Archive for the 'Live Acts' Category
May 25th, 2009, 12:32 pm by Pedro
 The lights went down and in the pre-show darkness at the Greek Theatre on Sunday you could just make out the Flight of the Conchords, two silvery shapes with large square heads, moving into position on stage.
Lights up, crowd roars and there they are: Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, “New Zealand’s fourth-most popular guitar-based digi-bongo a cappella-rap-funk comedy folk duo,” as the (self) mythology has it.
Dressed, as fans might guess, in shiny track jackets with robot heads made of cardboard boxes covered in tinfoil and red Dixie cups for ears. Singing, surprisingly, not “Robot Song,” the tune that first caught the attention of many fans, but “Too Many D***s (On The Dance Floor)”, a little techno-rap ditty about saving the world from a male-female imbalance down at the disco.
If it’s possible to be an overnight sensation after working on your act for decade or so, then the Conchords are just that: Thanks to their self-titled HBO series, they broke out in a big, or maybe biggish, way in the United States in 2007.
If it’s possible to be huge cult stars, then they’re that too: Their show at the Greek Theatre sold out quickly, and you could sense how excited everyone was to be there.
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Posted in: Comedy • Concert Reviews • Live Acts • Set Lists • Flight of the Conchords • greek theatre | 2 Comments »
February 12th, 2009, 12:48 pm by Kelli Skye Fadroski
 What better way to spend a late-night Valentine’s Day than with a rock band, comedians and adult film stars? Former Saigon Kick and Skid Row drummer Phil Varone (pictured) hosts his comedy variety show Sex, Stand-up & Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Irvine Improv at 11 p.m. on Feb. 14.
The 41-year-old Los Angeles resident started working on his stand-up act after leaving the music business in 2004. Coming up and performing in numerous clubs and deciding that regular stand-up can often just be boring – one person on stage with a mic – he created the Sex, Stand-up & Rock ‘n’ Roll show.
“I have a live house band that plays called Just the Tip and it’s set up more variety show-style,” Varone says. “I have all kinds of different national comics performing and we do contests to give away gift bags so it’s a lot of audience participation.”
The infamous gift bags are where the “sex” part of the show comes in. Varone is sponsored by Hustler Video, Sextoy.com and other adult establishments. They provide him with lots of goodies to give away including T-shirts, panties and various adult toys.
“People see the word ‘sex’ in the title and it might scare them off but it’s not a blue type of show at all,” Varone says. “It’s not a show that’s all about sex and there’s no nudity or anything weird like that. You could possibly win a (sex toy) at the show, but that’s what makes it a different kind of comedy show. That’s why our slogan is ‘Rockstars, Porn Stars, Comedians … Oh My!’.”
In 2007, Varone was the main subject in the documentary “Waking Up Dead.” The film, directed by Fabio Jafet, follows Varone into the underbelly of the music industry. Between a nasty cocaine habit, lack of funds and a whole lot of mistakes, Varone allowed his darkest hours to be caught on tape. Now sober, Varone says he has days where he wonders why he would subject himself to the scrutiny.
“There are days when I sit back and go ‘Oh, God why did I do this,’ but then I get an e-mail from someone that says something like, ‘I saw the film and decided to get sober,’ and that’s what makes it worth it to me,” Varone says. “I went through a lot of crazy stuff and I’m not ashamed of it. I know a lot of really great people who are recovering addicts and we’re not monsters or bad people.”
This show is 21 and older only. Tickets are $25 and available at irvineimprov.com. In case you miss it, Sex, Stand-up & Rock ‘n’ Roll will return to the Irvine Improv on March 14.
Also:
Posted in: Comedy • Interviews • Live Acts • Comedy • Irvine Improv • Phil Varone • stand-up | Post a Comment »
December 15th, 2008, 12:45 pm by Kelli Skye Fadroski
 Steve Byrne –- This high-energy comic is starting to break into the mainstream. His brand of observational and physical comedy has landed him appearances on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He’s also been a part of a few national comedy tours, including the Jameson Comedy Tour, Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Tour and the MySpace Comedy Tour.
