by Klaus Kinski

Comedy Bang Bang are Bonnaroo-ing it

While you are noodle-dancing your way to, and at, the 2013 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee (June 13 - 14), you might not be aware that this year marks the milestone 10-year anniversary of their annually-awesome and totally legendary Bonnaroo Comedy Theatre (Hosted by IFC). This year they are really shooting the works with a gold-standard, rock-solid, pant-shittingly awesome line up. So while you're at the festival, take a break from those dumb bands and thrill to the air-conditioned comedy of, in alphabetical order, James Adomian, Cristela Alonzo, Eric Andre, Maria Bamford, Mike Birbiglia, Jerrod Carmichael, Michael Che, Comedy Bang! Bang! with Scott Aukerman and Reggie Watts, David Cross, Kyle Dunnigan, Chris Gethard, Nikki Glaser, Ed Helms' Whisky Sour Radio Hour, Improvised Shakespeare Company, Jared Logan, Bob Saget, and Daniel Tosh.

If you'd like to see Ed Helms doing music here in NYC, his bluegrass trio plays Rockwood Music Hall on April 6 and tickets are on sale now.

Video of David Cross' comedy line-up announcement, shot on the Brooklyn shores of the east river, below.

BYE.

Continue reading "Mike Birbiglia, David Cross, Ed Helms, Bob Saget, Scott Aukerman & Reggie Watts playing Bonnaroo Comedy Theatre"

Comedian Mike Birbiglia is about to head down under for a series of shows where he'll be peforming "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" and promoting his movie Sleepwalk With Me. Between then and mid-June you can catch Mike around the U.S. of A. including at fests like Sasquatch and Bonnaroo, and back at his favorite intimate Brooklyn venue Union Hall on May 6th. Tickets for that one are on sale. All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Mike Birbiglia schedules more dates"

Says the PR

On the heels of a highly successful, critically acclaimed sold-out 2012 festival, the Sasquatch! Music Festival unveils its 2013 lineup, which once again features 4 days of music. The festival, hailed as "a model of well-paced programming...in a four-day schedule as efficient and natural feeling as an expertly built algorithm" by NPR Music while Wired notes, "leave the landscape out of it and Sasquatch! has a lineup to kill for," runs May 24-27 (Memorial Day Weekend) at The
Gorge, the internationally acclaimed concert venue carved in the basalt cliffs high above the Columbia River Gorge in Quincy, WA.

Continue reading "Sasquatch! Music Festival 2013 lineup is here"

Comedian Mike Birbiglia likes to pop up at Union Hall and will be doing so this Sunday (12/9) for a 10 PM set. Tickets are on sale now.

"Thanks for your Gotham award jokes, everybody! Really funny. Will be reading 10 on stage! #Gothamjokes" - Mike Birbiglia

Bradford Cox (Atlas Sound) at Osheaga 2012 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Jordan Catalano aka Elijah Wood's best friend aka 30 Seconds to Mars frontman aka one of the "alt-est" human beings alive Jared Leto is set to star in the new Jean-Marc Vallée-directed film, Dallas Buyers Club, where he plays an AIDS-infected cross-dresser whose lover is being played by Deerhunter/Atlas Sound frontman Bradford Cox (the alt-est couple ever?), Hollywood Reporter reports (via Pitchfork). The film also stars Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

Jared Leto also recently directed his own film, a documentary called Artifact, which beat the PS 22 Chorus documentary Once in a Lullabye at the Gotham Awards last night (11/26). Gregory Ellwood was live blogging for Hitfix and after predicting Beasts of the Southern Wild would win, he wrote:

This was voted by members and the audience is shocked. Was there a limit to the number of times you could vote? [Jared Leto] says "This movie, which many of you haven't seen is a very, very personal film. It was made by a small group of people over a few years. It talks about being an artist and art and commerce. I'd like to thank everyone who voted for us online. I know some people are upset that 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' isn't up here and it's a phenomenal film." He adds, "Don't hate me because I won. I love that other film too."

A video of Atlas Sound and Lower Dens playing "Mona Lisa" at a special session during Primavera Sound in Barcelona this past June can be watched below...

Continue reading "Jared Leto playing Bradford Cox's lover in new film, beat PS 22 Chorus documentary at the Gotham Awards"

by Klaus Kinski

I am going to spare you my usual editorializing and get right to the meat of the situation here. Basically, there is an absolute shit-ton of comedy and benefit type shows coming to the Bell House. I hope you like brass tacks, because I'm going to get right down to them.

