"I make a lot of coffee," James Murphy told NY Mag in an interview after the movie's premiere. "For my birthday, my girlfriend got me a training course with the world champion. That's what I'm going to do when I get back to London."

Most recently done by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy with his limited edition "Bonny Billy Blend" from Kona Rose Coffee (available for purchase via Drag City), Murphy is planning on reiterating the trend with his own espresso blend.

According to Murphy himself, he plans to "just go to a roaster who lives near me and just start tweaking beans and temperatures," for the fun of it.

He loves coffee so much, he's releasing the hits, "Never As Tired As When I'm Waking Up (Without Coffee)", "Disco Percolator", and "Bean Connection."

Well, not really, but James is keeping busy in the art world too. The LCD Soundsystem documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22. Billboard reports:

The film is reminscent of Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz" (1978), about rock group The Band's final show, in that it documents an influential group's guest star-laden final live performance and largely focuses on the frontman (in "Waltz's" case, Robbie Robertson). When asked during a post-screening Q&A about trying to best Waltz, Murphy joked: "I was just like, 'that chump Robbie Roberston, I'm gonna take him --'"

Going into the project, Murphy said he was aware of the thematic similarities with "Waltz." "We all talked about it. Knowing that it is there, you can't not deal with it," he said.

And, "Shut Up and Play the Hits" was just one of two movies Murphy was involved with at Sundance this year. He also stars in The Comedy along with Bonnie Prince Billy's Drag City labelmate Neil Hamburger, Tim Heidecker (of Tim & Eric who also premiered another movie at Sundance), Eric Wareheim (of Tim & Eric who also premiered another movie at Sundance), Matador-signed comedian Jeffrey Jensen, Will Sheff (of Okkervil River), and many more. The film was directed by the Jagjaguwar-signed Rick Alverson, and the indie label is also involved with the film. Check out a clip with James,Tim & Eric below...

Continue reading "like Bonnie Prince Billy, James Murphy is making his own coffee (and he's in 2 new movies too) (1 with Tim & Eric)"

Bruise Cruise (more photos by Gabi Porter)

The Soft Pack, who will in fact be the surprise guest at both of the upcoming free Vice shows (that the band curated) in Costa Mesa and San Diego, are among those just announced on the lineup of Bruise Cruise II. The drunken "3 day tropical rock n roll vacation" opportunity will return in 2012 and is even already on sale!

BRUISE CRUISE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS SECOND YEAR!
FEBRUARY 10-13, 2012
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
THREE DAY TROPICAL ROCK 'N' ROLL CRUISE VACATION
SAILING FROM MIAMI TO THE BAHAMAS AND BACK

FEATURING KING KHAN & THE SHRINES, THE SOFT PACK, THE DIRTBOMBS, THEE OH SEES, QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT, NEIL HAMBURGER AND DJ MR. JONATHAN TOUBIN WITH MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

After a successful first year, Bruise Cruise Festival is back for round two. This year's lineup will feature an even crazier spectacle of today's best rock 'n' roll talent, including King Khan & The Shrines, The Soft Pack, The Dirtbombs, and America's funnyman Neil Hamburger. Coming back for another blast of sun-soaked fun will be Bruise Cruise favorites Thee Oh Sees, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, and New York's infamous soul DJ, Mr. Jonathan Toubin.

Continue reading "Bruise Cruise announces its return & lineup, The Soft Pack also playing free CA shows, Quintron & Miss Pussycat touring"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

DOWNLOAD: The Dodos - Don't Stop (MP3)

"In 45 minutes the show with Showalter starts! It's gonna be amazing, I can tell by his purple sweater. Color of royalty. He's feelin' it!" - Neko Case

Neko Case helped Michael Showalter promote his new book at an event at Barnes & Noble in Union Square last night (2/24), or to be more specific, Upstairs at the Square. Katherine Lanpher hosted. Neko sang four songs (setlist below). Showalter read a couple passages including a beat poetry inspired poem and a chapter about what to put in a Hollywood script. He also discussed the orgin of The Baxter, and they both talked about their writing process. Pictures from the bookstore are in this post.

