David Alan Grier at the Bagdad 5/17/13

Posted on May 13, 2013 by | Leave a comment

David-Alan-Grier-1You might not know this, but you love David Alan Grier. Maybe it’s his energy and material, which is sharp, spontaneous and yet is distinctly one man’s voice. It might be his work ethic you admire, which after nearly three decades is strong as ever and shows no signs of slowing. It could be for his range as a performer, seeing as how he’s won awards for his work (both comedic and dramatic) in theater, on screen and as a writer and producer. No matter why, this Friday, May 17th, is a chance for you to let that love have an outlet and see the man some call DAG perform at McMenamins’ Bagdad Theater with host Tristan Spillman.

Spillman has been hosting Bagdad’s monthly comedy night for several years now, helping to produce literally hundreds of shows. An accomplished comedian and a respected figure in Portland’s comedy scene, his material ranges from the wacky to the mundane, and is delivered with a honed precision and such earnest heart that you can’t help but follow him down any path of whimsy he may guide. Not content to just be a stand up, he also produces a zine, which features local writers and artists, with each of his shows and has appeared in a number of internet clips.

The real amazing about each of these performers is that they’re great human beings as well amazing comedians. Tristan has used his position as the host of one of the premier venues in town to give a chance for the raising stars of Portland to find a launching pad for their careers. Locals legends like Ron Funches, Ian Karmel and even current reigning Portland’s Funniest Person Champion Nathan Brannon have all found themselves on the Bagdad’s stage, performing for crowds larger than they might of found before, in part from Spillman’s efforts. Brannon, who has opened for Grier (at a previous out of state show), said of him “He’s real personable. You would think, being famous for so long, he would be tired of talking to so many people, but he was very open. A great guy.”

So clear up your Friday, and catch a show I promise you’ll love. The doors open at 8, the show starts at 9 and tickets are only $25. As it’s a McMenamins location, there is food and drinks available for purchase, but it is a 21 and over event. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit the Bagdad’s site at http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/111943-David-Alan-Grier?mobok=y.

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Bridgetown Comedy Festival Day Two: The Incidental Spectator

Posted on April 19, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Bridgetown Comedy Festival feels like a different beast this year, and it took me all of yesterday, stumbling half-drunk up Hawthorne to catch my friends and idols’ performances to figure out what has changed.

Bridgetown finally has its shit together. Completely.

In the first or maybe second year of Bridgetown, I helped the two biggest names in Portland’s then-still-tiny comedy scene put up promotional flyers on Hawthorne telephone poles. The flyers were an aesthetic nightmare and the biggest name on that year’s festival had to drop out at the last minute (for entirely legitimate reasons that nobody begrudged). The venues and cash-boxes were under the supervision of volunteers, and plenty of people who should have paid didn’t. Shows collided like trains in a Michael Bay blockbuster as drunk comics showed up late or not at all. Transportation was a logistics disaster. Some rooms, even as recently as last year’s festival, were tragically filled with amazing talents playing to military-precise rows of empty chairs. And my God, the cramped after-parties. What the fuck are all these people doing in this tiny room? How did an open-mic comic from Denver who is not performing at the festival end up DJing and making out with that volunteer everyone wants to bang?

This year there is a professionalism to Bridgetown, like the young foal that finally has its legs. Shane Torres didn’t need to put up any promotional flyers, the after-party has competent security, the stage managers have strict orders and the performers have been warned about punctuality. It makes me so proud to have witnessed the growth and development of this fine annual event, and just a little bit misty for the days that it felt like anything could go wrong at any moment.

No one person at the festival more perfectly embodies this change than Festival Director Andy Wood. I recall specifically that in those first couple of years, Andy was seemingly everywhere at once, dropping off boxes of T-shirts at one venue, frantically calling another to try and get a car sent to the airport, and another sent to a hotel. I am sure his workload is substantial this year as well. But on Wednesday night at Tonic Lounge during the unofficial opening ceremonies, Andy was sitting at the bar by himself for a moment and I walked by and said hello, as I only see Andy in person once a year. He has a calm, even and cheerful demeanor that is an unmistakable mark of a professional entertainment producer. It is inspiring, having seen him sweat through the early years and seeing him now, able and willing to relax and enjoy himself as his well-oiled machine of venue, volunteer, talent and transportation coordinators puts out a quality festival. (full disclosure: PDXComedyBlog owner-operator Whitney Streed walks among the organizers this year).

