• Events
    • Los Angeles Open Mics
    • Los Angeles Shows
    • New York Open Mics
    • New York Shows
  • Book A Tour
  • Venues
  • News
  • Podcast
  • About
    • About The Comedy Bureau
    • Contact
    • Consulting
    • Digital Wall of Trustees

stand up comedy

divider

After Everything We’ve All Been Through Since 2019, Ben Roy Delivers Yet Again with “Hyena”
August 1, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, ben roy, comedy album, comedy special, stand up comedy

Nearly 20 years in, Denver comedy luminary Ben Roy has nearly perfected his euphoria-fueled-shot-in-the-arm style of comedy that combines the energy of a Battle of the Bands showdown with the vivid and expansive detail of an impressionist painting. Roy’s comedy is a true thing of raw hilarious beauty. That sentiment continues to be true with his latest hour, fresh off the presses from 800 Pound Gorilla, Hyena.

Many a comedian over the last year or two have released what will likely be their one and only special that will touch on the COVID-19 pandemic and, as such, there is more than plenty of well-trodden territory when it comes to dealing with COVID and post-pandemic life. Roy visits said territory, but he’s such a satisfying force of nature to watch and nails the specificity and details in his writing that Hyena isn’t going to make you go through another tiresome COVID chunk. If anything, Ben’s firebrand persona makes him even stand out here when talking why he’s pro-vaccine, but for reasons that are hilariously political and transparently self-serving. More so than most other “catch-up from 2019” specials, Ben’s take/observations on the last three years are what we hoped such a comedy special would be in 2023.

We’ve talked about the vast spectrum of color that Ben uses with his pen (probably one of those tactical ones that can break through a car window) before with his past hours. It’s so mesmerizing (e.g. his game show pitch for “It’s Asbestos”) that it’s worth noting once more. Roy conjures up imagery not unlike Patton Oswalt, but goes at it with his punk rock conviction giving some sort of feeling that you’re laughing at the color palate of a nuclear tinged horizon at sunset. That’s one of the big reasons Hyena as well as every other Ben Roy release before this are so compelling to watch/listen to.

At the moment, you can rent Ben Roy: Hyena exclusively from 800 Pound Gorilla to see Roy murder at one of most comedians’ all time favorite comedy clubs, The Comedy Works in Downtown Denver for only $10. Come Thurs. Aug 10th, you’ll be able to stream Hyena for free, at your convenience, on 800 Pound Gorilla’s YouTube Channel.

Pick of the Day: Skin Contact (in LA) 8/9
July 28, 2023
News
bar covell, los angeles comedy, los feliz, rachel pegram, stand up comedy

LA is getting another weekly comedy show that’s going to make Wednesday nights even more of a comedy festival than it already is. In addition to the several great, affordable/free shows that make hump day a night to go out and catch many of LA’s comedy best, Skin Contact will take over the very chic, speakeasy style space in Bar Covell in Los Feliz.

The hysterical Rachel Pegram is leading the charge with this brand new Eastside show and already has three weeks on the books (Aug. 9th-Aug. 23rd). If folks are into Skin Contact enough through those three dates, expect to see Pegram keep it going and that will be part of your LA comedy regimen every week.

The inaugural Skin Contact will feature Carmen Christopher, Brian Bahe, Taylor Ortega, Ellory Smith, and Dani Lyle. Also, tickets are set at the nice price of only $5. Go get them now right here.

Please Enjoy a Damn Fine Debut Hour from Tom Thakkar, “Thakkar Noir”
July 25, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, comedy special, stand up comedy, tom thakkar

Tom Thakkar inalienably has fun on stage.

It’s a simple notion to be sure, but it’s beyond evident that he has so much fun doing all of his bits and act-outs and asides to the crowd in a way that seems atypical of so many comedians these days. Many of the hour specials and albums that end up in our inbox at TCB often highlight how much a comic that is going through the motions, merely trying to never do this hour again and, consequently, seeming disconnected from the crowd in front of them. In contrast, Thakkar gleefully revels in getting into his material for his latest hour Thakkar Noir, much to the endless delight and applause of the live crowd at The Comedy Fort in Fort Collins, CO, that you can’t help but get charmed into joining in on the laugh riot.