Uptairs at the Square returns to Barnes & Noble in Union Square twice in March. Wednesday, March 9 will feature Rebecca Skloot (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) and Cubic Zirconia (Follow Your Heart), and Thursday, March 24 has my favorite Keren Ann (101) with Barbara Browning (The Correspondence Artist).

Audience members included Eugene Mirman (who will again join Michael at the Bell House this weekend) and Todd Barry (who just announced an April tour with Neil Hamburger - dates below) (not to be confused with Neil's February and March tour).

Earlier in the day Neko "leaked" a new Dodos song via her Twitter. She wrote, "Fave song off new Dodos. Bummed I didn't didn't get to sing on it (I shouldn't be so greedy cuz I did sing on lots)." Download that above. The Dodos are heading out on tour in March and they'll be playing lots of SXSW shows in the process. Their updated dates, a BrooklynVegan day party included, are below.

Michael Showalter is also touring, though he won't be at SXSW. Neko Case is not touring, though she did just play a show at the Bell House and is giving away her car.

More B&N pictures, Dodos & Barry dates, and Neko's setlist, below...

Continue reading "Neko case played 'Upstairs at the Square' w/ Michael Showalter (pics), 'leaked' a new Dodos song (MP3) "

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"

photos by Chris Gersbeck, words by Klaus Kinski

Tim and Eric played two shows at The Best Buy Theater in NYC on Saturday November 27th to extremely packed crowds. I am pretty sure there were no other events scheduled at the venue earlier in the day, but upon entering the live room for the early show you could have told me that High Times had sponsored an Official Farting Contest earlier in the day and I would have believed you (it smelled like weed and farts in there). I got there just as Neil Hamburger hit the stage, and he did an all-too-short set that can only be described as perfect. And classic. After a very brief post-Hamburger intermission, T&E staple David Liebe Hart appeared on the video screen to introduce the show and warm up the crowd. Overall the show was pretty funny. We saw skits that featured T&E's Chrimbus characters, Jim Heckler and Derrick Whipple (probably my favorite T&E characters ever), and more, as well as videos and a performance by Pusswhip Banggang.

Though I do prefer the TV show much more; the editing, sound design, and overall craziness that can be achieved on television works better for me than seeing skits of theirs played out on stage, but the live show was still funny as hell. More pictures from the late show (some a bit NSFW), below...

Continue reading "Tim & Eric & Neil Hamburger played 2 shows Saturday (pics)"

by Klaus Kinski

Question: How do you get a glimpse of American teenage ADD without having to go to a mall, classroom, or PS3/xBox 360 multiplayer online game? Answer: Check out Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, and their cast of nimrods when they hit the road with one of their magnificent, better-than-the-last-time-they-were-in-town Tim & Eric Awesome Tour Great Job tours.

Your chance to savor the live Tim & Eric experience is just on the horizon as they'll be nailing NYC's Best Buy Theater (inconveniently?) on Saturday November 27 (2 days after Thanksgiving). Tickets are on presale now (password: chrimbus) (password: AWESOME). Regular onsale is Friday September 17th. The Best Buy date, as well as all their others, will be blessed with an opening set by America's funny man Neil Hamburger (creator of one of my favorite jokes ever*) and a bonus live set by supergroup Pusswhip Banggang. Pusswhip will be playing songs such as Petite Feet, Sports, and MORE! Sadly, Pep Pep shan't be there. The inclusion of Hamburger and Pusswhip tells me that this will probably be the strongest T&E live show ever, of all time, ever ever.

In related T&E news, they've also announced that they will have a whopping 1-hour long episode on Adult Swim on December 5th entitled Chrimbus. My buddy Brian is of the opinion that T&E has gotten progressively worse as the seasons go by and that this Chrimbus special, at an hour long, is going to be disaster central. And apparently the special is a spoof on Jaws. Let's hope T&E don't literaly jump the shark, amiright!? Anyhow I think Brian is crazy.

Enough of my yammering. Hear the news from the horses' mouths' in the video below. Also below? The tour dates.