Hey, did you get tickets for PROFESSOR BLASTOFF LIVE with Hosts Tig Notaro, Kyle Dunnigan, David Huntsberger plus a special guest? It happens at the Bell House on Saturday November 17 (aka this Saturday!) and, man, it sure as hell sold out.

On Wednesday (11/21), the Bell House will play host to The Musical Extravaganza to Restore Red Hook! starring Rosanne Cash and featuring Alex Battles and the Whisky Spitter Rebellion and B61: A film by Michael Buscemi. Here's more:

The evening kicks off with a square dance, hosted by NYC Barn Dance. Roseanne Cash will headline the evening, and Jesse Lenat, John Pinamonti and the Brotherhood of the Whiskey Spitter Rebellion will play. Michael Buscemi will screen his new film on the bus that runs through Red Hook, called "B61."

This show will benefit Restore Red Hook. Restore Red Hook aims to raise funds to help the small businesses of Red Hook, Brooklyn reopen their doors as soon as possible after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.

On Sunday, November 25th at 8:00pm, as mentioned, the Bell House and Pretty Good Friends team up for a Hurricane Relief Benefit featuring A Very Funny 'F*ck You' To Sandy. The show will be hosted by Eugene Mirman and feature comedy from a powerhouse line up including Jon Glaser, Wyatt Cenac, Mike Birbiglia , Michael Che and more. I am vexed that this show isn't sold out, so get your tickets now!!

Wyatt Cenac at Prospect Park, August 2012 (more by Jessica Amaya)

And speaking of Wyatt Cenac, check him out a little less than a month later at the much smaller Union Hall when, on Friday December 21, he'll be part of the comedy roster at The Afterlife Comedy Show. The show is gang-hosted by Emily Heller, George Gordon, Erin Judge, and Josh Gondelman. The show is a measly eight bucks and besides Wyatt and the awesome hosts and hostess there will be more comedy to boot!

On Friday November 30 Nick Kroll, one of my all time favorite comedians, takes the stage for a headlining show at the Bell House. Sadly, this show sold out faster than a speeding bullet. I am still recovering from wounds sustained during a self-flagellation sesh I performed on myself upon realizing this had happened. But keep your eye on the Bell House twitter feed in case they release more tickets. Or, go hang outside the venue before the show because I promise you there will be many-a nimrod out there with extra tickets they'd sell for face.

Allow me to go ahead and continue to mention another great Wyatt Cenac related show, this one happening at the Bell House on Wednesday December 5th; for on Wednesday December 5th you can thrill to the THE TELL YOUR FRIENDS! THE CONCERT FILM! RELEASE SHOW/SANDY BENEFIT (caps totally necessary). Join host Liam McEneaney as he brings to the stage Wyatt Cenac, Aaron Freeman (formerly Gene Ween), Christian Finnegan, Victor Varnado, A Brief View of The Hudson, Rob Paravonian , and more! The guests WILL be quite special, your money is going to a good cause, and it's not sold out yet. Get yer tix now!

And don't forget about Wyatt's weekly show "Night Train" which happens at Littlefield.

On Thursday December 6 the Bell House will be the site of two live podcast recordings of How Did This Get Made? A Live Podcast With Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas and June Diane Raphael. The early show went on sale and promptly sold out, but they added a late show (Thank Cod!) and tix for that are currently still available. Kaboom!

Flash forward a week later to Thursday December 13 and the Bell House will play host to The Party Machine's 2nd Annual Holiday Benefit Blowout! The show is hosted by the EXTREMELY funny and wonderful Arden Myrin and Lisa Delarios and features and atomic line-up of comedians including Jon Glaser, Chris Gethard, Sheng Wang, Janeane Garofalo and Adira Amram and the Experience. Tickets are only $12 and it will sell out, so git along l'il doggie and buy some tix!

Then on Wednesday December 19th catch TODD BARRY 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN COMEDY SHOW featuring Janeane Garofalo, Ted Alexandro, Jim Gaffigan and more! Thanks to that skank hurricane Sandy, Todd's first attempt at a 25th anniversary show was left in ruins so this is your make up date people. No excuses. This show WILL SELL OUT, so get your tickets right this very second. This show is a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Two days later on Friday December 21, toddle on over to the Bell House for John Hodgman: That Is All. December 21, 2012 is the last day of the Mayan long count calendar and many buffoons and dipshits are prophesizing that this day marks certain doom for mankind. Along with musician Cynthia Hopkins and other special guests, Hodgman will count down to midnight, when his predictions will be proved TRUE! Or else FALSE! Tickets are on sale, but not for long! I prophesize a sell out!

