words & photos by David Andrako

Daniel Kitson / Jim Gaffigan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Totally J/K (Joe Mande & Noah Garfinkle) are hosting a dream lineup @ UCB tonight.

Many of the same comedians are also performing in Brooklyn tonight at the same time!

Dave Hill's Big in Japan returns to UCB on Thursday.

Enrique Cardenas: Is the legend of the guitar god dead? Are there any young guitarists that will make an impact in 2009?

Sasha Frere-Jones: The last three "guitar heroes" I saw were women: Marnie Stern, Kaki King, and Marissa Paternoster of the the Screaming Females. And the only old-fashioned guitar solos coming to mind are on Chris Brown and Braid Paisley albums.

Heartonastick: Paternoster's hard to see, impossible to take your eyes off.

Screaming Females are on tour with Throwing Muses. They play Music Hall of Williamsburg together tonight (3/12).

Lissy Trullie is everywhere lately. One of those places is opening for The Soundtrack of our Lives at Bowery Ballroom tonight (3/12) (not sold out).

Speaking of Dischord, Medications are on tour with Edie Sedgwick They play Cake Shop in NYC tonight (3/12).

LA comedian Morgan Murphy apparently lives in NYC now. That is great news for NYC comedy. Catch her tonight (3/12) at 92Y Tribeca. Check her out in the video below...

Continue reading "Lissy Trullie, Morgan Murphy, Medications, Screaming Females --- shows tonight & other stuff"

Morgan Murphy the pregnant Hanukkah fairy (more by Tim Griffin)

The lineup for tonight's Whiplash show at the NYC UCB Theatre is great as usual. Leo Allen hosts Paul F. Tompkins, John Mulaney, Andrea Rosen, Jesse Popp, and LA's Morgan Murphy. If anyone knows of any other shows Morgan is playing while she's in town, please leave details in the comments.

Also coming up at UCB: The Benson Interruption on Wednesday 2/18, and A-Side / B-Side with Kurt and Kristin on Thursday.

Patton Oswalt plays six shows at Caroline's this month. Tickets are on sale at Ticketweb.

Zach Galifianakis has a few shows coming up of note. On February 19th he'll join Bobby Tisdale, Pete Holmes, Shane Mauss and Andrea Rosen for a short set at 92YTribeca. Then on March 5th he's doing a full, $40, show at NYU. On May 24th he's playing the new comedy/dance tent at the Sasquatch Music Festval in Gorge, Washington.

The venue attached to Sound Fix Records in Williamsburg is closing soon. Upcoming comedy shows there include Entertaining the Bartender w/ Jena Friedman on Tuesday 2/17, Totally J/K w/ Joe and Noah (Paul F. Tompkins, Michelle Collins, Ted Alexandro, and Paul Oddo) on Wednesday 2/18, and Big Terriffic w/ Max, Gabe and Jenny on Thursday 2/19.

Eugene Mirman recently celebrated the release of his book at the Bell House in Brooklyn. His upcoming shows include two dates with John Wesley Harding at Le Poisson Rouge.

Dave Hill appears at Village Underground on February 24th.

Commercials have started to air for Parks and Recreations, by the people who brought you the Office, coming Thursdays to NBC and starring Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, and Aziz Ansari. That commercial, and more videos, below...

Continue reading "Morgan Murphy @ Whiplash tonight, Parks and Recreation, Patton, Zach Galifianakis dates & other comedy news"

photos by Chris La Putt

Based around songs from [Aimee Mann's] 2006 Christmas album, "One More Drifter in the Snow," the show also featured songs from Nellie McKay and Grant-Lee Phillips, comedy by [Fred Armisen] and Morgan Murphy, and a video spoof of "A Christmas Carol," featuring cameos by actors Michael Cera and John C. Reilly and Mann's husband, Michael Penn, in the role of Marley.

The music ranged from traditional and "corny" (Mann's word) songs like "Sleigh Ride" to more somber fare, such as Mann's own "Calling on Mary." Phillips and McKay joined Mann on the former, and were frequent contributors throughout the two-hour show.

Phillips first came out dressed in a snowman costume, and he later disguised himself as Willie Nelson to do a creditable impersonation of the country legend on a version of Mann's 'Til Tuesday hit, "Voices Carry."..
[that is a review from an earlier show on the tour]

Continue reading "Aimee Mann's holiday show (Fred Armisen, Grant-Lee Phillips, Nellie Mckay, Morgan Murphy) @ Nokia Theatre - pics "

Til Tuesday (Aimee Mann then)

Aimee Mann (now)

Twisted Sister

What do Aimee Mann and Twisted Sister have in common? They were both popular in the eighties (though maybe Twisted Sister are the only ones still living in it) and are still at it today, they both put out Christmas albums in 2006, they both played Christmas shows in 2007 (Aimee also played one in 2006), and they both are playing Christmas shows in 2008 - both of which are at Nokia Theatre in NYC in December. Twisted Sister plays two nights (tickets are on sale), and Aimee Mann plays one (she had two nights, but one was already cancelled) (tickets are also on sale).

In case the title confused you Aimee & Dee are not sharing the same bill (just the same BV post, again).

Twisted Sister is advertising two openers: ZO2 and The Dirty Pearls. Aimee Mann is saying that "This years special guests include: Nellie McKay, Grant-Lee Phillips, Morgan Murphy, Patton Oswalt and Paul F. Tompkins.", but her tour is eleven dates long and it's unclear who will be appearing at each show along the way, BUT Nokia Theatre IS listing all of those guests EXCEPT Patton. All tour dates and a whole bunch of related videos, below...

Continue reading "Aimee Mann & Twisted Sister - 2008 Christmas Tour Dates, Nellie McKay, Patton Oswalt, videos w/ Lita Ford & stuff"

LA comedian Morgan Murphy doesn't make it to NYC enough. That's a picture of her up there performing on day two of the Sasquatch Festival this past weekend. Below is a picture she took of Eugene Mirman at the same festival. I found it on her MySpace Sasquatch blog.

Continue reading "Morgan Murphy played Sasquatch and blogged about it"

Aimee Mann Holiday show, Bimbos, San Fran - Dec 2, 2007 (CRED)

* Happy Hanukkah!
* Yo La Tengo & The Clean (?) @ Maxwell's
* Matisyahu @ Roseland Ballroom
* Worried Noodles @ Knitting Factory
* Menorah Horah @ The Slipper Room
* Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ Music Hall of W
* The Besnard Lakes, Peter Moren & Luke Temple @ Bowery
* Karl Blau @ Sound Fix

What else?