Continue reading "Tim & Eric touring w/ Neil Hamburger (dates) "

photos by Samantha Marble

"Subway problems, sweltering temperatures and long queues were all overcome by the hardy bunch of FNM fans who attended the third and final date of Faith No More's three-date East Coast mini-tour last night. The "surprise song" did not appear but consensus seemed to be that Faith No More again delivered a stunning set with old favourites like Worm and The Crab Song getting rare airings." [Faith No More 2.0]

This time, with James Chance as the musical opener, Faith No More again played a 20-song, 2-encore set (that this time included The Real Thing and Ben and ended with Stripsearch, and didn't start with Reunited). The whole setlist, along with more pictures from Monday's show (including one that is kind of NSFW), below...

Continue reading "Faith No More, Rahzel, James Chance & Neil Hamburger @ Williamsburg Waterfront - night 2 pics, video & setlist"

words and photos by Keith Marlowe

The crowd erupted in cheers, over a decade in the making, when Faith No More took the stage at the Williamsburg Waterfront last Friday. After reforming in Febuary of 2009, the band had played dozens of dates in the UK, but didn't play the US until April of this year, and that was just four shows in California. So this was the first time they had been anywhere near the East Coast since breaking up in 1998. It was fitting that their first song (as it has been on many tour dates) was "Reunited," by Peaches and Herb.

The band came out dressed in different colored pastel suits. The two founding members, drummer Mike Bordin and bass player Bill Gould, (who started the band in 1981) and keyboardist Roddy Bottum (who joined in 1982) were joined by Jon Hudson, the most recent addition (he joined in 1997 to help with songwriting on "Album of the Year".) Mike Patton was the last to appear, and he came out slowly, walking with a cane. I wondered if there were going to be any Willy Wonka type antics, but after singing with the cane for a couple songs, he tossed it to the side of the stage. I couldn't tell if he was really hurt, but he did seem to move less than when he played with other bands in the last couple of years.

Faith no More played a pretty even mix of the albums they made after Mike Patton joined in 1989. They started their original material with "From Out of Nowhere" which, fittingly, is the first song on "The Real Thing," the first album they made with Patton. From the beginning notes of "Nowhere" the crowd started singing along, and it kept up throughout the entire concert (minus Chariots of Fire.) It's been a long time since I heard that many people sing along with an entire show and it really added to the experience. What didn't add to the experience was the way the "beer-drinkers" were sectioned far off from the rest of the audience. It seemed there were many unnecessary barricades, and all the grass near the stage was sectioned off, removing the only comfortable option for anyone who wanted to sit and watch the show. And did there really need to be separate lines for beer tickets and beer?

Mike Patton instructed the crowd several times to turn around and check out the amazing view ("you fuckers live here") instead of looking at the band, but nobody was having any of it. The skyline isn't going anywhere (hopefully), but there's no telling if Faith No More will ever be back in NYC again. They kept everyone riveted through the set, which included covers "Easy" and "I Started a Joke." The first encore started with Vangelis, another live staple, and the second encore consisted of "We Care a Lot," the only song off their first two albums from the Chuck Mosely era.

Rahzel opened the show with his one man vocal act, performing original songs and covers such as Wu-Tang. The amount of bass he was able to produce was impressive, and his beats shook the speakers. . He somehow managed to do the verse and chorus of a song simultaneously. He spent a lot of time talking about hip-hop, the importance of women not getting impregnated by poor men, and why dudes should be sure to keep themselves wrapped. Some of the talking got old, but it was cute when he brought his youngest son up and told the crowd about him. His son alternated between looking like he was going to laugh and cry.

Neil Hamburger was next (and reportedly first), and he really seemed to quickly divide the crowd into people that thought his act was funny, and people that would have preferred silence until Faith No More came out. "What's the difference between Courtney Love and the American Flag? It's wrong to piss on the American Flag," gives a pretty accurate representation of his jokes. He's like a cross between a pop-culture Henny Youngman and John Waters. A big part of his bit seems to be chastising the hecklers that he knows he's going to get. A lot of his taunts at the audience were funnier than his jokes.

Faith No More went on to play Philly on Saturday and Williamsburg again on Monday (pics from that one HERE) and are now headed to Europe to play festival dates for the rest of July. They have no more "official" plans after this month.

We already posted this show's setlist. Pictures from it continue below...