"Whoever said sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, is a fucking idiot. Not only that, it stops me killing people" - Ricky Gervais last night at NYCF (via @newyorkcomedyfest)

John Hodgman and Ricky Gervais @ NYCF 11/07/2012 (via @yarp4cornetto)

The New York Comedy Festival got underway last night with Ricky Gervais shooting the breeze with John Hodgman at Town Hall. The fest keeps the laughs going all weekend.Tonight's (11/8) big event is the "Stand Up for Heroes" benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation at Beacon Theatre with Mike Birbiglia, Ricky Gervais, Patton Oswalt, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, Robin Williams, John Maher and Roger Waters. Would you be surprised to learn that it's sold out? Well it is, and was also really expensive, but the good news is you can watch it online for free at 8pm EST!

Other shows tonight include Artie Lange at Town Hall, and Shawn and Marlon Wayans at Carolines (and you can still get tickets to those shows).

Other events this weekend include Patton Oswalt at Town Hall and Aziz Ansari at The Apollo on Friday (11/9), not to mention the Ben Stiller Show reunion at the Paley Center; Jim Gaffigan at The Apollo, Rob Delaney at NYU Skirball Center and Kevin Hart at MSG on Saturday (11/10); and Robin Williams in conversation with David Steinberg at 92nd St. Y on Sunday (11/11). There are lots of other shows happening as well, and full schedule and tickets are at the NYCF2012 website.

Also part of the NYCF is Hannibal Buress at Santos on Saturday (11/10) with DJ support from Prince Paul and Mike Lawrence. Tickets are still available. Hannibal is also celebrating the 3rd anniversary of his Sunday night comedy show at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn with a special show this week (11/11) in the main KF performance space (his shows are usually in the bar). Prince Paul will also be DJing this, plus "special guests." While Hannibal's shows there are usually free, this is a ticketed one ("We need the money to buy all of the party soup" - Hannibal). We're guessing it will be well worth it.

Oh, and if you're going to Knitting Factory Sunday, we also have a very good reason you should get there a few hours early.

Eugene Mirman at his 2012 Comedy Fest (more by David Andrako)

Eugene Mirman, who performed at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin earlier this week (11/4), continues to do his 'Pretty Good Friends' show at Union Hall every Sunday, and he'll also be doing one at The Bell House on November 25 to benefit Hurricane Sandy Relief dubbed "A Very Funny 'Fuck You' To Sandy." In addition to Mirman, the lineup for the show includes Jon Glaser, Wyatt Cenac, Mike Birbiglia, Michael Che, and more. Tickets are on sale now and 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Brooklyn Recovery Fund.

In related news, Eugene Mirman's animated FOX show with Kristen Schaal and others, Bob's Burgers, will be returning for a fourth season.

Eugene is also one of the guests at the Comedy for NYWC show at Highline Ballroom on December 2 with Janeane Garofalo and Dave Hill. But as mentioned, Mike Birbligia, who plays the Bell House show with Mirman, is no longer listed on the lineup of that show, but "special guests" still are.

As mentioned, Wyatt Cenac began his new weekly 'Night Train' comedy show at Littlefield last night (11/5), replacing Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler's now-defunct 'Hot Tub' show that used to happen on Mondays at the Brooklyn venue.

Speaking of Janeane Garofalo, she'll be at Tell Your Friends at Union Hall on Wednesday (11/7) with Liam McEneaney (who hosts an election viewing party at The Bell House tonight), Frank Conniff, Tanya O'Debra, host Victory Varnado, and house band AM to AM.

Mike Birbiglia @ Williamsburg Park, July 2012 (more by David Andrako)

Mike Birbiglia will perform two shows in NYC next week at Union Hall: Monday (10/8) and Tuesday (10/9) and tickets for both shows are on sale now.

Meanwhile, his film Sleepwalk with Me is still playing in NYC at Nitehawk in Williamsburg.

by Kelly Pratt with photos by Bryan Murray

Kelly Pratt is currently on tour with St. Vincent and David Byrne, acting as co-musical director as well as one of their many band members. Since last week he's been chronocling that tour right here on BrooklynVegan. Welcome to the second installment, written last night...