Byrne appeared in The Real Wedding Crashers, a hidden-camera show featuring real-life couples about to be married. The couples would always be in on the joke, but unsuspecting family members and guests were not. Now, in his first major movie role, Byrne can be seen in the Reese Witherspoon / Vince Vaughn holiday comedy, Four Christmases.
Show times are 8:30 p.m. Dec. 18 … 8 & 10 p.m. Dec. 19 … 7 & 9 p.m. Dec. 20 … and 7 p.m. Dec. 21. Tickets are $17 and available at breaimprov.com.
Also coming to town: At the Brea Improv: Stand-up & Rock with Mark Eddie, 8 p.m. Dec. 16, $12; and Playboy Comedy, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17, $15. … At the Irvine Improv: Cedric the Entertainer (The Original Kings of Comedy), 7 & 9 p.m. Dec. 15, $40; Comedy Juice featuring Owen Benjamin and Brad Williams, 10 p.m. Dec. 16, $15; Tony Rock (The Tony Rock Project), 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17 & 18, 8 & 10 p.m. Dec. 19, 7 & 9 p.m. Dec. 20 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21, $20. … And at the Grove of Anaheim: Sinbad (A Different World, The Sinbad Show), 8 p.m. Dec. 19, $25-$40.
Next week: Jon Lovitz, Dec. 26-28 at the Irvine Improv … Michael Loftus, Dec. 26-28 at the Brea Improv.
Posted in: Comedy • Live Acts • News • Brea Improv • Cedric the Entertainer • Comedy • Irvine Improv • Jon Lovitz • Steve Byrne • Tony Rock • week in laughs | 1 Comment »
December 11th, 2008, 12:31 pm by Kelli Skye Fadroski
 Lisa Lampanelli, the loveable Queen of Mean, will see her first HBO hour-long special, Long Live the Queen, air at 10 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Jan. 31. The special was taped before a live audience on Nov. 21 at the Wells Fargo Center of the Arts in Santa Rosa.
As every comic knows, a gig on HBO is the Holy Grail of comedy specials — it’s like a musician winning 10 Grammys in a single night. Lampanelli (looking much like the evil queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in this pic) joins the ranks of veterans like Chris Rock, George Carlin, Lewis Black, George Lopez, Rodney Dangerfield, Jerry Seinfeld and more.
Prior to taping, Lampanelli was hard at work touring the country and testing out new material for the special. She even stopped by the Brea Improv for five nights in August to try out some bits (read my interview with her from that show here).
Although she still has a busy touring schedule, she’s also working with actor Jim Carrey on a comedy series for HBO. The series revolves around a woman who inherits a comedy club in Los Angeles.
Her first book, The World According to Lisa: The Queen of Mean’s Guide to the Universe, in which she shares her views on everything from relationships and parenting to religion and race, is also due in 2009.
Posted in: Comedy • Live Acts • News • Stand-Up Specials • Comedy • HBO Specials • Lisa Lampanelli | 1 Comment »
December 9th, 2008, 6:44 pm by Kelli Skye Fadroski
 Comedian-actor Cedric Kyles (better known as Cedric the Entertainer) has the ability to sell out theaters with thousands of seats.
Yet this week he’s about to perform at the 300- capacity Irvine Improv.
The 44-year-old comic, who arrives at the venue Dec. 15, broke into the scene in the early ’90s via appearances on Showtime at the Apollo, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and BET’s ComicView (in ‘94 the network gave him its Richard Pryor Comic of the Year award).
Cedric then landed a role on his friend Steve Harvey’s sitcom (The Steve Harvey Show) in 1996 and picked up four consecutive NAACP Image Awards for outstanding actor in a comedy series during his time on the show. But his career really skyrocketed with the success of the Original Kings of Comedy tour, featuring Harvey along with D.L. Hughley and the late Bernie Mac.
The tours ended in 2000, when it was commemorated with Spike Lee’s popular film capturing the comics in action, after which Cedric went on to star in numerous movies, including both installments of Barbershop, The Honeymooners and Codename: The Cleaner.
He can currently be seen starring alongside Adrien Brody, Mos Def and Beyonce Knowles in Cadillac Records, chronicling the rise of Chess Records and some of its key recording artists: Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James.
