Science Fuses with Stand-Up Comedy
What does a person do after they spend years studying biology and eventually get a Ph.D in ecology and evolution? You probably are not going to guess such a person would become a stand-up comedian, but that is the case for Tim Lee. In fact, he claims his career path makes perfect sense. Lee explains:
I used to give talks in front of smart people who'd try to pick apart my logic. Now I give talks in front of drunk people who try to pick apart my jokes. The drunken audience is easier to please but more violent when disappointed.
Lee's style of comedy is accessible to both nerds and non-nerds, so anyone can enjoy his show. Meaning, you do not have to have a Ph.D. in ecology to understand his jokes. You can find a couple of videos of portions of his show on Tim Lee's YouTube channel.
Tim Lee is playing at the Jewelbox Theater April 2 and 3 at 8pm. Tickets are $20. More info and buy advanced tickets online.
13th Annual Stanger's Valentine's Day Bash
I've said it before and I'll say it again, The Stranger's Valentine's Day Bash is the most entertaining thing to do on Valentine's Day, whether you are single or in a relationship.
This year marks the 13th Valentine's Day that Dan Savage will destroy tokens of the people of Seattle's failed relationships in front of a crowd. This year I am not bitter and I do not currently have anything I would like destroyed on stage in front of a large crowd of strangers, but I have been up on that stage in the past and I encourage you to bring something to be destroyed if you are still licking the wounds of a recent break-up. It's really really fun.
The 13th Annual Stranger's Valentine's Day Bash takes place at Neumo's in Capitol Hill on Saturday, February 13. Door's open at 8pm, show starts at 9:30pm, tickets are $6 advanced, $8 at the door. 21+
May is Gong Show Appreciation Month (for me, anyway)
I am scared. Horrified. What am I getting myself into? My double dutch team, On the Double, is performing at two Gong Shows this month. Hey, if Oingo Boingo and Pee Wee Herman could do it on the original Gong Show, then so can we!
The first of our Gong Show performances will be The Stranger's Gong Show at Chop Suey this Friday, May 8 at 9pm for $5.
The second Gong Show we are performing at will be Zenzi Burlesque's Gong Show at Columbia City Theater in Columbia City Saturday, May 16. There are two show times for that one; 7:30pm and 9pm.
If you want to catch us tomorrow night in a less ridiculous atmosphere that is all ages (both Gong Shows are 21+), we'll be jumping at the Pioneer Square Art Walk at around 6:30pm.
If you come to either of the Gong Shows, please show us some love and help us not get gonged!
Jugglers, Rappers, and Aerialists.. Oh My!
I received a press release that kind of doesn't make sense, but maybe I'm just too simple to understand the deeper meaner. In fact, it seems like a spam email, but it is not. I have a great appreciation for creative ways of promoting events, and I as read through this press release, I realized the press release is promoting what sounds like a really fun event filled with jugglers, wrestlers, aerialists, and live music this Sunday, March 16, at the Re-bar. Read for yourself:
Once in a time, people had no reason to fear the dark. Then the world went dark. They had no reason to worry about loneliness. Then they were alone. They had no reason to worry about food, shelter, and warmth....until there was none. The Man with the Big Smokey Hat, and his son Charlie Death crippled the world we knew. They gave us reason to worry...but those reasons are vanishing as we find new communities. We gain help in rebuilding. We gain family to make us strong. We gain reasons to again rejoice. Get Loweded, the traveling celebration of hope, life and survival helps us rejoice. Get Loweded is returning to celebrate that nectar of the gods that has become out bread, drink and bond in this post apocalyptic world. Get Loweded is returning when the lunar cycle hits March 16 to celebrate the birth of that Nectar and it's creator St. Patrick Swayze!
Created in his roadhouse in 1933, the nectar became a central point to bonding, community and gathering....much as it is now! And how we will celebrate it! We have found a collection of talents in our travels the last month to dazzle and amaze the peoples of the Emerald City among them:
Billy the Fridge: probably the greatest person you know. If you don't know him, he is probably the biggest void in your life, yet to be filled. Seriously, you love him... even if you don't know it yet. Large in stature and mic skills, Billy will amaze you.
Michele Frances: Michele Frances can fly. She is exempt from the ancient laws of gravity.
