The name “Heart of Darkness” promoted as a live comedy show might make many people a little queasy, thinking perhaps, that if they attend, they will be made uncomfortable on what is performance art attempting to be Andy Kaufman. Though there is a higher brow in the brand of comedy that producer/host/comedian/ringleader Greg Barris wrangles for his show, one will never find themselves laughing only because they’re uncomfortably lost in the “Heart of Darkness”.
Taking place at unusual and unique venues that are a far cry from the traditional comedy club around the country, Greg Barris purposely makes his show more of an organic experience (he touches and forgives audience members) rather than another one of the stand up showcase shows that has spread like a virus across the face of Los Angeles. In fact, at both the Burbank Moose Lodge or in the back room of Meltdown Comics for the recent two-show stint in LA, audience members got more the sense that they were hanging out after school and some really amazingly talented and hilarious friends rather than the $8 you paid to sit in a crowded room and see a “planned-enough performance”. With a small line-up, all the performers got to play loose and at their pace, keeping the easy-going, laid-back vibe present throughout the duration of “Heart of Darkness”.
The Comedy Bureau was fortunate enough to be in attendance at the Meltdown Comics edition that had a stellar line-up of comics including the incomparable Reggie Watts (as only briefly caught on tape here) floating between a multitude of accents, jokes, and songs, the painfully, but hysterically honest stories of Sean Patton, and the anxiously funny Chelsea Peretti as well as the head of the whole operation Greg Barris and his right hand man in the form of band Dima and Doctor Juchins. The show was sold out and packed to the gills as I gladly stood the whole time.
For anybody that has groaned when they have heard the joke set-up, “So I’m half…,” wondered if that was all that stand up comedy has become and why you’re possibly not having a good time, perhaps you should catch Greg Barris’ Heart of Darkness next time it’s in town to restore your faith in that there is indeed an alternative to stand up comedy that’s been stuck in the hey-day 80’s and it’s pretty damn funny.
1) The “insider comedian interview” format has gone viral… big time. Forget about shoddy camera work in green rooms and back alley studios that double as living spaces. Bigger names are coming out of the woodwork. First Marc Maron w/his “WTF Podcast”. Recently, Dave Holmes and “A Drink with Dave”. Most recently, Bill Maher and “12 Mile”. Did I mention that everyone should be watching/listening to these?
2) Everyone will be live tweeting during the Oscars and I will be here in our cavernous office keeping everyone up to speed as to what’s the funniest things written during the show. We hand pick our featured tweets here and I almost suggest that you don’t need to watch the Oscars because the Comedy Bureau Twitter feed will be almost more entertaining (only because you need to watch the telecast to put it into context).
6) OPEN MIC RUN SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min. WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min. MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed
7) This is the 127th Day of the Comedy Bureau and both my arms are still here. Take that James Franco.
3) Follow @comedy_palace on Twitter because the Comedy Palace on the 2nd and 4th Thurs. because you should follow them for great offers on Chinese food and a fantastic live comedy show.
6) OPEN MIC RUN SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/$3 min. SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Starts 8PM
7) Recently: will now become a separate daily post relating relevant, trending, or odd news items with clips of comedy.
We recently had the chance to speak with the Roast Master General Himself, Jeffrey Ross, a day before his SOLD OUT “Roast In Peace” Special here at The Comedy Store…
Comedy Store: What about The Comedy Store keeps you coming back here, as opposed to other clubs?
1) If you’re not watching live comedy in a garage this weekend, then you’re really missing out something awesome, amazing, and uniquely Los Angeles. DO NOT MISS both The Comedy Car Hole in West LA this Fri. 9PM and The Comedy Garage in Burbank Sat. 10PM. Oh yeah, they’re both completely free (and have ample street parking).
3) The Origins of Meltdown (you know the awesome live comedy show every Wed. 8:30PM $8 in the back of Meltdown Comics at 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA say that 5 times fast) [via Turnstyle News]
4) OK, I know that I’m repeating myself here, but seriously, Emo Phillips is in town next Monday Feb. 28th at the Steve Allen Theater for Cartoon Dump and if you don’t go to that please don’t make eye contact with me. Similarly, you should be watching or DVR’ing to watch repeatedly Comedy Central Presents Kyle Kinane Fri. Feb. 25th 11PM (that’s tomorrow).
5) OPEN MIC RUN HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7PM THE SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 7PM CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/$3 cover/10 min. guaranteed TKO SHOW @ 212 CAFE 212 Pier Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 9PM
Comedy Store: What about The Comedy Store keeps you coming back here, as opposed to other clubs?