Continue reading "Faith No More @ Williamsburg Waterfront -night 1 pics/review"

Faith No More @ Williamsburg Waterfront - Friday, June 2nd (via my phone)

**Due to MTA construction there is no L Train service between 8 Ave, Manhattan and Myrtle-Wykcoff Aves, Brooklyn**

Here are 3 alternate options to get to the Williamsburg Waterfront from Manhattan:

-Take the 7 Train to 45th/Court House Square and then transfer to the G Train at 23 Street-Ely Avenue, then take the Brooklyn Bound G Train to Nassau Ave.

-Take the J, Z, or M Train to Marcy and there are shuttle busses to Bedford Ave, or it is a short walk to the venue
-Take the E Train to 23 Street-Ely Avenue and Transfer to the G Train to Nassau Ave

In Brooklyn take the M to Marcy Ave, or take the G train to Nassau Ave. There are also shuttle busses running along the L line beginning at Myrtle-Wycoff and ending at Lorimer St. From the Lorimer stop, walk west down Metropolitan to North 6th St. (under the BQE). Continue west to Kent Ave. and go two blocks north to North 8th St.

If you were at the same venue on Friday night, July 2nd, then you probably know that Faith No More played a 2-encore, 20-song set that ended with "We Care a Lot", included "Epic" but not "Falling to Pieces", "The Real Thing", "Zombie Eaters", "War Pigs" or "Edge of the World". It also included, like the rest of the tour, an opening cover of "Reunited", and unlike Coachella, their cover of "Easy".

One night later in Philly they switched things up a bit. Brooklyn got a Bee Gees cover on Friday. Philly, like Coachella, got the Jackson 5's "Ben". Both nights got Vangelis to kick off the encore, but Philly only got one encore (no "We Care a Lot" for them at all).

Not counting his little son that he brought up (aka embarrassed) on stage, Rahzel played completely solo during his opening set on Friday. Mike Patton didn't join him and he didn't later join Faith No More... like he did in Philly for "Chinese Arithmetic".

A full set of pictures from the Brooklyn show is coming soon. Meanwhile the Brooklyn and Philly setlists, and some videos, are below...

Continue reading "Faith No More play Brooklyn again tonight (NO L TRAIN SERVICE) ++ the setlists from Friday & Saturday "

Funnyman Neil Hamburger, known for, among other things for his Poolside Chats, is opening all three Faith No More shows this weekend, including two at the Williamsburg Waterfront (known for, among other things being the new "Pool").

Each Brooklyn show also has a third opener. Rahzel opens Friday (I wonder if Mike Patton will perform with him) and James Chance opens Monday. According to Roddy Bottum, "Doors 530, James Chance maybe 6 or 630, Neil Hamburger at 7 or 730, FNM at 8. K?" An anonymous commenter wrote the same.

All Neil dates below...

Continue reading "Neil Hamburger, James Chance & Rahzel are opening for Faith No More (and playing other dates) "

photos by Paul Birman

...The material, though unfamiliar, was an excellent vehicle for Keenan's gifts. Most of it was swaggery and driving, pitched right between the sinister and the playful. But some of it was downright balladic, with a distinctly loungey feel, with Keenan coming off like a histrionic though entirely sincere Vegas crooner. The music and the presentation had a gimmicky element, but crucially, Keenan played it straight and sang his ass off. (To be fair, the band ruled, especially the really solid, crushing drummer and an excellent female vocalist--Carina Round--who served as an excellent foil for Maynard.)

The stunning quality of his performance had the really remarkable effect of legitimizing everything around it. Gradually, all the cheesy video interludes came to seem delightful; the theatrical hubbub going on simultaneous to the music began to come off like a charming complement to the already vaguely Broadway-ish material. (Former Primus drummer Tim Alexander played the role of a flight attendant, while opening acts Neil Hamburger (!) and Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival sat in faux airplane seats at center stage, chatting, drinking and reading the paper during the majority of the performance.) Overall it was like watching a performer jump the shark, but doing so in such a professional and expertly choreographed fashion that the joke was on you for trying to put them in an aesthetic box in the first place. You actually felt like you were being forced to accept an aspect of Maynard James Keenan that you weren't ready for and you couldn't help but be won over. [Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches]

Their tour continues through March. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Puscifer (Maynard), Neil Hamburger & Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival played the Apollo & Grand Ballroom (pics) "

As previously announced, America's Funnyman Neil Hamburger is playing a show at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn tonight (11/11). Opening for the comedian in NYC are JP Incorporated and Corndawg (who is a friend and tour-mate of Deer Tick). From New York Neil heads to Asbury Park, NJ before continuing on a tour that keeps him on the road for most of the rest of the year. All dates below....