Tom’s voice is so animated, at times even sounding like a classic Morning Zoo-esque DJ, that it comedically compliments his sharp, satirical tongue. From dissecting the experience of his ethnically ambiguous biracial background (and making fun of the mostly caucasian crowd in front of him on top of it) to enlightening everyone on the benefits of a  “hot people tax”, Thakkar often has a subversive depth to his material. It’s the proverbial medicine with a very sweet spoonful of sugar.

Tom pokes and prods his audience when he gets into material that could be divisive, but contains such a warmth that he more than gets away with it. Having a genuine smile through most of your special also helps in that regard as well as very nimble, fast-paced delivery that never ever feels exhausting (even with his absurd Welcome to the Jungle/Margarita Madness bit).

Thakkar Noir is a rollicking hour that signals lots more to come from a comedian that many comedians already loved and, hopefully not too long from now, many others in and out of tight knit comedy circles will love too.

Tom Thakkar: Thakkar Noir is now streaming on select platforms, including YouTube, now. Please take your pick and enjoy it thoroughly and repeatedly here.

Pick of the Day: Jeff Hiller: Middle Aged Ingenue (in NYC) 8/4, 8/7, 8/9
July 19, 2023
News
jeff hiller, joe's pub, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

For comedy folks in LA and NYC, Jeff Hiller has dazzled crowds for decades with his comedy prowess on intimate, underground stages (remember the early days of UCB?). Thankfully, a plethora of folks have gotten charmed by him on HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. He is on the rise and deservingly so and, as he points out, found overnight success after 25 years of performing for free.

So, it stands to reason that Hiller will take center stage at one of NYC’s most beloved stages, Joe’s Pub, to share a captivating evening of stand-up and stories from his ascension in comedy on stage and screen. Jeff Hiller: Middle Aged Ingenue will offer up 5 shows over 3 nights next month to put the spotlight on Hiller and Hiller alone (and you really ought to be there to see it). Tickets are $25 (plus 2 drink or 1 food item minimum) and one show is already sold out. So, go get your tickets here quick.

Showtimes:

Fri. 8/4 @ 7PM & 9:30PM

Mon. 8/7 @ 7PM & 9:30PM

Wed. 8/9 @ 9:30PM

 

Yes, Jackie Kashian’s Latest Special “Looking Back” Was Shot Though the Rear View Camera on Her Car
July 14, 2023
News
comedy special, experimental comedy, jackie kashian, rear view camera, stand up comedy

Having seen stunt comedy specials that were done in the desert to no audience, presented as ASMR, or even done to a camera on a darkened soundstage almost like a dramatic monologue, one might think that we would have seen at least a few comedy specials done in the rear view camera of a car by this point. The novelty alone, especially after having gone through the pandemic, is tempting and, thankfully, one of our favorite stand-up comedians working today took on the challenge.

Yes, Jackie Kashian had a camera record the heads up display when the car is in reverse, showing Jackie with a mic standing in the middle of a street/alleyway to make a special. Sure, in-person performances have been happening for awhile now, but that doesn’t change the fact that the comedy special format still needs to be pushed, broken and remade, redefined, etc. With the deluge of specials that have found their way to YouTube in the last several months from comedians at all levels that were pretty much just the classic doing an hour in front of an intimate audience, Jackie performing to her film crew (yes, there was a crew for this) is a very refreshing and jaunty experiment.

It’s not an hour and it’s not even Netflix’s 15 minute version of a special, but just a tad bit over ten minutes in total. That’s enough canvas to actually do a set and revel in the sheer ridiculousness of the entire concept, which Jackie juggles beautifully (as she is one of the best writers that stand-up comedy has these days). Of course, Jackie can draw up a great 10 minutes for rear car camera and she does and, on top of that, opted for a title that’s almost too perfect, Looking Back.

It’s a tiny comedy special, but Jackie Kashian: Looking Back was more enjoyable than several hours of comedy that we watched over the last few months. Please delight in it here.

Pick of the Day: Carmen Lynch Special Taping (in NYC) 6/26
June 23, 2023
News
carmen lynch, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

The Comedy Cellar and all its famously associated rooms, The Village Underground and The Fat Black Pussycat, don’t let just anyone tape their special on their hallowed stages as they together represent a few of the most revered stages in all of stand-up comedy.