End of rehearsals, Minneapolis, Milwaukee.

We finish our rehearsals at the beautiful Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey. Two full days of running the set as many times as possible takes a toll on the brass players' lips, but tightens up the choreography and transitions between songs considerably. Annie-B Parson is the choreographer for the show with Lizzie Dement assisting. She's worked with David in the past, and her next next project is with Baryshnikov--needless to say, she has some brilliant ideas that really expand the kind of performance we are used to. This is also the first time we have played the show with lighting design, which adds another level of difficulty.

The following morning the band heads to JFK for a flight to Minneapolis where we will have a much-needed day of rest. We travel on Sun Country Air. Ever heard of it? Me neither. The trip gets interesting when Ira Glass takes the seat next to me. He is on the way to Minneapolis to do a Q&A for the premiere of his and Mike Birbiglia's new film "Sleepwalk With Me". Always the workaholic, he interviews the guy sitting next to him who (after some deduction skills and Googling) I determine to be the inventor of the KneeDefender. He invites Jon and me to the premiere of his film that evening. The movie is great and we discover that Ira is as good at talking in person as he is on the air. The theater serves bourbon, a novelty for us (in the theater, not on its own).

The first show of the tour goes better than expected. It may sound obvious, but performing in front of a live audience adds an extra level of energy and intensity. It's like we finally realize the show, in its full potential, for the first time. Afterwards, a few of us go across the street to a bar where we meet some folks from Dero, the company that manufactures the bicycle racks David designs. One of the best aspects of this tour so far has been the focus on cycling. Nearly everyone in the band bought a folding Tern bicycle before we left. There are even a couple extras for the crew. This is the first time that I have toured with a bicycle and I will never leave home without one again. It's so nice to slip away from the tour for an hour or two for a long ride. It has also allowed me to see more of the city than the few blocks near the venue. Both Minneapolis and Milwaukee are great cities for cycling with long bike paths and beautiful views.

Next we go to Chicago for a day off. It's Carter's birthday, so we may have to get him a white wine spritzer or two.

To bed, for we rise at 9:30 for 10(ish),

---

David Byrne & St. Vincent, Kelly Pratt & band play the Chicago Theater tonight (9/18) before continuing on their tour which includes three NYC shows. Check out some more photos from their rehearsals in NJ, a video from Minneapolis, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "On the Road with David Byrne & St. Vincent (part 2)"

Mike Birbiglia's movie Sleepwalk With Me, which he co-wrote with Ira Glass, is opening at NYC's IFC Center in NYC tonight, Thursday, August 23, 2012. Tickets are on sale for tons of shows between now and August 30, but some are more special than others, especially the one at midnight tonight. Not only will Mike and Ira be there, but "wear your pajamas and get free popcorn and soda!" PLUS: "Birbiglia & Glass in person Fri Aug 24 & Sat Aug 25 at ALL SHOWS! Birbiglia in person Sun Aug 26 at 12:15, 2:05 & 4:00!"

More details, including who will be selling the popcorn, and what cities Mike and Ira are travelling with the movie next (hint: LA and Chicago), in the NY Magazine exclusive video below.

Continue reading "'Sleepwalk With Me' playing at IFC Center; tonight's a pajama party w/ Mike Birbiglia & Ira Glass (who will also both be there all weekend)"

photos by David Andrako and Chris La Putt

Kristen Schaal w/ Mad Men's Jon Hamm dressed up as the Big Apple

As mentioned, NYC comedian and actress Kristen Schaal (who plays Symphony Space in NYC tonight, 7/24) is moving to Los Angeles, which is sad or all of us, but probably great for her because she's surely moving on to exciting things. On Thursday (7/19), Kristen joined Eugene Mirman, Mike Birbiglia, Kurt Braunholer, John Oliver, Bobcat Goldthwait and musical guests OK GO at the new Williamsburg Park for a giant and free edition of "Pretty Good Friends" where Kristen's pretty good friends, special guest Jon Hamm included, helped wish her goodbye (You may remember Kristen was in Mad Men's first episode). Jon Hamm appeared as the Big Apple, as you can see in the picture above. More pictues from the whole show (Williamburg Park's 2nd-ever show) (it was supposed to be the third), backstage included, below...