Continue reading "Neil Hamburger - 2009 Tour Dates (NYC tonight)"

Neil Hamburger @ Knitting Factory in Manhattan in 2008 (more by Lori Baily)

The days are officially numbered for Hollywood's Knitting Factory. The club, says a spokesman, will host its last show on Oct. 25, with pop-punk band Hit the Lights currently booked on the venue's final day.

Pop & Hiss reported in July that the Knitting Factory intended to leave its current location at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. at the end of October. The club's lease is up Oct. 31, and there were no last-minute changes of heart.

"We are definitely not staying here," says the club's head of promotion and publicity, Bruce Duff, via email.

The Knitting Factory's flier for its final Hollywood shows teases a new venue opening in 2010. Duff says nothing has yet been finalized on a new locale, although "several are in the running."
[LA Times]

Fleet Foxes @ Grand Ballroom Saturday (more by Chris Owyoung)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Madonna @ MSG
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* Raphael Saadiq @ SOBs
* Andrew Bird @ Hiro Ballroom
* Department of Eagles @ The Bell House
* Death Cab For Cutie, St. Vincent @ Radio City Music Hall
* Tegan & Sara, City and Colour, Girl in a Coma @ Terminal 5
* Will Franken, USAISAMONSTER, Knyfe Hytes, My Device @ Cake Shop
* Okkervil River, Crooked Fingers, Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears @ Webster Hall
* Debbie Harry, Lissy Trullie, Jesse Malin, Earl Greyhound, etc @ Highline Ballroom

Tickets are back on sale for all four NYC Madonna shows.

LSD was first declared illegal in the United States on this day in 1966.

William Butler of the Arcade Fire was born today in 1982.

The Department of Eagles show tonight is sold out, but tomorrow's Revenge of the Bookeaters benefit is not: Get TICKETS.

Department of Eagles go on at 9:15 tonight. Nat Baldwin opens at 8:30.

Stereolab finished up their 3-night run in NYC on Saturday night.

Municipal Waste is coming soon. Earth is not.

Neil Hamburger's new video for "At Least I Was Paid" is below...

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

photos by Lori Baily

Way back at the end of July, before All Points West even, funnyman Neil Hamburger played a show at Knitting Factory in NYC. It was a comedy show, though the sometimes-musician did also perform one number off his new CD of "Country Winners". Lori was there and she took some pictures. You see them in this post.

Now, as we speak, the Democratic National Convention is happening over in Denver, CO. And when there is politics there is music, and there is comedy. And as previously-just posted, Ted Leo, Eugene Mirman and Neil Hamburger are playing a free Onion-sponsored music and comedy show in Denver (one night after Rage Against the Machine do the same thing). The DNC flyer, more tour dates, and more pictures, below...

Continue reading "Neil Hamburger - KF pics, 2008 Tour Dates (DNC w/ Ted Leo)"

DOWNLOAD: Neil Hamburger - At Least I Was Paid (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Neil Diamond - Love on the Rocks (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ted Leo & Tom Scharpling - You Don't Bring Me Flowers (MP3)

2008, NYC
July 31 - Neil Hamburger plays Knitting Factory! (tonight!)
Aug 12 - Neil Diamond plays MSG
Aug 14 - Neil Diamond plays MSG
Aug 15 - Neil Diamond plays MSG
Aug 16 - Neil Diamond plays MSG

Silver Jews' Drag City labelmate Neil Hamburger will appear at Knitting Factory in NYC on July 13th. Daiquiri , Andrea Rosen & Chelsea Peretti are also on the bill. Tickets are on sale. The show is part of new batch of tour dates that you will find below along with a video from a recent appearance Neil made on Fox News to promote his new album "Neil Hamburger Sings Country Songs" .....