Carmen Lynch is one such special comedian that is going to get to tape her latest special on such stages. Carmen is endlessly fun to watch and so slyly clever and has been so for many years, making her into an undeniable NYC comedy staple. Lynch also has perfected her act en español as well making her into truly international comedy sensation.

With that in mind, you’re really not going to want to miss the taping of her latest special, the English language version (the Spanish one will be taped in Barcelona in mid-July) at the Village Underground on Mon. Jun. 26th at 8PM & 10PM. Tickets are only $25 (+ 2 drink min.) and you can (and very much should) go get them here.

Pick of the Day: James Austin Johnson: The Age of JAJ (in LA) 7/29
June 21, 2023
News
james austin johnson, largo, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy

We remember James Austin Johnson, now a Saturday Night Live star, once went up at an open mic we used to host in Little Tokyo, eons ago, and crooned out Eagles songs done in full-on Scottish accent to raucous laughter. That was the very first time we saw him and, even then, we had a pretty good idea that he’d end up where he is now from just that set (and the same goes for pretty much every subsequent set we saw after that).

Having multiple seasons under his belt, JAJ is far from that open mic in a Mexican bar and restaurant that’s now a Metro LA station and on to touring all around the globe. Fortunately, one of those stops is back here in LA at none other than the venerable Largo at the Coronet Theatre.

Indeed, JAJ will stop at Largo for his Age of JAJ tour on Sat. Jul. 29th at 8PM. You can (and should) go get your tickets now for $46 a pop here.

 

Pick of the Day: Jess Salomon: Sad Witch Album Recording (in NYC) 6/29
June 20, 2023
News
album recording, jess salomon, live taping, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

One of the most thoughtful (and, of course, undeniably funny) voices in NYC comedy belongs to one, Jess Salomon. Hailing from both Canada and a career as a U.N. war crimes lawyer, Salomon has a knack for keeping a cheery vibe while very cleverly satirizing the world around her. She has become a staple of the NYC comedy scene and a true joy wherever else she plays (certainly, a bright spot on any line-up we’ve seen her in whenever she’s in LA).

Jess will be taping a full length comedy album next week, Sad Witch, at the revered Brooklyn comedy theater, Union Hall, and you really ought to be in attendance for what should be a damn fine hour of stand-up comedy. There are two shows on Thurs. Jun. 29th, 7:30PM & 10PM, with an opening set from DeAnne Smith. Tickets are only $11.55 and you best go get them here and here, respectively right now.

Pick of the Day: Robin Tran (in LA) 6/16
June 13, 2023
News
dynasty typewriter, los angeles, robin tran, stand up comedy

If you’re in and around LA or NYC comedy, you ought to know that one of the trade-offs to seeing your favorite comedians perform night in and night out, often at no cost to you, is that you don’t get to seem them do longer, extended, or even headlining sets.

Suffice it to say, that you should get to see more of Robin Tran than just morsels of 10-15 minutes at a time. Tran’s brilliant satirical humor about trans and Asian-American identity as well as the general absurdity she’s surrounded by everyday has made her stand out in the LA comedy scene for years now, deserving of a stage that will give her the canvas of an hour to deliver her jokes.

Fortunately, for us all, Robin will be headlining Dynasty Typewriter this Fri. at 10:30PM and it’s something you truly shouldn’t miss. Tickets are $20 and you better get them here before they sell out.

 

Please Enjoy This “Don’t Tell” Set from Dan Donohue
June 12, 2023
News
dan donohue, don't tell comedy, stand up comedy

With late night on hiatus indefinitely due to the WGA Strike and the current disparate nature of finding and watching stand-up sets that aren’t specials (but are part of an established brand), it’s pretty difficult to have a go to place to see who might be your new favorite comedians with great lighting and good sound (and in clips longer than a weird crowd interaction on TikTok or IG Reels).

Thank goodness Don’t Tell Comedy starting taping their full-length sets and putting them on YouTube so you can find such delightful stand-up from such delightful people as Don Donohue.

Don’t Tell Comedy has built quite the reputation with just being a pop-up comedy show institution that spreads across the entirety of North America and they have indeed been putting out an ever growing archive of select sets from their shows. Their latest comes from Donohue who has been steadfastly working his way up the ladder of the LA comedy scene with his sharply honed comedic writing (splendidly sourced from his Buzzard’s Bay, MA) upbringing), timing and command of the stage.