Show times are 7 & 9 p.m. Tickets, $40 for either show, are available at irvineimprov.com.
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Posted in: Comedy • Live Acts • News • Stand-Up Specials • Cedric the Entertainer • Comedy • Irvine Improv • stand-up • Upcoming Shows | Post a Comment »
December 8th, 2008, 2:36 pm by Kelli Skye Fadroski
 • Larry the Cable Guy –- “Git-R-Done,” ladies and gentlemen! The Blue Collar comic comes to the brand spankin’ new Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario Thursday, Dec. 11.
Larry the Cable Guy was a character created by stand-up comic Daniel Whitney as part of a radio bit for his buddy who worked at a local Florida station. The host would call Whitney and he would pretend to be a cable guy giving outrageous answers to tough political questions. The popularity of the character grew and soon Whitney was doing his entire act as Larry.
Although he plays stupid, Larry is anything but. He’s part of one of the most successful touring comedy acts of all-time, The Blue Collar Comedy Tour, along with Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Ron White. He also has starred in three feature films (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Delta Farce and Witless Protection) and he lent his voice to the character of Mater, the tow truck in Disney/Pixar’s animated film Cars.
Show time is 7:30 p.m., doors at 6:30 p.m. All seats are $50.
• Also coming to town: At the Brea Improv: Most Wanted Comedy with Dante, 8 p.m. Dec. 9, $12 … Dirty Comedy with Joey Diaz, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10, $15 … and Jon Lovitz (Saturday Night Live), 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 8 & 10 p.m. Dec. 12, 7 & 9 p.m. Dec. 13 and 7 p.m. Dec. 14, $25. … At the Irvine Improv: Patton Oswalt, 8 p.m. Dec. 8, $25 … and Kyle Cease (10 Things I Hate about You), 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 8 & 10 p.m. Dec. 12, 7, 9 & 11 p.m. Dec. 13 and 7 p.m. Dec. 14, $20.
• At the Kodak Theatre: Kathy Griffin (My Life on the D-List), 8 p.m. Dec. 9-12, $31-$61. At Club Nokia: Bill Engvall, 7 p.m. Dec. 14, $46-$56.
• Next week: Steve Byrne, Dec. 18-21 at the Brea Improv … Cedric the Entertainer, Dec. 15-16, and Tony Rock, Dec. 17-21, at the Irvine Improv … George Lopez, Dec. 19-20 at Nokia Theatre … and Sinbad, 8 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Grove of Anaheim.
• Laughs on TV: What could be better than enjoying a good laugh at the expense of others this Christmas? If the holidays have you down, check out one of these upcoming specials on Comedy Central: Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special, 10 p.m. Dec. 9 and 9 p.m. Dec. 19 … Denis Leary’s Merry F#$%n’ Christmas Special, 10 p.m. Dec. 19 and 1 a.m. Dec. 25 … and repeats of the star-studded A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, featuring Elvis Costello, Feist, Toby Keith, John Legend and WIllie Nelson, 11 p.m. Dec. 19 and 10 a.m. Dec. 25.
Posted in: Comedy • Live Acts • Stand-Up Specials • Comedy • Larry the Cable Guy • week in laughs | Post a Comment »
December 7th, 2008, 1:13 pm by Pedro
 You don’t normally think of Aimee Mann as one of your funnier singer-songwriters. For as beautiful as her voice and music are, her lyrics are more likely to leave you emotionally drained than yukking it up.
So it’s a bit of a jolt to discover how flat-out funny and entertaining she was at her Third Annual Christmas Show, held Saturday night at the Wiltern.
Crafted as an old-fashioned variety show, Mann played the straight man, er, woman to an assortment of wacky sidekicks, including fellow singer-songwriters Nellie McKay and Grant-Lee Phillips and comedian Patton Oswalt.
Walking onto a stage framed in Christmas lights, Mann opened with “Calling on Mary,” an original tune from One More Drifter in the Snow, her 2006 holiday album — and it looked like things would be as downbeat as you’d expect from our heroine.
