Crimmins Occupies Boston

Barry Crimmins is back in town today for a run of shows, including the Roast of Barry Crimmins, part of the Boston Comedy Festival schedule tonight. A bunch of Crimmins' old friends, and a few newer ones, will be on hand at the Charles Playhouse Lounge for that, including Steven Wright, Steve Sweeney, Jimmy Tingle, Tony V, Dan Wasserman, Mike McDonald, Niki and Lainey of The Steamy Bohemians, Randy Credico, Billy Bob Neck, and John Ennis. Before that, though, he'll be out at Occupy Boston at 4PM to address the crowd.

On Saturday, you'll get to see Crimmins at his best, doing a headlining set at the New England Folk Music Archives in Somerville, at the Arts at the Armory Space on Highland Ave. That show is the official kickoff of Crimmins "Occupation: Occupation" tour. It'll be his first full-length show in Boston since last year's shows with Erin Judge and Dennis Perrin at Mottley's. Billy Bob Neck and Tim Mason are also on that bill.

And if you want to see Crimmins one more time before he heads out of town, he's part of a phenomenal bill for the Friend of Mine: Tribute to Bill Morrissey show at the Somerville Theatre on Thursday, November 17. I'm not sure if this is the complete line-up, but so far that show will include Peter Case, Shawn Colvin, David Johansen, Mark Erelli, John Gorka, Peter Keane, Fred Koller, Cormac McCarthy (the musician), PAtty Larkin, and Pete Nelson. The night will be hosted by Cliff Eberhardt and David Dye. Mr. Morrissey died of heart failure in July. It's easy to see his influence, as a musician and as a friend, just by looking at that list.

We're lucky to have Crimmins for so many shows, and that he's still standing to do them after a recent accident precipitated by his dogs, Lettie and Lu, trying to draw and quarter him on a walk near his Upstate New York home. Here's Crimmins' recounting of that story, and a bit more about the shows, from his blog.

More on Billy Bob and Maddow

Billy Bob Neck outing Maddow on YouTube

On Friday, Billy Bob Neck, a.k.a. local comedian Paul Day, was surprised to find a video of his popping up on The Rachel Maddow Show. Billy Bob can be a bit hard to take if you don't know it's an act, and despite the obvious fun Maddow has been having with his accusation that she's a "lesbian vampire," some people have been taking it seriously.

The story has been on Maddow's blog, first here, where Maddow posted a photo of herself with fake (I think) vampire teeth and a pint of Ben & Jerry's Vein-illa Les-bean. Then Maddow's bloggers found my interview with Day and posted about it again.

The folks over at Blue Roots Radio also interviewed Day Monday. You can hear it here (click on the links under the "Dates" heading on the left side).

BNN Mondays: Billy Bob Neck Teabags Again

Billy Bob Neck really loves teabagging. It's important to him as a protest against liberal fascism. And he's disappointed in all of you who didn't teabag on tax day. Brings tears to the eye. Really. *sniff* Mine eyes have seen the glory, courtesy of Boston News Net.

Random Notes: Joe Wong, Mottley's Bailout, Bill Burr, Billy Bob Neck

Joe Wong on Letterman

Boston comedian Joe Wong has taped his spot for the Late Show with David Letterman, which will air Friday. Word from Letterman’s Eddie Brill, who worked with Wong on his set, is that it was a “grand slam.” A few others from around the scene managed to get down to New York for the taping, and Brill’s assessment seems to be the consensus. The Comedy Studio plans to show the appearance on the TVs on the second floor, but keep checking the Studio Kvetch Board for details.

Mottley’s Comedy Bailout

If you happen to see this as you’re making plans for tonight, Mottley’s Comedy Club is unveiling a new show tonight, called Mottley’s Comedy Bailout. Tickets will be $8, $5 for college kids, and free if you bring your layoff letter or an unemployment check stub. Jon Lincoln hosts tonight with Val Kappa, Mike Whitman, Joe Madaus, and Chris Coxen. This will be their regular Wednesday night show.