Please enjoy Dan’s set from a recent Don’t Tell show here (and then go down a rabbit hole of Don’t Tell sets here).

Rachel Mac’s Debut Album “Teacher of the Year” Sends Up What Teaching is Really Like in 2023
June 9, 2023
News
ast records, comedy album, rachel mac, stand up comedy, teacher of the year

Though Abbot Elementary is celebrated for finding the comedy gold out of how underserved our current public school systems are in America, it’s still a network sitcom and limited to 22 minutes that are clean enough for primetime. Given what teachers have had to go through before the pandemic, during it, and right at this moment, their true thoughts on what’s going on in and around the classroom might not exactly be appropriate for the classroom.

Luckily, some teachers are stand-up comedians, unbound by network censors, and one of those teachers is the hysterical Rachel Mac. Mac gives a much more adult portrait of what life as a professional educator in 2023 is like on her debut comedy album, the aptly titled, Teacher of the Year. Mac doesn’t shy away from the realities of the class room that are much more akin to an R-rated comedy, but does so in such a matter-of-factly way that there’s a certain undeniable appeal (even though a parent might do a double take if they heard this material in the class room instead of a comedy club).

If you really want to have a hilarious warts-and-all picture of why teachers deserve better pay for teaching future generations and, overall, probably deserve more respect and admiration, on top of listening a self-assured hour of stand-up comedy that would likely get a “parental advisory” sticker if anyone bought CDs en masse anymore, then get Mac’s Teacher of the Year, available now from AST Records, and listen to it ASAP.

Nate Craig Has the Classiest-Looking, Modern Comedy Special with “Live at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge”
June 2, 2023
News
comedy special, nate craig, stand up comedy

To see a well-tailored suit on a comedian these days, you’d almost wonder what exactly they’re trying to pull (even if it is for their special in an extremely snazzy cocktail lounge). Yet, the shine of fine woolen pin stripes and neon is almost a misdirect for Nate Craig in his latest special, Live at the Green Mill, used to heighten every bit of irony, satire, and mischief he has tucked underneath his pocket square.

Indeed, Craig chose the long-standing classy Chicago institution, The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, to tape his hour, rather than a cavernous theater with Art Noveau touches that has become standard issue for hour comedy specials these days. It’s a keen choice as stand-up comedy is best enjoyed in an intimate, dark space, while also evoking comedy from decades past where comedians only had lounges and nightclubs to show off their comedy wares. Nate uses this timeless, moody atmosphere to really make his understated sarcasm and subversion really pop (not unlike the aforementioned pocket square).

Craig even goes so far to be ironic to Swift-ian levels in a few bits (especially when it comes to “baby huffing dungeons”), something the old Colbert used to do. It’s a much appreciated surprise considering that amount of times comedians stop themselves in specials to make their intentions clear as to, comically, not get “cancelled”. Just a little bit of subversion goes a long way with Live at the Green Mill throughout the very enjoyable ride through very in-depth act outs of Americans coming out of the deadly haze of COVID-19.

Above all, Craig has such a preternatural command of the stage here that doesn’t feel forced in the slightest. Nate hits that sweet spot, wire to wire, of being fully present, not sounding over-rehearsed, and still, clearly having so much damn fun. Though there’s an air of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks throughout this hour, Craig’s presence brightens up the evening to be almost the exact opposite of lost souls trying to find each other in a diner.

Nate Craig: Live at the Green Mill is now streaming on YouTube, free, at your convenience, courtesy of All Things Comedy.

Pick of the Day: Feeld presents One Night Stand-Up (in NYC & LA) 6/13 & 6/27
May 30, 2023
News
anti roast, dating app, feeld, kink, los angeles comedy, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

Kink dating app of the moment, Feeld, is getting a little, dare we say, kinky as they’re putting on special one night only comedy shows in both LA and NYC. Not only have they tapped many of the best sex-positive comedians from either scene, but there will be a chance, if you’re up for it, to have your Feeld profile “anti-roasted” during the show.

Also, you’ll have a chance to meet plenty of Feeld folks in person at the low stakes environment of a comedy night (but maybe take things elsewhere if you find that special someone that’s exactly what you’re into).