Former members of SSP: Before the apocalypse, there was a group of performers who held staged feats of combat theater. They will show you skills to use in the this crazy world of ours against mutants, Texans and bandits.
Matthew Swope: Matthew Swope juggles...incredibly well and excitingly awesome.
The Rebar is one of my favorite clubs in Seattle because it's got a lot of character and it hosts some unique performances. And by character, I mean it's a little divey in a really good way. The venue attracts a wide variety of people ranging from breakdancers to drag queens to rockers to whatever. I have never had a bad time at this venue. On other nights at the Re-bar, you can also check out Dina Martini's drag show, which has become a staple of Seattle's subculture over the past two decades.
Event: Get Loweded Gets Apocalyptic: the Birthday of Booze
Date and Time: March 16, 2009 9pm
Price: $8
Location: Re-bar (1114 Howell St.)
Rainy Day Blues? How About Some Comedy in Pioneer Square
I just got an email from Cathy Sorbo who is performing tomorrow night (Wednesday, November 12) at the Comedy Underground in Pioneer Square:
I will be doing a headline set preceded by a most talented group including but not limited to Hari Kondabolu -- holy shit this guy is truly amazing ... Rod Long may be dropping in as well as Vince Valenzuela -- two of my faves! Also featured will be someone you probably have never heard of. He's been readying a one man show depicting his challenges with Syringomyela (freaky bubbles in the spinal column) as well as his search for enlightenment. Very unique POV and what's funnier than someone ridiculing their own gnawing disease? Nothing.
I had the pleasure of seeing Cathy Sorbo perform at the Columbia City Cabaret last January. I remember laughing out loud when she performed, and I don't usually laugh that hard at stand-up comedians. I think it's a great idea to chase away the gloomy weather blues with a comedy show, so I'll be there tomorrow night.
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Time: 8:00pm-9:30pm
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: 109 S Washington in Pioneer Square
Price: $10.00
Big Wheel Bingo: Not Your Grandmother's Bingo
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Big Wheel Bingo is the coolest thing ever. I went there on a whim a few years ago when it was at The Rendezvous on a second date with a guy I was still getting to know. I figured if we went to bingo, the experience would at least be amusing, for me at least. And, generally speaking, if a guy goes to bingo with me then he MUST be into me. We went, and we were both thoroughly surprised and entertained by the whole experience. It turned out to be a great event to attend on an awkward still-getting-to-know-each-other date. I had no idea Big Wheel Bingo would be a full show, with singing and dancing and comedy. And the bingo game prizes are quirky and fun; most of the prizes were from Archie McPhees, thrift stores, or garage sales.
Mere words cannot describe the wonderment of Big Wheel Bingo. It is bingo, so if you have your own bingo dobber, bring it. Otherwise, they sell them for a buck or two at the show.
The next show is at the end of next month, on June 28, so you have plenty of time to clear your calendar. Everyone should go to Big Wheel Bingo at least once. Yes, it's that entertaining.
Location: Can Can Kitchen and Cabaret 94 Pike Street in Pike Place Market
Date and Time: June 28, 9:30pm
Price: $10
A Veritable Fun Event On Valentine's Day
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I'm not big on Valentine's Day shenanigans. I feel like it's a holiday designed to make people miserable. If you don't have a girlfriend or a boyfriend, then you feel like a loser. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, then you feel like the pressure is on to prove your love. Either way, ugh.That's why I'm so excited The Stranger's Valentine's Day Bash is happening again this year at Neumo's. I went last year and it was the 10 year anniversary of the event and they SAID it was going to be the last year last year. But, no! It's happening again this year.
At the Bash, you have the opportunity to bring a memento from a failed relationship, give a little background on the shortcomings of said relationship on a stage in front of a venue packed full of strangers and possibly people you know (IE. coworkers), and then allow Dan Savage to destroy your memento in any number of creative ways. Last year, I brought a dozen dried roses and Dan Savage dipped them in liquid nitrogen and smashed them to bits. I gotta say, it was my best Valentine's Day ever.
My advice if you go is bring a keepsake and sign-up to have Dan Savage destroy it. Seriously, once you get there, you will want to be a part of the fun, despite the certainty of embarrassment. There is something special, something cathartic about having the famed sex columnist smash/set on fire/tar and feather a relic some jerk left in your possession after he/she broke your heart.