Continue reading "Jon Hamm, Bobcat Goldthwait, OK Go & more helped say goodbye to Kristen Schaal @ Williamsburg Park (pics)"

by Klaus Kinski

Mike Birbiglia cutting Kristen Schaal cake in Williamsburg (more by David Andrako)

I have a summer cold. An endless supply of watery snot is dripping down the back of my throat into my lungs and out my nostrils onto my mustache (which is part of a larger beard. I don't have just a mustache. Perish the thought). The air conditioning in my windowless office is relentless and exacerbating my various body aches. I am listening to "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" by Roger Waters and my office is currently lit by a single light bulb. The scene is... grim. But there's a silver lining. I just noticed that Klaus favorite Mike Birbiglia is going to be performing at the ever-so-tiny Union Hall on Sunday July 29th at 7:30pm. Tickets are currently on sale, but don't dawdle because they're going to be gone faster than you can say "Linsanity."

Mike recently had the honor of kicking off BAMcinemafest back in June with the premiere of his directorial debut movie Sleepwalk With Me, which he also starred in and which is based on his blockbuster one man show of the same name. Tons of Birbiglia dates are listed below.

He also performed at the big Williamsburg Park edition of Pretty Good Friends. More pictures from that show (Jon Hamm and Bobcat Goldthwait included) HERE and a couple more below with all Birbigs dates...

Continue reading "Mike Birbiglia performed at Pretty Good Friends (pics), playing Union Hall on Sunday before tour (dates)"

by Klaus Kinski

The other night I had a dream that I was in some sort of drug cartel. I was at the foot of a very steep mountainside looking up. At the crest of the mountain, teetering at the edge, was a massive, almost blimp-like bus full of rival cartel members. I produced a very large weapon full of some flammable, gelatinous substance and sprayed it all the way up to the bus, covered it, got it to ignite, and blew it up. As flaming cartel members fled the burning wreckage, I pulled out an immense automatic rifle that was apparently equipped with unlimited ammo and proceeded to pick them off one by one. Other members lost their footing and were rolling down the side of the extremely steep mountain and I proceeded to dispatch them as well. My accuracy was mesmerizing and the gore was gratuitous. Eventually more rival cartel members arrived and chased me into a rain forest where I was eventually cornered and had to jump off a waterfall a la The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford. I awoke just before I hit the water below head first.

I have hyper-realistic dreams almost every night of the week. Luckily, I have the luxury of enjoying them without as much as a whimper or erratic movement in my sleep. Some people, however, are not so lucky. Klaus favorite Mike Birbiglia is one of those unfortunate souls whose dreamscapes cross the threshhold into physical reality causing him to sleepwalk. A couple years ago Mike turned that terrible affliction into one of the most compelling and hilarious one man shows I had ever seen. It was called Sleepwalk With Me and it had a long residency here in NYC, toured all over the place, and was unanimously hailed a work of genius. I am beyond wigging out to be able to say that this epic monologue was recently turned into a motion picture!

This hilarious and poignant autobiographical film stars Birbiglia as a bartender at a Park Slope comedy club who moves in with his long-term girlfriend (Lauren Ambrose). Struggling with his relationship and his stand-up career, he also battles an extreme form of sleepwalking where he acts out his dreams--even going so far as to throw himself out of a second story window. Both earnest and surreal, this bittersweet ciné-memoir won an audience award at Sundance and was a selection at SXSW. Features appearances by comics Kristen Schaal, David Wain, Marc Maron, Wyatt Cenac, and more. An IFC Films release.

The show is tomorrow, and fortunately/surprisingly there are tickets still available. Also, did you see the part about how after the movie there will be a BAM-wide party for ticket holders? Did you know that the party will have free beer thanks to the fine folks at Brooklyn Brewery? Get tickets NOW. This close to the event date, I bet there are like 1.5, maybe 2 tix left.

OH, and speaking of Brooklyn Brewery and funny people; on Thursday June 21st Brooklyn Brewery is playing host to a supremely epic comedy show called Tom Shillue's Funny Story. The show will feature Shillue as well as John Mulaney, Bobby Tisdale, and more. It's a freaking pantheon of Klaus favorites. You'll also get a free pint of beer. Boo yah! I've mentioned Tom Shillue's Funny Story before. It is NOT to be missed. And the fact that it takes place at a brewery is an unbelievable scenario for your man Klaus. I feel like this show was booked solely to cater to my needs as a human being.