Feeld presents One Night Stand Up is set for NYC at The Bell House in Brooklyn on Jun. 13th starting at 7PM with the comedy stylings of your host Ashley Ray as well as Dylan Adler, Marie Faustin, Spike Einbinder, and Clare O’Kane. Tickets are FREE!

The LA night is going to be at the spacious Echoplex in Echo Park on Jun. 27th 7PM with the likes of Ashley Ray taking on hosting duties again and Alison Stevenson, Brian Bahe, Hannah Pilkes, and Girl God. Once more, the tickets are the nice price of FREE!

Pick of the Day: CHEERS TO QUEERS: The Overheard LA x Truly Comedy Show (in LA) 6/3
May 26, 2023
News
andrew stier, drew lausch, ej marcus, glaad, la comedy, mav viola, overheard la, pallavi gunalan, pride month, stand up comedy, teresa lee, truly, zach teague

In case you forgot, June is Pride Month and only a few days away as of this post. As such, there is going to be an amazing wave of LGBTQIA+ comedy that could (and should) potentially take over all of next month for you.

One of those shows, in LA, will be Overheard LA x Truly joining forces for CHEERS TO QUEERS, an exclusive evening of queer comedy supporting long-standing queer org GLAAD. Set for the beginning of June on Sat. Jun. 3rd, the likes of queer comedy luminaries Zach Teague and Drew Lausch will be making that afternoon feel like a party worthy of the much later hours. Joining them will be wondrous queer comics from the LA scene including EJ Marcus, Teresa Lee, Pallavi Gunalan, Andrew Stier, and Mav Viola.

CHEERS TO QUEERS is set for 1PM on Sat. Jun. 3rd at Truly LA. Tickets are only $15 and that’ll get you admission to the show, two drinks, access to confessional booths, and the dance party following the show. Sounds like a pretty good deal to us. Go get ’em here.

Greg Warren Makes The Best Peanut Butter Sales Jokes of All Time with “The Salesman”
May 23, 2023
News
comedy special, greg warren, stand up comedy, the salesman

In the ever evolving quest to stand out in stand-up comedy these days, especially if you’re a cis-straight white man, the already crowded field, many of whom are still also cis-straight white men and the well-worn territory of comedic material up the ante to make a mark in the comedy ether.

“The Salesman”, the latest hour/special from veteran comedian Greg Warren, shows that the challenge described above is not impossible, yet one that needs something intensely personal, clever, and unlike anything you’ve really seen before in order to beat it. To our knowledge, an hour of comedy that mostly touches on the comedic ins and outs and nuances of selling peanut butter is something that has never been attempted, much less done so superbly to uproarious laughter and repeated applause. Even in the realm of solo shows that are essentially narrative driven hours of stand-up comedy, selling consumer goods hasn’t historically been a hotbed of inspiration.

Warren indeed sources most of The Salesman from his life and times working as a salesman almost as if he’s doing the peanut butter sales version of Steve Martin’s renowned bit “made for” a convention of plumbers from Let’s Get Small. That said, Greg’s deep dive of the capitalist machinations and dynamics that come into buying a jar of peanut butter from your local grocery store are fascinating, all while achieving that always desirous moniker: being relatable. You might have to had grown up in America and be subject to the peanut butter brand hierarchy to understand Jif’s dominance as a brand, but exceptionalism is pretty natural to the human experience.

No need for Last Week Tonight to cover peanut butter sales. Warren has done a pretty exhaustive and very enjoyable satirical tour of the whole industry that you can and should go enjoy right now. Greg Warren: The Salesman is streaming now, free of charge, on YouTube here.

Pick of the Day: Dan St. Germain Taping (in NYC) 6/1
May 19, 2023
News
brooklyn, dan st germain, live taping, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

As we’re in the thick of 2023, many a plans laid out for 2020 are now coming into fruition. That includes a bunch of folks’ solo shows that are Scotland-bound for the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals as well as plenty of tapings for specials and albums that had to be put on hold due to COVID-19.

NYC comedy’s Dan St. Germain had two delightful hours of comedy, “no real winners here” and “Bad at the Good Times”, out before the pandemic and 2020 seemed probably about a ripe time for a new one, perhaps an hour special. Well, we’ll just fast forward to here in 2023 because you’re well aware of what happened in the mean time. St. Germain’s seasoned, classical style stand-up with rollicking, punchline-filled commentary on the world around him is going to be captured in his first hour special next month at Old Man Hustle/BKLYN Comedy Club.