Make sure you get there early and sign-up on the list right away, otherwise you could spend all night holding that teddy bear/sweater/poem/engagement ring waiting for it to finally be destroyed.
Date: February 14, 2008
Time: 8pm
Location: Neumo's (map)
Price: Free (who can put a price on
100 Heartbreaks
If you don't already know what it's like to be a single lady in Seattle, I can tell you from personal experience that it can best be described as amusing. Imagine the stream of oddballs and eccentrics you see every day in the streets, restaurants, bars, and clubs of Seattle. Now imagine going on dates with those oddballs. Hilarity, of course, ensues. The experiences of a single lady have now been transformed into a musical performed by one Charlane Tucker (played by Joanna Horowitz), but not just any kind of musical, a country musical.
After a year of single life in Seattle, Joanna Horowitz was inspired to create a one woman country musical based on her experiences called 100 Heartbreaks, premiering at CHAC on February 15.
Ah, the humorous woes of a misguided woman... who wouldn't want to see that? Horowitz currently resides in Seattle, but she has attained her true country cred by growing up in Eastern Washington where she performed at some "suitable downhome venues" including fairs and farmer's markets. Teaser of Horowitz performing a song from the show in the video below:Just in time for Valentine's Day, 100 Heartbreaks chronicles a singer's quest to get loved and left 100 times - all with the sole purpose of accumulating enough "country cred" to be taken seriously. As Charlane Tucker sees it, each failed relationship gets her "one man closer to Nashville." A little bit country music, a little bit theater, a little bit cabaret, 100 Heartbreaks combines quick-witted storytelling with live country music inspired by the likes of Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, crafted under the musical direction of John Osebold (of the band "Awesome").
"One Man Closer to Nashville"
The opening night "hoedown" on February 15 will feature musical guest Purty Mouth and country drag by Dusty Hauck.
Show Dates: Feb. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and March 1, 8:30pm
Location: Capitol Hill Arts Center Lower Level (map)
Price: $15
Comixtravaganza
2:00pm - Comic Workshop: make your own mini comic.
3:30pm - Panel of experts discusses what it's like being in the industry of comics.
4:30pm - Cartoonist Ellen Forney talks about stuff.
Speaking of Ellen Forney, Fantagraphics has released a new book with Ellen Forney's illustrations called LUST: Kinky Online Personal Ads From Seattle’s The Stranger. It features Forney's artistic renditions of those zany personal ads in The Stranger's LustLab; definitely not marketed towards teens. You can view samples of the personal ads and illustrations on her blog. The book release will be at Fantagraphics on February 9 from 6-9pm, and the party will include a multimedia presentation of the book by Forney. Forney is not only funny and witty on paper, but she has a great sense of humor in person, too, so I highly recommend seeing her speak either at Fantagraphics on February 9 or this Saturday at the Seattle Central Library.Is It Summer Yet?
Cineoke
Next Monday, share in the silliness of Cineoke: a hybrid of karaoke and film that combines your voice and stage presence with your favorite musical. From the reviews I have read, this is nothing short of totally entertaining. Here is how it works: You can either bring your own DVD or select something from the Cineoke library, then wait for your turn, then get on stage and act out/sing out your favorite scene from your favorite musical while it plays on a screen behind you. You can skip performing and attend as a spectator, but these things are always so much more fun when you participate.
My musical dorkiness comes in the form of a movie called Grease. I know every word to every scene and every song of that movie. I can't help myself because I have no power over the woo of John Travolta's pants. I have generally kept my Grease musical outbursts to myself in an effort to spare those around me who do not share my enthusiasm, but now I have a place to go and sing along to my favorite musical... in public! I have to say that I'm so excited about this that I've got chills, and they're multiplyin'.
Where: Rendezvous (in Belltown)
When: Monday, November 12, 7pm - 10pm (that's one week from today, so you have time to prepare)
Cost: $5
Henry Rollins Spoken Word
Once upon a time in the 1980s, Henry Rollins was the lead singer of the hardcore punk band, Black Flag. One of the most famous of all of the hardcore scenesters of that era, Henry Rollins later formed his own band called Rollins Band and performed to huge audiences and had mainstream success. Remember the song, Liar?
I love that song. Boy, he sure is intense.