OH, and Mike Birbiglia is touring later this year and into 2013 too! Dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Mike Birbiglia going on tour, premiering movie in NYC at BAM"

One show already sold out. The other on sale now.

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!

Back in February I wrote, "It looks like the days of cheap performances at places like UCB and Union Hall are once again over." Well, now it looks like those days are back! For one night at least. Mike Birbiglia, whose show 'My Girlfriend's Boyfriend' closed in June, returns to Union Hall in Brooklyn for "An Evening of Stories" on October 18th. Tickets are on sale now. UPDATE: and... they're gone.

"The Story Pirates, a national arts and literacy organization, will take the stage alongside special celebrity guests, including Jon Stewart (The Daily Show), Lou Reed, Ana Gasteyer (Saturday Night Live, Wicked), John Oliver (Community, The Daily Show), Mike Birbiglia (Sleepwalk With Me), Josh Gad (The Book of Mormon), and Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords, Toy Story 3), to bring to life stories written by kids in the audience.

The Story Pirates sketch comedy musical shows are comprised of stories written by elementary schoolers and performed by professional actors and comedians. Enjoyed by all ages, the company is dedicated to showing kids that their words and ideas matter.

All funds raised at the After School Special will benefit the Story Pirates' arts and creative writing programs for low-income students. Story Pirates serves primarily low-income, culturally diverse elementary school students in over 100 schools in New York and around the country."

Meanwhile catch Mike Birbiglia at his ongoing show My Girlfriend's Boyrfiend.

"Mike Birbiglia, a longtime favorite of mine, has evolved from a pretty standard (and prodigal) stand-up comic to an expert monologist. His epic one man show Sleepwalk With Me was my first taste of his stunning evolution. Then a few weeks ago I watched him workshop a new one man show called My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (an unfortunate title as Alyssa Milano recently starred in a movie of the same name. It probably sucked). I also just read his wonderful new book Sleepwalk with Me: and Other Painfully True Stories. He's my generation's Spalding Gray, and, man, we definitely need that." [Klaus Kinski, Nov, 19, 2010]

Continue reading "Mike Birbiglia's 'My Girlfriend's Boyfriend' opening at the Barrow Street Theatre in NYC (tix on sale)"

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.

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"

Procter & Gamble Co. has an eye-opening campaign ready with Macy's Inc. pitching its Downy fabric softener at the many Americans who don't get enough sleep.

P&G will offer Downy as sleep aid with a 7-day live window display featuring comedian Mike Birbiglia at retailer Macy's Herald Square store, beginning [TODAY]. Birbiglia, known for his routines making light of his sleepwalking problem, will talk with fans, interact online and, it's planned, sleep. [AP, Wall Street Journal]

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 12/27/2010 (Jason Persse)

Sunday night's Bouncing Souls show was postponed. Tonight/Monday's is cancelled. Stay tuned for the status of the rest of the "Home for the Holidays" week.

BB King's has cancelled tonight's Sublime cover band show.

Lincoln Center says "Performances are continuing as scheduled as of now."

BAM is open and running.

Fontana's is open and offering free coffee to anyone that stops in today.

The Disco Biscuits will still play their show at Terminal 5 despite the snow, and despite their drummer being in the hospital.

Union Hall confirms that Mike Birbiglia will go on as planned tonight. The Living Room and Brooklyn Bowl also promise that they are having their scheduled shows (though Brooklyn Bowl's kitchen is closed).

UPDATE: After both Union Hall and Mike Birbiglia publicly said the show will go on tonight, they have now announced that it is postponed until Wednesday.

UPDATE: The jazz show at Mercury Lounge tonight is cancelled.

UPDATE: Tonight's Fantasia show at the Beacon Theater is cancelled.

UPDATE: Whiplash & all shows at UCB are cancelled tonight.

UPDATE: Both acts at Pianos tonight have postponed.

UPDATE: The show at Cake Shop tonight is postponed.

UPDATE: Tonights show at Party Xpo in Brooklyn has been cancelled according to one of the bands who was supposed to play.

UPDATE: "We regret to say that the Tank office is closed today due to the snow storm in New York City. As a result, Rob Gorden's "True Stories" show for tonight is postponed until January 31, 2011 at 7pm "

UPDATE: Coco66 is open with a DJ all night, and Rockwood Music Hall appears to be open and running with a full lineup of live music.