Bridgetown is at the peak of its festival game. The talent is consistently impressive, with newcomers, mid-level acts and internationally-known stars mingling, sharing stories, industry contacts and sometimes bodily fluids. My only concern for Bridgetown’s future is that people in Portland will take this event for granted, that the smooth functioning of this amazingly elaborate affair will make it seem less precious to DIY-crazy Portlanders whose tastes skew toward the Wabi-sabi, which Bridgetown once embodied, over the flawless and modern, which this festival has officially become.

Andy Wood and his cohort of festival-organizing friends have altered Portland permanently, and there is not a comedian in Portland or the world who would return us to the days before Bridgetown, when roughly one dozen people made up the regular contingent of open-mic comedy performers, when opening a show at Harvey’s Comedy Club was the gold-standard for Portland comedy success, and when Ian Karmel was still in college and taking improv classes instead of teaching them. In those days Andy Wood was just leaving his career in engineering to pursue his dreams. One could have been forgiven back then for seeing Andy as a man with his head in the clouds. Nowadays he just seems to float around on one, the calm bird of the furious storm that is the Bridgetown Comedy Festival.

See ALL THE SHOWS at Hawthorne area venues this weekend, along with Hollywood Theater and White Owl Social Club.

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Your Alternative to Bridgetown Comedy Guide

Posted on April 17, 2013 by | Leave a comment

So every year, for the last half a decade or so, every comic in the metro area, from the open mic level (our initiation rite) up to the world renowned veterans (seriously we have these here), get a little tingle in their spines as The Bridgetown Comedy Festival comes to Portland. Established comedians from across the country, nay the world, gather in our little city for a weekend of humor, mirth and calculated debauchery, that of course starts on a Thursday. It is a ton of fun and I highly recommend you go, if you can.
Sadly not all of us have the eighty bucks for a weekend pass just laying around, or the sitter can only come on Sunday, or the idea of seeing all those crowds is just too much. It’s fine, I understand and I’ve got you covered. Here are a few cheaper, one night, none festival showcases you might wanna give some attention to this week if you can.

• On Wednesday (which is sorta today) the lovely Belinda Carroll hosts her wonderful comedy showcase at the Crush Bar (1412 SE Morrison St), with this edition starring Alex Falcone, Mark Colletta, D’Emmanuel, Lauryn Pithie-Petrie, Jonas Barnes and all headlined by Todd Armstrong. As if that wasn’t enough, there is truth to the rumor that many comedians who are performing at Bridgetown this year are also gonna be swinging by to try some material out as well. They seat at 8, the show starts at 9, so it’s neither too early, nor too late an affair. Combine all that comfy seating, yummy food and good drinks and it’s a steal at just $5.

• The talented Scoot Herring host his appropriately named Fawesome: A Comedy Show this Thursday in the Hawthorne Hideaway (2221 Se Hawthorne Blvd). The doors open at 9, the show starts at 9:30 and not only are there drink specials but they keep the kitchen open all night long. It’s a donation based show, so you can pay what you want, but the performers (Nick Walker, Seth Milstein, Cody McCullar, and headliner Steven Wilbur) are all some of the hardest working comics you’ll ever meet with a wide variety of styles and would be well worth your time.

• For some weird reason April 20th has a bunch of shows in places that require you have some sort of membership or card to get into. One example of that is something called Doc’s 420 Hot Mess Thing, located at Doc’s (4229 SE 82nd Ave Ste B) where you will need to prove you’re at least 21 because at 9pm that night several comedians will be performing in a strip club. Hosted by Jamie Stewart it will feature performances by Josh Lay, Patrick Perkins*, Hilary Adams, Boomer, Rico Starr and be headlined by Big Jim Willig (of the Big & Loud Podcast). There is a $3 suggested donation but I don’t think anyone will complain if you want to put dollar bills on the stage for the performers too. There’s also going to be live music and I think at some point the strippers will end up back on stage.