 

You’ve got two chances to catch St. Germain bring the heat on Thurs. Jun. 1st at 8PM or at the late show at 10PM. Tickets are $20 and you can (and should) go get them here.

Gareth Reynolds Has a Great Hour on England, Weed, and Other Things with “England, Weed & The Rest”
May 12, 2023
News
all things comedy, comedy special, gareth reynolds, stand up comedy

While Gareth Reynolds has cemented himself as one of the riff-ers/podcasters around via co-hosting The Dollop, you ought to know that Reynolds is more than handy on stage with a mic and an arsenal of hilariously prickly observations, especially when it comes to his parents’ homeland, England.

Gareth’s latest hour, the very clear cut England, Weed & The Rest (i.e. his set list) is as straight-forward as the name of the special. It’s an hour of jokes of said topics, delivered marvelously in a deluge of masterful UK accents, masterful act outs, and very attuned crowd work. As such, the most surprising thing here is that sort of classical hour of stand-up, without any sort of dissection of the art of stand-up or dramedy-laced narrative, still can and does work in 2023.

Please enjoy Reynolds AKA “Limaguafth” and his hour England, Weed & The Rest, now streaming on YouTube courtesy of All Things Comedy here.

Ashley Gavin’s Makes Herself Known as a Great Comedian, No Other Adjectives Needed, with Debut Special “Live in Chicago”
May 11, 2023
News
ashley gavin, comedy special, don't tell comedy, queer comedy, stand up comedy

Almost every single comedian strives to be funny for being funny, no qualifiers needed. That goal is almost self-evident to the art form, especially given its requirement of an audience to laugh at the comedic work being presented on stage. At the same time, there is an ever-evolving conversation surrounding identity in comedy, the privilege, access, and the marginalization that can come of it, sometimes all three at once.

On top of effortlessly delivering a keenly crafted, clever hour of material, rising stand-up star Ashley Gavin really digs deep into this crossroads of the many precarious facets of who one can be as a comedian in her debut special, Ashley Gavin: Live in Chicago. More explicitly, Gavin ponders the success she has gained for being a brash, but gregarious lesbian on stage, but speaking to the truth that she is more than just her lesbian jokes (hence the presence of more solid 9/11 material than you’ve heard in a long, long time). The meta analysis of comedy and its reception in one’s own special is perhaps, going from a trend to movement (see Joel Kim Booster and Andrew Santino’s latest specials).

In the hopes that comedy, especially stand-up comedy, could ever be a meritocracy, Gavin has earned her comedy stripes. She has worked the road for years, played cruise ships (one of the most tedious gigs in comedy), had to tone herself down in so many different ways, etc. all while building an audience and honing her comedic voice. Throughout Live in Chicago, it’s undeniable that Gavin has seasoned veteran comedy chops and has found her own unique, oblique angles for her observations and perspective. Given the material, she almost dares the viewer to tag her as a “9/11 comedian” versus a “lesbian comedian”, when she just wants to explicitly be a beloved comedian.

For what our word is worth, she very much achieves that goal and does so in her very first special.

Ashley Gavin: Live in Chicago is streaming now for free, at your convenience on YouTube.

Pick of the Day: Big Titty Boyfriend: A Comedy Show and Fundraiser! (in LA) 6/9
May 11, 2023
News
benefit show, los angeles comedy, sammy mowrey, stand up comedy, top surgery

The importance of top surgery for trans/non-binary folks cannot be overstated. At the same time, it’s still far from an accessible procedure for many, which is why there are very special benefit shows to fund that very thing.

The wondrous, sharp-witted Sammy Mowrey is indeed committing to getting top surgery and throwing their own stacked (ironically, we guess) comedy show fundraiser (that will also be raising money for Sammy’s friend as part of her own transition). The marvelously named show “Sammy Mowrey Is Your Big Titty Boyfriend” will feature many of LA’s very best trans/non-binary comedians including Nori Reed, Roz Hernandez, Hayden Johnson, Ever Mainard, and Jake Noll to name a few.