Make sure to check with venues before you trek out to a show, though with Lauryn Hill at Highline Ballroom tonight, you're probably screwed either way (kidding!) (sort of).

UPDATE: Highline Ballroom released an update about the Lauryn Hill show. It reads: "***PLEASE NOTE DOORS AND SHOW TIMES HAVE BEEN PUSHED BACK ON THIS SHOW DUE TO THE WEATHER. KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR MORE DETAILS.***"

UPDATE: ***PLEASE NOTE LAURYN HILL HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR FEB 1ST. ALL TIX HONORED. REFUNDS AVAILABLE AT POINT OF PURCHASE.***

Speaking of Highline Ballroom, last night's Talib Kweli/SAS/Jean Grae show was postponed until January 3rd. All tickets will be honored or you can get a refund.

Gwar braved the snow and slaughtered humans at Best Buy Theater in NYC last night, but our photographer had to cancel, and Gwar couldn't make it to their Vermont show tonight.

If you know of any snow-related cancellations or postponements, please leave them in the comments.

by Klaus Kinski

Doug Benson

As previously mentioned, Doug Benson, Rob Cantrell, and Tony Camin will hit the Gramercy Theater this Saturday 12/18 at 4:20pm for the magnificent, doobie-centric spoken-word show The Marijuana-Logues. Depending on who you ask, Doug, who hosts the preposterously hilarious Comedy Central show The Benson Interruption, is probably the most recognizable presence on the panel. But having seen Tony and Rob individually several times I can tell you that they are two of the funniest dudes in the biz and that there is absolutely zero imbalance in the comedy onslaught coming from those three fellas. As a triad, Doug, Rob, and Tony create one of the funnest, funniest atmospheres on the planet. Tickets are still on sale. I cannot recommend this show enough. Last time I saw the 'logues, I laughed so hard I had an asthma attack AND had tears streaming down my face. Plus, you have nothing better to do this Saturday afternoon. Nor is there anything better you could be doing in NYC this Saturday afternoon.

If you are among the 1 or 2 people in NYC who have prior obligations or, Cod forbid, actually found something better to do Saturday afternoon, you may be wailing aloud "I'm going to miss Doug Benson's only NYC appearance!?" Relax, little grasshopper. I have great news. It was just announced that Doug will be returning to the Gramercy Theater that very evening, Saturday 12/18, for a live recording of his infamous Doug Loves Movies podcast. Tickets went on sale yesterday at the oddly specific time of 11:22am (is that another pot number reference a la 420 that I am not hip to?). The show will have special guests, and this being NYC I can promise that they will blow your mind away. Come to think of it, my first ever exposure to Doug Benson was way back when on bobanddavid.com (RIP) where he had a frequent column called I Love Movies. I liked him immediately and will never forgot his tweet-length review (before Twitter existed) "Amelie is as cute as a button. I hate buttons." Follow my example: go to both shows.

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In other comedy news, hey San Francisco, Mike Birbiglia is coming to your town. Tickets are on sale for three shows. Grab them before they sell out like every one of his December Union Hall shows did.

We're just one day away from Reggie Watts' headlining show at Highline Ballroom.

Tickets are on presale NOW for a "Benefit for Greg Giraldo featuring Jerry Seinfeld, Lewis Black & More." Taking place at the Beacon on 2/9, the show will be "hosted by Tom Papa and feature Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Norton, Dave Attell, Ted Alexandro, Lewis Black, Judy Gold, Colin Quinn, & Jesse Joyce." PRESALE PASSWORD = HECOMEDY. Regular sale starts Saturday, 12/18, at 10am. Greg Giraldo sadly passed away way too young back in September.

Jerry Seinfeld was recently spotted in the crowd of the Apollo Theater.

Jim Gaffigan's 7-show Best Buy Theater run continues this weekend.

You can catch Jenny Slate in Brooklyn tonight (12/16).

Don't wait until he launches a new show Off Broadway where tickets will be $50. Catch Mike Birbiglia for "An Evening of Stories" in the intimate Union Hall basement space on five different nights in December. $15 tickets are on sale for each of them. Also catch Mike for free today, 12/1, at Borders.