• Lastly, chronologically, is Down & Dirty: A Dark Comedy Showcase on Sunday at 9 for only $5 in the Ash Street Saloon (225 SW Ash St). This monthly showcase, hosted by the feckless Patrick Perkins* with performances by Shades Mathison, Alex Rios, Michal Boxan, Jared Richard, Annie Box, Boomer, Bryce Jones and the ever busy Todd Armstrong, promises to be everything the name implies and more. Which is great, even if you’re into that kinda thing and even better if you are. This showcase isn’t for the easily offended but they’re welcomed too.

No matter if it’s a big festival show stuffed with established comedians, a smaller venue with local artist or even one of the major comedy clubs, this promises to be a great weekend for stand up comedy. I humbly, and completely biasedly, suggest you take the time to get out there and see a show this weekend. Because I’d hate to see you miss it.

*Full Disclosure; that is me.

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Bridgetown is One Month Away! Get Your Tickets or Sign Up to Volunteer Now!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by | Leave a comment

bridgetownPeople! Can you believe it? The Bridgetown Comedy Festival is only one month away! It is well worth your time and resources to spend the week enjoying the awesomest comedy event in Portland that happens all year.

Bridgetown has grown bigger and more packed with talent with each passing year. In this, its sixth year, the line-up is spectacular, with big names like Dana Gould, Reggie Watts, and Peter Serafinowicz and Robert Popper. Beloved former Portland comedians like Dax Jordan, Richard Bain, and Virginia Jones will also be there, plus a host of startlingly talented folks from all over the country (I’m talking Todd Glass and Kurt Braunholer and Moshe Kasher, people. I’m talking Jake Weisman and Guy Braunum and Brandie Posey and Emily Heller. I’m talking KATE BERLANT here, people.  I could go on but I won’t. It’s going to be fantastic.)

The festival is  April 18 – 21 and will primarily be held on Hawthorne Boulevard. Weekend passes, priced at $79, are on sale now at http://www.bridgetowncomedy.com, with an additional $10 pre-sale discount available through March 27th.

Also! There is still time to volunteer! Bridgetown couldn’t happen without the amazing people who contribute their time and energy. Whether you want to sit at a table selling tickets or shirts, drive things and people around, or just lift heavy boxes for a while, the festival would love your help. You can volunteer a little or a lot, and your reward is free admission for a night or the whole weekend. Sign up now at http://submissions.bridgetowncomedy.com/apply-to-volunteer and you will hear back within a couple weeks about what your role will be. Comedy all the time, people! All! The! Time!

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Brady’s Friends With Benefits 3/14/13 at Dante’s

Posted on March 12, 2013 by | Leave a comment

To try and eulogize Brady Echerer with the few hundred words I have at my disposal would not do him justice. For one thing there was too much to relate: he was a comedian, a paranormal investigator, a chef and a father. Unfortunately I didn’t really know him as well as I wanted to though. I know it sounds cliche, but I always assumed we had more time, until, tragically, we didn’t.

Like I said, I know Brady had a son he loved very much, and he’d recently lost a women he cared for deeply, but we rarely discussed our families. I’ve heard great things about his cooking, but I’d never had the pleasure of trying that version of his art. Nor did I ever accompany him on one of his many ghost hunting expeditions. I knew Brady, as many did, as one of the most bad-ass comedians I’ve ever met. He was respected by veteran comics for being fearless on stage and honest in his writing, yet he still managed to remain one of the warmest people in the world off stage. He also gave a lot of newer comics some amazing opportunities too, including extended stage time for up and comers, day jobs and even a place to stay if the situation was dire enough — all big deals for struggling comics. When we heard he was in the hospital for a heart attack, many of us were willing to help any way we could; with his death, our plans for a fundraiser has also become a memorial of sorts.

At 8pm this Thursday at Dante’s (350 W Burnside), several of Portland’s best comics (including Nathan Branon, Lonnie Bruhn, Big Jim Willig, Belinda Carroll, Boomer, Joe Hieronymus, Andie Main, Tim Hammer, Ry No, Todd Armstrong, Chris Shattuck, Craig Nelson, Shane Torres and myself) are coming together to do our best to memorialize our departed comrade Brady. Additionally there’ll be live music, a raffle, a silent auction and more, all hosted by Jamie Stewart. Proceeds are going towards Brady’s family to help pay for the both the hospital visit and his funeral. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit http://www.danteslive.com/?Page=http%3a%2f%2fpublic.ticketbiscuit.com%2fDantesLive%2fEvents%2f157145

I hope to see you there. Don’t forget to tell someone you love them.