Continue reading "Neil Hamburger - 2008 Tour Dates & Fox News video"

DOWNLOAD: Neil Hamburger - At Least I Was Paid (MP3)

Well, what else do we need to say about this? "America's Funnyman" ("The World's Funnyman," actually) has decided to sing America's music at last! The country crooning of Neil Hamburger (though some would call it moaning) fits the white blues that is country music to a T! Neil's life story is perfect fodder for the "tear in the beer" genre as well - and Neil's original tunes, such as "At Least I Got Paid," "Three Piece Chicken Dinner" and "The Recycle Bin" bring his personality to the fore. His crack "Nashville West" band includes such luminaries as Dave Gleason, Atom Ellis, Prairie Prince, Rachel Haden and Joe Goldmark, all of whom play and sing their country-fried hearts out to create a sound that is decidedly old-school honky-tonk. All this plus cover versions of John Entwistle, Mark Eitzel and Billy Edd Wheeler add up to a powerful singing debut from America's newest hat act, Neil Hamburger!

I recently mentioned that Bob Odenkirk and David Cross would soon begin work on a pilot for HBO. Lo and behold, production of David's Situation begins May 9th, 2008 in sunny Los Angeles, with a live audience and everything. This show can't be completed and devoured by my eyes and ears soon enough. If anyone goes to the taping, tell me everything.

In related news, not only is Bob Odenkirk co-writer and director of David's Situation, but it turns out he'll also be playing Mike Birbiglia's older brother in Mike Birbiglia's CBS pilot Mike Birbiglia's Secret Public Journal, a pilot you can read about here.

much, much, much, much more below.....

Continue reading "Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon (04/21/08)"

NYC concert venuue Knitting Factory is running a special right now - $5.00 off your concert ticket if you buy your tickets via text message.

That seems like a pretty good deal to me, but not even necessary if you want to stop by the first installment of "Blogger's Delight" tonight (Mon Sept 10, 2007) - that's because it's free....

Blogger's Delight is a free party every Monday in the Tap Bar of the Knitting Factory. Each party, a new blog curates the night and invites bands and DJs they love to play. Get ready to get psyched!

And, if you're looking for something to save $5.00 on, might I suggest Yo Majesty on September 27th, or how about Circle and Oneida on September 22nd.

Previously
* Has anyone texted for tickets yet? + YO MAJESTY
* Neil Hamburger playing Knitting Factory

We're playing some catch up, so here is the first half of this week's Comedy Canon....

Craig Wedren, David Wain & friend @ Gramercy Theatre, NYC - Aug 2, 2007 (CRED)

I unfortunately couldn't make it to last night's "Ten" event at the Blender (Gramercy) Theatre, but as you can see from the picture above - the film's co-creator David Wain was also celebrating his birthday. How did it go?

This Fall, Drag City will release the first in a series of DVD's called Fred Armisen Presents. For those of you not in the know, Fred is quite the seasoned drum veteran; he appears on the new Les Savy Fav record, he was in early 90's punk band Trenchmouth, and one of his most beloved characters on SNL was Fericito, a drumming latino variety show host. So it's only fitting that the first Fred Armisen Presents DVD will focus on drum wunderkind Jenns Hannemann whose Complicated Drumming Technique made Fred realize Jenns is a man who could change the world of drum instruction . Billed as an incredible educational opportunity for the musician in us all the disc is set to hit music shops around the globe in October.

But wait; who the hell is Jenns Hannemann? I don't know, but according to Pitchfork, Jenns recently did a show with Will Oldham. He also put on a clinic in Canada last month. This guy's good. Real good.

And speaking of Will Oldham, have you seen the new Kanye West video he's in with Zach Galifianakis? Probably yes, but if not, hurry up!

Neil Hamburger is on tour, and going on tour. He'll be at the Knitting Factory in NYCon September 8, 2007 with Pleaseeasaur. If anyone reading this will be in Chicago on August 4, 2007 - and looks like Neil, why not enter the NEIL HAMBURGER LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST. The winner gets two tickets to his Lakeshore Theater gig. My condolences to the winner.

All of Neil's tour dates can be found at the end of this post, and much more comedy, below...

Continue reading "Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon (08/03/07) (part 1)"