But quickly gears shifted. Mckay arrived on stage in a ’40s-style bright yellow ball gown, breathlessly reporting that Errol Flynn tried to rape her in the basement. And, well, at that point you could pretty much tell this wasn’t going to be typical radio-station holiday show, you know? Indie-rocker Phillips arrived in a snowman suit, and once Oswalt burst on stage at the end of a cover of the Year Without Santa Claus novelty “Heatmiser,” done in the manner of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the cast — and the mood — were set.
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Posted in: Comedy • Concert Reviews • Live Acts • Set Lists • aimee mann • grant-lee phillips • morgan murphy • nellie mckay • patton oswalt • reno 911! | Post a Comment »
December 1st, 2008, 8:03 pm by Kelli Skye Fadroski
 • John Heffron –- Who would have thought that a reality TV show could truly help launch a successful comedy career? Heffron won the second season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and has gone on to headline comedy clubs across the country. He stops by the Irvine Improv this week.
He’s a regular on the late-night circuit, having appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, E!’s Chelsea Lately as well as turning up as a commentator on numerous VH1 shows, like Best Week Ever.
Heffron was part of the Real Men of Comedy tour in 2006, which also featured Charlie Murphy and Joe Rogan, and he was made fun of by Lisa Lampanelli (“Let me pause just long enough so all you people can look him up on Wikipedia”) during the roast of rocker Gene Simmons, aired within an episode of his reality show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels.
Show times are: 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 … 8 & 10 p.m. Dec. 5 … 7, 9 & 11 p.m. Dec. 6 … and 7 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets to all shows are $20 and available at irvineimprov.com.
•Also coming to town: At the Irvine Improv: Orny Adams, 8 p.m. Dec. 2, $20; Comedy Juice featuring Neal Brennan (Chappelle’s Show) and Shang, 10 p.m. Dec. 2, $15; and Playboy Comedy, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3, $15. … At the Brea Improv: Michael Kosta, 8 p.m. Dec. 2, $12; Ignorance is Bliss with Daryl Wright, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3, $12; and Jo Koy, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 8 & 10 p.m. Dec. 5, 7 & 9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7 p.m. Dec. 7, $17. … At The Coach House: Totally Laughable featuring Eric Schwartz (aka Smooth-E), 8 p.m. Dec. 2, $10.
•Next week: Jon Lovitz, Dec. 11-14 at the Brea Improv … Kyle Cease, Dec. 10-14 at the Irvine Improv … Larry the Cable Guy, Dec. 11 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.
•One liner: “Fruit? Good. Cake? Great! Fruitcake? Nasty crap.”
–- Jim Gaffigan on America’s favorite holiday treat.
Posted in: Comedy • Live Acts • News • Comedy • John Heffron • week in laughs | Post a Comment »
November 24th, 2008, 1:22 pm by Kelli Skye Fadroski
 • Pauly Shore –- It’s a slow week in comedy, seeing as it’s almost Thanksgiving and all. But all of the turkey and stuffing in the world isn’t going to stop the tenacious Pauly Shore from delivering his new stand-up act at the Brea Improv this week.
Shore was raised in a comedy club. His father, Sam, was a comic famous for entertaining superstars like Elvis Presley, and his mother, Mitzi Shore, is the owner of the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Shore was given free reign in the club and often stayed up late to watch comics like Richard Pryor and Sam Kinison perform.
From early on, Shore knew he didn’t just want to be a comedian, he needed to be a comedian. He first ventured into stand-up at the Store and soon started gigging nationally, at which point he caught the attention of MTV and became a VJ, later landing his own show, Totally Pauly in 1990. Of course, Shore would soon become the king of cheesy teenage comedies in the ’90s, starring in films like Encino Man, In the Army Now, Son in Law and Bio-Dome.
Although Shore made millions from those flicks, he was instantly labeled a one-trick pony by Hollywood critics. Today, he continues to shake his goofy ’90s image and bring audiences up to date. He’s worked on several independent films, continues to help run the Comedy Store and is currently beefing up his stand-up act.
Show times are 8 & 10 p.m. Nov. 28 … 7 & 9 p.m. Nov. 29 … and 7 p.m. Nov. 30. Tickets to all shows are $25 and available at breaimprov.com.