The above picture is Mike's 2010 Christmas card which he'll send you if you donate $5 to charity. Holiday gift ideas (made up of bundles of his merch) are at his site too.

by Klaus Kinski

DOWNLOAD: 30 Rock - Werewolf Bar Mitzvah (RAC Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: 30 Rock - "Lemon's Theme" featuring Christopher Cross (MP3)

Mirman, Kitson, Gaffigan & friends @ the Bell House (more by David Andrako)

People like Patton Oswalt, Todd Barry, Kumail Nanjiani and Joe Mande are part of a personal roster of active comedians who keep my zeal for classic stand-up alive. I like the short trip from set-up to punchline and the volume of material that can be crammed into a set, whether it be 10 minutes or an hour. But as a 33 year old with the soul of a 65 year old, I have found myself gravitating towards the art of the monologue lately. And I don't mean the banal current events-based late-night talk show opening garbage. I am talking about long-form storytelling with a central theme that has many diversions and hilarious detours throughout the journey. Mike Birbiglia, a longtime favorite of mine, has evolved from a pretty standard (and prodigal) stand-up comic to an expert monologist. His epic one man show Sleepwalk With Me was my first taste of his stunning evolution. Then a few weeks ago I watched him workshop a new one man show called My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (an unfortunate title as Alyssa Milano recently starred in a movie of the same name. It probably sucked). I also just read his wonderful new book Sleepwalk with Me: and Other Painfully True Stories. He's my generation's Spalding Gray, and, man, we definitely need that.

My favorite living story teller in the entire universe, though, is Daniel Kitson. He's British. Americans are simply not afforded enough opportunities to bask in this man's genius, and that sucks. But it makes sense. He lives in Britain. Not America. When he does get here (for The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, for example), he sells rooms right the funk out. Good for him, bad for us because a sell out surely means some people aren't witnessing the force that is Daniel Kitson. Luckily for us, St. Ann's Warehouse is hosting a whopping 22 show run of Daniel's tale The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church from January 6th to January 30th. From St. Ann's website:

The show to see at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, British Stand up comedian and storyteller, Daniel Kitson, brings the story of Gregory Church to St. Ann's Warehouse for its American Premiere.

Gregory had fifty seven letters to write. He'd never written that many letters, not in one go. In fact, he'd never written a single letter and it was taking significantly longer than he'd anticipated. He'd started, full of optimism, curiously enough, at 9 am and now here he was 8 hours later half way through letter twenty four. He glanced at his watch and then at the noose hanging over his head.

Gregory sighed.

Had he known how long suicide letters take, he thought, he wouldn't have cancelled the milk for the morning.

A story of a death postponed by life.

And, hey, since you have your wallet out, why not buy a ticket or two to 1 of 7 Jim Gaffigan shows happening at the Best Buy Theater. I don't know how many shows he had scheduled there initially, but it definitely wasn't 7. To be honest I have never paid more than $5 to see Jim Gaffigan. As a matter of fact, I've never headed out to a comedy show with the intention of seeing Jim Gaffigan. Jim Gaffigan just likes to test his material out in tiny rooms all over the city, unannounced. So if you can't swing these shows, go to one of the many small but incredible shows around the city. You never know.

Speaking of the Best Buy Theater, did you get your tickets to one of Tim and Eric's two appearances at the Best Buy Theater on November 27th? Some people will probably be lame and still be their families for Thanksgiving that weekend. For those of us who aren't, the night belongs to us.

Klaus Kinski favorite Tig Notaro is working on something that I am not at liberty to mention and she needs your help. She and her comedian friends are coming to your town! If you'd be interested in hosting a live comedy show at your house (like a BV loft party), please post a video submission on her Facebook page telling her why it should be you, where you live and how you would present the show. "From stage, lighting, promotions, audience, to where in your home you will hold the show, it's all up to you." Tig is so f-ing great and I hope you people submit! Submissions must be up by November 23rd!

Look, I am a busy man and would love to write about stuff all day and have you read it and leave hummus comments but I have bills to pay and mouths to feed. Four of them. So I leave you with this: on Tuesday November 16th, the official 30 Rock Soundtrack hit the shelves. At first I thought this seemed like sort of a lame thing for one to want to buy. But then I read the track listing and realized how many funny and amazing songs there have been on the show, especially Werewolf Bar Mitzvah and Lemon's Theme featuring Christopher Cross. Download both of those for free above. Stream the whole thing at MSN. Buy it this Saturday and get it signed by the cast who will be in attendance in a Manhattan store. Details with full tracklistling below...

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