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Field of Dreams of Comedy (in a Living Room and the Warehouse)

September 20, 2011
Uncategorized
cheap, comedy news, comedy shows, downtown, echo park, free, independent, live, what to do

According to LA based comedian Andrew Solmssen, it’s “in the tradition of LA comedy to take place where it has no business being.” Currently, that tradition is firmly upheld by the comedy community in the Greater Los Angeles Area by comics big and small, experienced and green. There are shows that have taken place in garages, on rooftops, in the back of comic book stores, in sex shops, and more. Yet, while the cavalier independent spirit of LA comedy being fed up with relying on someone else for stage time, few shows are set-up and run so perfectly that you wouldn’t know that you were in someone’s living room.

While shows like Meltdown in the back of Meltdown Comics (AKA the Nerdist Theater) have been featured on Last Call with Carson Daly, there are other shows that also “do it right” in the most unlikely spaces. One-Two Punch, a comedy variety show taking place in a repurposed living room, and Neighbors, a stand-up show that takes place at an independent clothing store called the Warehouse, are two such shows that, luck would have it, you can catch both this week for less than $5. If you’ve never seen live comedy or you’re a borderline obsessive comedy nerd, these are two shows that need to be on your comedy bucket list. Also, you need to start making a comedy bucket list if you’re going to continue to live in or near LA.

Barbara Gray and Whitney Teubner put together an almost seasonal comedy show at their lovely Benton Manor that has become one of those urban myths that happens to be true. Moving all the furniture in their living room, renting chairs, setting up proper lighting, draping a traditional red curtain with a wonderfully homemade sign that spells out letter by letter One-Two Punch already makes for a great set-up for a night of comedy. Then, there’s a punch bowl and LA’s best comedians to make a great night of comedy, a one-of-a-kind night of comedy. The likes of Maria Bamford, Rory Scovel, Matt Braunger, and Kyle Kinane have graced their stage and have made audiences at “One-Two” feel like they’re at a normal comedy venue. Featuring random characters and sketches as well, there is no excuse to miss out on this show, especially after it’s been featured in the LA Times and only costs $3. Well, if you can’t get in because there is no room left to sit or stand is the one and only reason you should miss out this Saturday with the amazing Brent Weinbach and Eric Andre who both were on Lopez Tonight before it went off the air as well as Johnny Pemberton who was one of the Just for Laughs Montreal’s Fresh Faces.

Though only on their sophomore edition, Neighbors had such a fantastic inaugural show that it needs to be the word-on-the-street in Echo Park, Downtown and beyond. For all of this year, comedian/producer Abbey Londer has run several one-off comedy shows throughout LA from the Hollywood Improv all the way to the XRT theatre in the Warehouse District to success. Along with earning her stripes proving that Abbey knows how to put on a show, Neighbors is co-produced by up-and-coming, touring comedian Karl Hess who has been on the road with the aforementioned Kyle Kinane and has been also an aforementioned JFL Fresh Face. The duo make their night of comedy at the patio of a clothing store an event that no one would have the slightest idea wasn’t a Comedy Central taping. Though there isn’t a roof, but a great vibe is already set by the brick walls, a firepit, a professional DJ, and a food truck. Neighbors takes place tomorrow night at the Warehouse (1197 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA), free of charge, with a fantastic line-up including Laurie Kilmartin who writes for Conan, TJ Miller who has an upcoming Comedy Central Special, Pete Holmes who already had a Comedy Central Special, and more.

Whether comedy actually has business in living rooms and patios is up for debate, but that should be no reason to go against tradition, especially this one.

Hamclown: The One Type of Clown I Like

May 26, 2011
Uncategorized
alexandria hotel, brody stevens, comedy scene, comedy shows, independent, jackie kashian, kyle kinane, los angeles, maria bamford, recap, review, rory scovel

What exactly is a “Hamclown”?  I was one of those silent many that had an aversion to clown, but Hamclown is something different altogether and certainly not to be feared by anybody.