Thanks.

brady

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Down & Dirty: A Dark Comedy Showcase Tonight at Ash Street Saloon!

Posted on March 10, 2013 by | Leave a comment

downndirtyWhen Whitney said I could write my own post about Down & Dirty: A Dark Comedy Showcase (happening this Sunday, March 10th, at 9pm, inside the Ash Street Saloon, near 3rd and Ash) the accurately name monthly comedy show I host I felt very conflicted. I’m the host but I’m also a human being.

As the host of Down & Dirty: A Dark Comedy Showcase I want to encourage you to come to come see my show. It’s a great line with a lot of very talented people: David Mascarro, Trevor Thorpe, Nariko Ott, Dan Weber, Scoot Herring and Xander Deveaux. They’re also very busy people; Many write and perform on Richie Stratton’s Tonight On The Rocks (a weekly comedy/variety show you should definitely check out), when they’re not running their own showcases or recording podcasts, and our headliner, Xander Deveaux, recently got accepted to Portland’s own Bridgetown Comedy Festival. There’s also our sweet location, The Ash Street Saloon, which well stocked and staffed, and located right around the corner from the downtown Voodoo Doughnuts and near many Tri-Met lines/stops so you can enjoy the show and avoid getting a DUI at the same time. As it’s host, in my very biased opinion, the next Down & Dirty is going to be probably one of the best comedy shows you could see this month.

As a human being, I’d like to advise you against going to Down & Dirty though. D&D is everything the name implies and there are just some really, really terrible jokes there. Just the worst kinds of humor. Not bad jokes though; great jokes, involving sex, depression, drug use, poor decision making skills, love and the collected traumatic experience we call “life”, each well written, excellently delivered and guaranteed make you feel absolutely terrible for laughing at them afterwards. Some just really great terrible jokes. I am obviously a huge fan of this kind of comedy, otherwise I would put on this show every month, but you might not be and I can relate; I feel the same way about clean and safe humor.
So please come to my show, Down & Dirty: A Dark Comedy Showcase, Sunday at 9pm in the Ash Street Saloon but only if you want to and only if you’re into that kinda thing. Either way, thank you.

– Patrick Perkins

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Only a few days left on Lonnie Bruhn’s Comedy Show and DVD Kickstarter, “Project Truth Hurts”

Posted on March 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Yeah, Truth hurts. And so does going out, hat in hand and attempting to get funding for your creative comedy project. Case in point, one Lonnie Bruhn.

LB-2012-headshotLonnie is genuinely funny, authentically bare-it-all raw and honest, and one of the most supportive long-time members of the Portland comedy scene. Some people know him as just “that comic with cerebral palsy,” but that is hardly all that he is. With or without a disability, his storytelling and comedy truly have me doubled over laughing, every time. His outrage and truth are all our outrage and truth — he cuts that deep.

Lonnie also has a dream. He wants to perform at the Star Theater in Old Town in Portland on March 27th, and make a video recording for his own comedy DVD. Well, all that crap costs money, son. To this end, Lonnie has had a project up on Kickstarter and it has a total of THREE days left on it. He still needs more to achieve his goal (and it’s not much, like he’s honed the total cost down to $2,500). Let me repeat that: only three days left. And remember, with Kickstarter, if you don’t make the nut of your goal, you don’t get nuttin’. Nada. Big Goose Egg.

Of course there’s all sorts of benefits for contributing, depending on how much you give, including copies of the DVD and a limited edition of the show poster by local artist Chris Haberman.

But really, you need to be doing this for Lonnie. Go look at what you spend on sucking down PBRs at open mics every month and consider give just a small portion of that to Lonnie’s Kickstarter. Lonnie will thank you, and your liver will thank you for the (brief) respite. Show some love to a comic brother who just needs a bit more help to have his dream to come true.

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