Sammy Mowrey Is Your Big Titty Boyfriend is set for Fri. Jun. 6th at 8PM at Permanent Records Roadhouse, one of LA’s new Eastside comedy hot spots (and where Sammy does their routinely terrific show, Permanent Vacation). Tickets are available at the nice price of a $10 suggested donation and you really ought to go get them here

 

Pick of the Day: Maria Bamford Special Taping (near LA) 5/13
May 5, 2023
News
live taping, los angeles comedy, maria bamford, public displays of altadena, stand up comedy

It should be no secret, at this point, that Maria Bamford is one of our all time favorite comedians and any time she’s playing anywhere is an opportunity you really shouldn’t pass up. This is doubly true when it comes to her taping a brand new comedy special.

As it would turn out, Maria is taping her very first special next week and, in true Maria form, she is taping at her neighborhood venue, the burgeoning experimental micro-theater, Public Displays of Altadena. This shouldn’t come as surprise as Maria has taped previous specials in her home and at bookstores.

This latest taping is set for Sat. May 13th at 10:30AM (Maria is one of the few comedians on the planet that can pull off live stand-up comedy in the AM). Tickets are currently sold out (seating is very, very limited at a micro-theater after all), but you should really follow @pda_space and @mariabamfordcomedy on IG to see if any tickets are released or seats open up.

Pick of the Day: Tig Notaro: Hello Again [Taping] (in NYC) 6/10
May 3, 2023
News
comedy special, nyc comedy, stand up comedy, taping, tig notaro

Tig Notaro is taping a new special, which should be the only copy that you’d need to promote the two shows that she’s taping live at Brooklyn’s very own Kings Theatre.

In case you need a bit more:

Notaro has been an astounding singular voice in comedy as well as an inspiration and generation defining artist just from her impromptu album, Tig Notaro Live. Also, she’s taken on quite the on-camera career spanning Star Trek, fighting zombies in Vegas, and hosting her own talk show where she has no idea who her very famous guests are. That’s just a quick crash course in how marvelous Tig is as a comedian and performer.

Oh yeah, she also has the best bit using the stool in all of stand-up comedy.

So, do not miss the taping of her latest special, Hello Again, set for Sat. Jun. 10th at 7PM ET & 10PM ET at Kings Theatre. Tickets start at $60 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

 

Pick of the Day: Loose [Returns Again] (in LA) 5/8
May 2, 2023
News
alison stevenson, anna seregina, loose, los angeles comedy, megan koester, stand up comedy

The meeting of the comedic minds of Megan Koester, Alison Stevenson, and Anna Seregina as Loose was a favorite Monday night staple of ours. The contrast of Koester and Stevenson’s spicy, sarcastic banter and Seregina’s unfiltered silliness was a true panacea to Mondays being Mondays. Unfortunately, the desire to be a chic sports bar in Echo Park was too much for Little Joy, their original home, was too much for them to resist and, consequently, Loose @ Little Joy had come to an end.

Thankfully, after months of wandering around the scene and occasionally popping up together at a fun underground show, Megan, Alison, and Anna are returning to their Monday night comedy duty to be Loose at their new home of Eagle Rock’s Western Station Beer & Wine (just a couple blocks West of Eagle Rock Blvd. x Colorado Blvd.). They’re starting it back up on Mondays at 8PM next week on 5/8. Per usual, admission is free, but donations are happily accepted.

The first line-up is unsurprisingly a doozy with Jon Daly, Rachel Kaly, Jordan Temple, Clare O’Kane, and Tamara Shevon. Keep up with all things Loose @loosecomedyla on IG.

“Vacation Baby” Shows Hari Kondabolu’s Amazingly Intelligent, Socially Conscious, Self-Aware Sense of Humor Survived the Pandemic
April 25, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, comedy special, hari kondabolu, stand up comedy, vacation baby

Several comedy specials that have rolled out in the last year or so have been a varying blend of material that had already been worked out for years before lockdown, of how they fared during the pandemic, and, usually, attempts to get back to some sort of “normal” life. It can almost be considered its own sub-genre of comedy special with its tropes of surface level jokes about COVID-19 and being more divided than we have ever been. Of course, as with all well-trodden territory in comedy, there are still ways to be insightful, original, and, most importantly, refreshingly funny about the whole thing.