Aside from his music career, Henry Rollins has spent the past 3 decades writing books and performing spoken word, and he now hosts his own tv show on IFC. He has also been in several movies, including one of my favorite movies, The Chase. You can see his discography here.
Henry Rollins is intense, but his spoken word can actually be very light-hearted and funny. Although he is a big superstar now, he has humble beginnings and his spoken word includes stories about his life in a down-to-earth manner.
On a side note, I hear he has worn a halloween costume for his halloween performances in the past, and I'm hoping he wears one on Wednesday's show.
Tammytown: DVD Release of Movie Made in Washington
Here is what the movie is about:
An ensemble cast of hilarious teens embark on their final year at Hellgate High in 1989. Our lead heroines are two opposing Tammies focused on surviving senior year. They are flanked by the new girl who likes punk rock music and kissing girls, the rocker chick with long legs and hair, the motor-head dudes, and many more. A nerdy chorus is your guide through this comedy fun-ride packed full of cat-fights, bonfire parties, and souped-up cars.
Check out the preview and remember and admire the bangs of 1989.
Oh man, I hated those bangs. Tammytown releases on DVD on October 23.
Salon of Shame
Although most sign up ahead of time to read, spontaneous readings are also encouraged, so if you show up with your old journal entries, you will be warmly welcomed on stage.
Reading Old Journal Entries in Front of a Crowd: Painful Fun
In light of tonight's Salon of Shame and my recent trip to California for my 10 year college reunion, I shall share one of my most embarrassing treasures: my teen angst poetry.
<ahem>
In the adumbration of darknessI feast
on the comestible of your
flesh
as you count away the
minutes
until your death
because you are not as wonderful
as you think you are
because you are not divine
because you are not immortal
so you waste your life
waiting to die.
Photo by Gabrielle Fine. More photos here.
As I read my old goth poetry (there is a painfully large amount of goth poems in my journals), I am noticing I used a lot of big words. That's because I used to read the dictionary. However, the dictionary is really big and I only got as far as the c's, so all of my impressive words begin with the letters a, b, or c.
Also, how is it possible that I had so much time to spend on my goth poetry? I remember doing lots of stuff as a teenager and being very active and constantly freaking my parents out by my constant questionable activies. Where did I find the time to fill up these journals? DId my teenage self have better time-management skills than my adult self?
I guess I didn't have yoga, snowboarding, biking, THE INTERNET, work, more work, yard work, house work, etc. I just had my notebook, a pack of Camel Lights, my Docs, and a bottomless cup of coffee in a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop.
Guerrilla Pillow Fight
Guerrilla Pillow Fight in Pioneer Square!
It all started with an email:
PILLOW FIGHT!! *repost*
Date: Sat. March 10th. RAIN OR SHINE.
Time: The whistle blows @ 3:29pm EXACTLY
Place: The heart of Pioneer Square, corner of 1st and Yesler. Fight will happen in the open space by the totem pole.
When you hear the whistle, pull out your pillow and FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!! It's a 5 minute free-for-all. When you hear the second whistle, STOP FIGHTING and leave the area immediately. Rendevous at the aftermath gathering (information follows,)
*REMEMBER*
1. TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
2. TELL EVERYONE YOU TOLD TO TELL EVERYONE THEY KNOW!!
3. Don't hit anyone with anything but a pillow.
4. Don't hit anyone who doesn't have a pillow.
5. Be especially careful of camera/video equipment. (Don't not swing at our Photographer/Videographer friends. They love us and we want
it to stay that way.)
--CONCEAL YOUR PILLOW! Stuff it in a backpack, under your coat, in a shopping bag, etc. Don't make it visible. The surprise element is key.
--DON'T BE OBVIOUS! Keep moving, Sit on a bench with a friend or two, pretend to window shop, pretend to be homeless (it worked for Pak.), chat on your phone, etc. What we don't want are people hanging out with pillows obviously waiting for something to happen. If you see these people, please discreetly suggest that they move somewhere and hide their pillow.
--CARPOOL, and when you do, please try to spread your group out before the whislte blows and all come from different directions.
--COME PARTY AFTER THE FIGHT!!
***The AFTERMATH GATHERING with be at TEMPLE BILLIARDS, 126 S. Jackson St., immediately after the fight. Come have a drink/grab a bite to eat/play some pool and celebrate a job well done with your pillow fighting family. Come one, come all. It's always a good time.