If you type “hamclown” into Google, you’ll actually get redirected to results for “ham clown” and never see any of the results for the amazing comedy and music variety show taking place in downtown LA on 5th and Spring.

Instead, you’ll first be directed to hamsexy.com, which, as far as I can gather, is a blog about amateur radio.  Even though hamsexy.com has been around for much longer than Hamclown, the results for googling “hamclown” need to change.

On the last Thursday of every month, producers and talented stand-up comedians themselves Josh Androsky and Grant Pardee take over the 2nd Floor of the Alexandria Hotel, more commonly known as the Mezz.  Their comedy extravaganza features several of LA’s best stand-ups, Kyle Kinane, Rory Scovel, Brody Stevens, Maria Bamford, and more, sketch comedy that borders on a full scale stage production, and amazing local bands to close out the show.

Really, Hamclown goes above and beyond for laughter from their constantly growing audience. At the last edition of Hamclown, Androsky and Pardee went for a prom theme, temporarily renaming their show “Hamprom”, dressing up as if it was actually prom; Androsky wore a dress and heels.  They even had a prom photographer with a prom backdrop.  As if that wasn’t enough, Androsky went into a spectacular musical number while still in a dress and heels featuring back-up dancers and lots of goo in which he let out his inner woman and then wooed the “hot high school quarterback” (played by Aaron Alberstein).  

I would almost say that you get your bang for your buck at Hamclown, but that would be a false statement as you don’t spend anything to see this youthful comedic romp in a cool bohemian space that has to have been used in several rock music videos of either Lenny Kravitz or Perry Farrell.  It’s free of charge just like many independently produced comedys shows around LA are, but, already, Hamclown has been mentioned in the LA Times as part of a story about the exciting group of comedy shows taking place in Downtown.

If you’re convinced or curious, the next Hamclown is taking place tomorrow 9PM, as mentioned, at the Mezz on the 2nd Floor of the Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA featuring two of the Comedy Bureau’s favorite comedians: Ron Lynch and Jackie Kashian.  In other words, be there (you won’t be square if you don’t, but you’ll regret your absence).  Follow them on Twitter and Facebook or check back at the Comedy Bureau for more updates and possibly what exactly a “hamclown” is other than a hip, hilarous comedy circus minus the animals and clowns (not a big fan of either anyway).

Morning Debriefing 3/13/11

March 13, 2011
Uncategorized
100 top comedies, behind the scenes, burbank, college humor, comedy, comedy crawl, comedy garage, documentary, echo park, everything, independent, indieflix, koreatown, los angeles, los feliz, megan amram, open mic map, open mic run, tip of the hat, ucb, west hollywood, westwood

1) My goodness, The Comedy Garage (@thecomedygarage) has a documentary about them! Watch out for it’s release on March 15th on Indieflix!

2) Proof that “college kids” are plenty dumb: College Humor’s Top 100 Comedy Movies of All Time (ranked by vote).  In the top 10 OF ALL TIME: The Hangover, Anchorman, The 40-Year Old Virgin, Happy Gilmore, Dodgeball.  I know we try to maintain an air of professionalism here at the Comedy Bureau, but WHAT THE FUCK!?!?  Sidenote: my college degree feels even worth less.

3) The Greater LA Open Mic Map-UPDATED!  You’re welcome very much…

4) Tip of the Hat: Megan Amram

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-eat your heart out South by Southwest
#hashtag @ Bar Lubitsch 7PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Comedy Barre @ Barre Vermont 8PM FREE/2 drink min.
Pajama Party! @ Gaylord Apartments 8PM FREE
French Toast @ Taix
8:30PM FREE
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE
Chatterbox Comedy @ Chatterbox 943 Citrus Ave., Covina, CA 9PM FREE
Set List @ Flappers 9PM $10/2 drink min.
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
The Sunday Sunday Sunday Show @ The Improv Space 9:30PM FREE 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/$5 min. 
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed   

7) That’s right, we’re not at SXSW.  We’re here for you fine folks both in, for, and with comedy in Los Angeles.  On a separate note, anyone have passes for Just for Laughs Montreal coming up?

Report 00142

THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

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