Hari Kondabolu, a comedian who is high-brow and socially conscious and, simultaneously, a meticulous joke-smith that aims to be as accessible as he is inclusive, delivers such work with his latest special, Vacation Baby. Kondabolu’s last special, Warn Your Relatives, came in 2018 on Netflix (and he also released albums that were compilations of older material during the pandemic) and was, again, the great balance of playing to the top of Hari’s intelligence and being chock full of hard punchlines. Vacation Baby, released last week, picks up, almost effortlessly where he left off nearly five years ago seamlessly connecting whip-smart material about Indian identity, socio-economics, and politics along with raising a child during the pandemic, staying relevant as an older Indian comedian, and a beautifully human story about ignoring e-mails from AOC when she first ran for Congress. Kondabolu taping it at veritable hometown venue for himself, The Bell House in Brooklyn, has the comforting feeling of unpausing from early March 2020 and enjoying the processed humor of everything that has happened almost until now.

For the more alt-comedy-ish folks out there, there’s a meta running gag throughout the hour that exemplifies just how much range Kondabolu’s comedy really covers. With all of that intact after everything we’ve all been through, Hari shouldn’t have to worry about relevance as a voice in comedy, part of great, vulnerable bit in Vacation Baby, for a long time to come.

Hari Kondabolu: Vacation Baby is now streaming completely free on YouTube at 800 Pound Gorilla’s page here. Watch and please enjoy ASAP.

Pick of the Day: Don’t Stop! I’m About to Jazz (in NYC) 5/16
April 17, 2023
News
brooklyn, nyc comedy, rose kelso, stand up comedy, two tree hill, union hall

While such comedy folks as Mitch Hedberg, Todd Glass, Nick Thune, and Bernie Mac have used musical accompaniment to punctuate and accentuate their jokes to great success, it’s strange that such a dynamic isn’t more common in stand-up comedy (other than that it’s difficult to tell jokes and play instrument at the same time or always have a musician or band accompany you wherever you go).

Thanks to the musically inclined comedians Two Tree Hill and Rose Kelso, NYC comedy is going to get a whole evening of what might be the classiest way to present stand-up comedy on what they’re ingeniously calling Don’t Stop! I’m About to Jazz. Having the ivories tickled during their sets will be a swanky line-up of Eric Rahill, Annabel Meschke, Sabina Meschke, Napoleon Emill, and Natasha Vaynblat.

So, break out the formal wear and get your tickets for Don’t Stop! I’m About to Jazz, coming to Union Hall on Tues. May 16th at 7:30PM. Tickets for such a ritzy affair are only $11.55 and you best go get them here.

 

Pick of the Day: Asian Comedy Fest (in NYC) 5/5 & 5/6
April 14, 2023
News
andrea jin, asian comedy fest, Dylan Adler, kaneez surka, karen chee, nyc comedy, sour mouse, stand up comedy, Youngmi Mayer

The Asian Comedy Fest is back for its fourth year to highlight the Asian comedians that you absolutely need to know from all around the country. This time, they’ll be taking over LES in NYC, specifically Sour Mouse to put on two nights featuring dozens and dozens of handpicked performers for you to enjoy/support AAPI comedians.

On the bill thus far are Dylan Adler, Karen Chee, Andrea Jin, Youngmi Mayer, and Usama Siddiquee as well as several more great Asian comedy folks. On top of enjoying six different shows over two nights, May 5th & 6th, you’ll be supporting the Asian American Arts Alliance with your purchase of a ticket or festival pass.

Speaking of which, tickets for individual shows start at $28.77 and festival passes at $130.46. Go get tickets, schedule, line-up, and more at asiancomedyfest.com.

« Recent News
Older News »

Recent News

divider

  • The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 276: Andy Sandford & Keeping Jokes as Tight Possible - Andy Sandford's philosophy of trimming all the fat from all his comedy has served him… Read More
  • The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 274: Spaghetti Festival & Sticking on the Wall (Together) - The Spaghetti Festival @ The Elysian represents a wholly rejuvenating spark of imagination and creativity… Read More
  • The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 273: R.M. Aranda & Bringing Clown to All - The popularity of the corner of comedy that is clown continues to burgeon, especially in… Read More

Sign up For The Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 The Comedy Bureau
All rights reserved