Worst Comedian Ever

Sometimes when I see how successful some of my friends have become, I feel like I'm not really a comedian. Then Bryan Murphy makes me feel better by sending this.



It's probably from the 80's comedy boom but I like to think he made this clip last month. It just makes his references and beret worse.

Happy Birthday Ben!

He's two now. Which means he's just learning how to be a jerk. We already know how to love him anyway.

Michael Jackson Dead

Boy, Farrah Fawcett didn't get much of a spotlight, did she?

Tom Petty on "It's Garry Shandling's Show"

Funny how the smallest things can have the biggest effect on you. In high school, I really loved "It's Garry Shandling's Show". The surreal way the show broke the fourth wall appealed to me. Especially the awkward way Garry would sneak on a musical guest. Tom Petty was a regular (the two are friends in real life) and this performance of "The Waiting" is my favorite.



After this, I really wanted a 12 string.

Writer's Room Tonight!

Oh, do say you'll come.

Writer's Room Tomorrow!

Surprise!

with:

Claudia Cogan (VH1)
Andrea Grimes (direct from Texas)
Jamie Kilstein (Writers Room)
Adam Newman (College Humor)
Morgan Venticinque (Late Night With Jimmy Fallon)


Tuesday, June 22, 2009
Time: 9:30pm - 10:30pm
Location: The PIT
Street: 154 W. 29th St
City/Town: New York, NY

Happy Father's Day!

Ben didn't want to participate. My dad did. More proof to the theory that Father's day really isn't about me.

Father's Day Gig!

Renee asked what I wanted to do for Father's Day. There's nothing I'd rather do than play guitar so I'm doing this show:

Time Out N.Y./Rockaway Artist Summer Solstice show
The R.A.A. building 6 and 7
Rockaway Beach N.Y.
6:00 p.m Sunday June 21st 2009
Free!

Some Pics Don't Need a Caption

Ghostbusters 25th Anniversary

Apparantly it's national Ghostbusters day.

The movie comes out on Blu-Ray today along with the new video game that's getting such great reviews I might have to buy a video game. The complete animated series has been out for a while on Timelife.com and now they've broken out the first season. Mattel will be releasing the first 6 inch action figure (of Harold Ramis) at SDCC and then it will be available online.

But the big news is that the third film is looking a lot more likely. I'm like most of you in the knowledge that the second film was so terrible I never needed to see another (much like the despised Men in Black 2). But hearing Bill Murray actually enthusiastic is doing the same to me. I guess there's only so many quirky indy movies you can make before you want a paycheck again.

It keeps popping up on cable now and as much as I always liked it I realize now it's perfect. It's the only big budget comedy not to be overwhelmed by its effects. The threat is real and the characters light, which is my favorite type of movie. And man if that first class of SNL/ SCTV wasn't still at their peak in this film.

I haven't seen a relaunch this big since Indiana Jones. But he never had video submissions.

Futurama Lives!

Apparantly the four movies did well since Comedy Central just ordered 26 more episodes. No news on whether they'll be dvds before they air like this last set.

You may wonder, "Why Comedy Central and not FOX? Didn't Comedy Central say they couldn't afford the production costs?" To you I say shut the hell up. We're getting more Futurama. Isn't that enough for you?

Rockstock Today!

I'm hosting all day today. I have no material. What will happen?

The 3rd Annual Rockstock & Barrels is kicking off Saturday, June 13th at Beach 90st boardwalk in East Rockaway Beach(Rain Date Sunday June 14th) at noon. Come enjoy the sun, live music, giveaways, Eastern Surfer Association Comp, and Rockaway's ocean side skate park.

The after party is @ The Tap and Grill, 98st and Rockaway Beach Blvd, $1 hot dogs/ $2 burgers/ and $3 bottle bud/bud lights from 6 till 7 pm- No Cover!

From Manhattan; A train to Far Rockaway, Broad Channel stop, take shuttle train to Beach 90st, walk to the boardwalk.

Walker is playing Radio City Music Hall tonight as well if you want to follow him there.

Metropolis, Illinois

I haven't worked in nine months. I never even got paid for the last job I did. So the fact that Metropolis, Illinois can't afford a 15 foot Lois Lane statue to go with their 15 foot Superman statue doesn't fill me with tears.

Jam

Matt brought a new drummer to the jam last night.

I need to keep the Marshall. Maybe even get a bigger one.

New iPhone

About freaking time.

I've been waiting two years for an iphone with decent memory. 32GBs is a number I can live with. The new apps all sound awesome but since I have yet to get any kind of smartphone they're all gravy to me.

Now let's get to work on dropping that data plan price, shall we?

Traveling Wilburys

Admit it. You forgot how good this record was.



Chickenfoot ain't gonna match this.

Rainbow in the Dark

This is the silliest song I've ever heard.



It has so many reasons to embrace its craziness. The title alone is the pinnacle of early 80's metal with too much symbolism for its own good. The keyboardist (who is not allowed on stage) is the loudest thing in the whole song. And when Dio talks to the audience he sounds like a magician. And yet, I've had this song stuck in my head for the past 26 years.

Vox AC15

I mentioned before I bought a new amp for my birthday gig. What I didn't mention is that I fell in love with it.

All I was thinking was that I needed a tube combo for the show. My main Marshall would blow the doors off the place. Once I had cancelled a few Hot Toys 12" figures (easy at $150 a pop) I had the money. And since my birthday usually falls on Memorial Day weekend, I was able to take advantage of a huge sale the day before. I thought a Vox might be cute. After all, the Beatles played them. Elvis Costello plays them. Tom Petty plays them. U2 plays them. That's enough heroes to give me confidence.

Now it's been two weeks and I can't stop playing it. I usually leave my Marshall off and play through my digital recirded. That way I can get a decent sound at a background level. But the Vox is infectious. It's all I can do to not plug in a guitar during Ben's nap.

The sound is undeniably British. Clean and loud it's any Beatles song through Revolver. With a little dirt it's pure Heartbreakers. Distorted and with the built in tremolo, it's those EC songs I could never figure out. It's not going to get that big stadium 'whomp' of the Marshall. That's why I'm keeping the Marhsall.

Here's what truly amazes me. I grew up in the days of 100 Watt stacks that were bigger than you. I own a 50 watt Marshall at what I beleived was a good comprimise. Once my lead guitarist dissuaded me from buying a 30 watt Marshall because he said it wouldn't be "loud enough". The Vox? 15 watts.

I didn't know 15 watts could power a bedroom much less cut it with a drummer. At home I can't turn it above '4'. It's a good thing I didn't get the more popular VOX AC30. That would blow me out of the room. In this day and age I don't know why anyone would need a giant stack of amplifiers. Want yes, but need? Not really.

It's not totally perfect. I never liked the look of the Vox. Look at that grill. It's like your grandma crocheted an amp for you. That footswitch is worthless. It's flimsy and only controls the tremolo and reverb. You can't switch from a clean to a heavy sound. I had to change the reverb tank because the echo just kept going and going and going and going. And even at 15 watts the damn thing weighs 50 pounds. I'm gonna need some wheels on it.

But I'm amazed. What I considered to an underpowered practice amp can now be my number one gigging amp (unless I'm playing a huge room with their own speaker cabinets). And it makes me want to get more gigs.

Toy Story 3

Amazing how far cg animation has come since 1995. And yet PIXAR can make the designs line up completely.



There was a time when Disney was going to do this without PIXAR. Thank God that didn't happen.