely with MTV to make a great DVD set with lots of extras for the show, and the DVDs are completed, but they has chosen not to release the set at this time. We don't know why.

The fact that the DVD project is done makes me hopeful that MTV will snap out of it and get this stuff in stores at some point in time. Until then, shame on you MTV.

There's plenty of good news to off-set the bad. First off, The State is reuniting for a new sketch movie. For reals! Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black have been touring (and I don't just mean blogs). They'll be at Irving Plaza on December 1st (tonight). The Michaels also recently released CDs that you should buy because they're really really funny. Also, The Ten DVD is coming out on January 15th. Also, read this. -Klaus

DOWNLOAD: Patton Oswalt - Dukes of Hazard (MP3) (info)

Tickets are on sale for The Dave Hill Explosion w/ John Hodgman & Jonathan Coulton @ UCB, Crash Test with Aziz Ansari @ UCB, and a special Tinkle show at Southpaw with David Cross, Todd Barry, and Jon Benjamin. Slovin and Allen and Reggie Watts are hosting ROFL at Joe's Pub. Patton Oswalt is playing a free show at Sound Fix.

Jon Benjamin paid a guy to serenade Eug and Bobby for the Invite Them Up anniversary. Oliver and Schaal look on from the back room. (April 25, 2007)

More recently, Demetri Martin, Aziz, David Cross & Nick Kroll were at Bonnaroo, and Flight of the Conchords played Gramercy Theatre.

I am also beyond giddy to report that HBO Video will be releasing Louis CK's live 1 hour special Shameless on June 26th, 2007. That's a Tuesday people. Shameless is CK's third HBO special, and further reinforces my opinion that he is easily one of the best comedians out there. He takes nauseatingly banal topics such as family life, childhood, and sex and riffs about them in such an unexpectedly blunt and graphic manner that you can't help but be drawn in. To celebrate this release, we are giving away TWO copies of Shameless to two lucky winners. Send an e-mail to BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM and tell us what comedian you think should really release a DVD ASAP. Two winners will be picked at random and notified.

More comedy (including a Louis CK DVD clip) belooooooow....

Continue reading "Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon (06/19/07)"