• Also coming to town: At Brea Improv: Geoff Keith (“Orange County’s Funniest Person” contest winner), 8 p.m. Nov. 25, $12; and Slanted Comedy with Edwin San Juan, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 26, $15. … At Irvine Improv: Comedy Juice featuring Kyle Cease and Ben Morrison, 10 p.m. Nov. 25, $15; Brian Haner, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 26, $15; and The Original Kims of Comedy featuring Steve Byrne, Bobby Lee and Kevin Shea, 8 & 10 p.m. Nov. 28, 7 & 9 p.m. Nov. 29 and 7 p.m. Nov. 30, $25. … At The Coach House: Tuesday Night Comedy featuring Monty Hoffman, 8 p.m. Nov. 25, $10.
• Next week: John Heffron (Last Comic Standing Season 2 winner), Dec. 4-7 at the Irvine Improv … Joy Koy, Dec. 4-7 at the Brea Improv.
Posted in: Comedy • Live Acts • News • Comedy • Pauly Shore • The Comedy Store • week in laughs | Post a Comment »
November 17th, 2008, 1:40 pm by Kelli Skye Fadroski
 • Aries Spears – The former MADtv star is serious about his stand-up comedy. He’s witty and charismatic but not afraid to get loud and aggressive when the bit calls for it.
Spears was instrumental in the success of the sketch comedy show in the late ’90s. During his eight-year run he added numerous characters and impressions, including James Brown, MC Hammer, Denzel Washington, Queen Latifa, Al Roker, Colin Powell and his most famous impersonation, Shaquille O’Neal.
He left the show in 1995 to pursue other acting gigs and voice-over work. Sadly, Fox recently announced that after 14 seasons, MADtv will not return after this year’s run.
Spears also has been working hard on his stand-up routine, focusing on writing while touring the country. He stops by the Brea Improv this weekend. Show times are 8:30 p.m. Nov. 20 … 8 & 10 p.m. Nov. 21 … 7 & 9 p.m. Nov. 22 … and 7 p.m. Nov. 23. Tickets are $17-$20 and are available at breaimprov.com.
• Also coming to town: At Irvine Improv: Most Wanted Comedy starring Dante and Rebeca Kochan, 8 p.m. Nov. 18, $15; Comedy Juice featuring Alex Reymundo and Rick Shapiro, 10 p.m. Nov. 18, $15; Daniel Tosh, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 20, 8 & 10 p.m. Nov. 21, 7 & 9 p.m. Nov. 22, 7 p.m. Nov. 23, $25; and Jasper Redd, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 19 & 11 p.m. Nov. 22, $15. … At the Brea Improv: Refried Tuesdays featuring comics and DJs, 8 p.m. Nov. 18, $12; Playboy Comedy, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 19, $15. … At DePietro Performance Center: O.C. Crazies Comedy Troupe, 8 p.m. Nov. 22. $15.
• In Long Beach: At the Laugh Factory: Gilbert Gottfried, 8 p.m. Nov. 22, $35 … At the Terrace Theatre: Chelsea Handler, 8 p.m. Nov. 21, $30-$35.
• Next week: The Original Kims of Comedy featuring Kevin Shea, Steve Byrne and Bobby Lee, Nov. 28-30 at the Irvine Improv … and Pauly Shore (yes, that’s THEE Pauly Shore), Nov. 28-30 at the Brea Improv.
• Laughs on TV: Christmas comes early for Stephen Colbert fans as the political comic hosts A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All. The one-hour musical special airs at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23, and includes guest appearances by John Legend, Elvis Costello, Feist, Toby Keith and Willie Nelson singing along to such holiday favorites as “Little Dealer Boy” and “There Are Much Worse Things to Believe In.” Colbert’s buddy Jon Stewart even stops by to share his favorite holiday song, “Hanukkah.” The special will be released on DVD on Tuesday, Nov. 25. (Just in time for Christmas! Imagine that.)
• On another note: Today (Monday, Nov. 17) is Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michael’s 64th birthday. Happy Birthday, Mr. Michaels. Keep crankin’ out the funny!
Posted in: Comedy • Live Acts • News • Aries Spears • Chelsea Handler • Comedy • week in laughs | Post a Comment »
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