Bill Burr on NHL.com

If you’re both a comedy and a hockey fan, then NHL.com finally has something that combines your favorite interests. Bill Burr will be blogging about the Bruins throughout the playoffs, or at least throughout the Bruins’ participation in the playoffs. Here’s the first shot.

Billy Bob Neck Protests Taxes

A lot of people are protesting the bailouts with Tea Parties on Tax Day. Billy Bob Neck would like to participate. We think. This is his plea for you to join him.

Billy Bob Neck Reacts to the Inauguration

Billy Bob Neck watched Tuesday's proceedings very carefully, and doesn't believe that Barack Obama is officially president yet. Which gives him hope, ironically enough.

Billy Bob Neck's latest video missive:

Billy Bob Neck Subs for Boston News Net at ImprovBoston Tonight

Boston News Net is taking a break tonight, and Billy Bob Neck will step in with his "Case Against Barack Osama Homo Bin Laden." Neck is hoping to stop Obama from being sworn in on January 20th. This is his plan:

"Download this petition (http://billlybobneck.com/PETITION.doc) and get you're neighbors to sign and send it to President Bush before America gets turned into a nation of all night gay sex and crack orgies!"

See him lay it out tonight at ImprovBoston at 9:30PM.

Billy Bob Neck at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Central Square. $7/$5 students

The Boston Comedy Community Wishes You a NSFW Happy Holidays (Sort Of)

Last night's Comedy Studio Holiday Show was the usual bizarre affair, complete with bathroom wall poetry, gang rivalry, and fresh watermelon. People braved travel bans and packed the house -- it was standing room only by the time I navigated the North Shore to get to Cambridge. The Walsh Brothers, Josh Gondelman, MC Mr Napkins, Ken Reid, Billy Bob Neck (Paul Day), Barry Tattle (Chris Coxen), and Studio owner Rick Jenkins were predictably loose, if not always on topic for the holidays. Jenkins was honored by the comics with a donation to the Boston Food Bank, and a surprise gift -- an original piece of art illustrating one of the jokes he has told almost every night he has hosted. I caught a bunch of the comics (and the house band for the night, the Grownup Noise) after the show at the party to get their holiday greetings.

Rick Jenkins, making a reference to the joke in the illustration.


Jenkins and the illustration.


Renata Tutko


Barry Tattle


The Walsh Brothers


The Grownup Noise (Boston Comedy's house band)


Niki Luparelli (and friend)


Paul Day


Robby Roadsteamer

Billy Bob Neck Sings “Burn, Kids, Burn”

Boston’s voice for the righteous, Billy Bob Neck, has posted his Christmas video in order, he says, to “let kids know in a fun, sing-along fashion that Santa is evil.”



See more Neck here.

CD Sneak Preview: DJ Hazard's Man of Hazardium

One of the best things about working the comedy beat is that people send you great stuff to listen to before anyone else gets to hear it. Today I was happy to find Boston legend DJ Hazard’s new album Man of Hazardium, which comes out sometime next month, in my box.

In just over an hour, Hazard covers material from the last twenty years, including tracks from his impossible to find 1993 album Lock Up the Planet When You Leave and last year’s El Hazardo Rides Again, which Hazard sold only at his shows. He reports the recordings were made “pretty much all over North America,” and spans “from 1988 to just a few months ago.”

A sampling of the tracks – the off-kilter song “Music (Is Like a Woman),” which is one of my favorites, “The Ding Ho Song” from the Boston Comedy documentary When Stand Up Stood Out, the Bruce Springsteen parody “Bruce,” and the crowd favorite “Untie My Ankles,” which is sung to the tune of Juice Newton’s “Angel of the Morning.” Die-hard Hazard fans may recognize the cover art from FUEL TV’s American Misfits.

More on this album closer to the official release date. You’ll be able to find it on CD Baby, but watch this space for an exact date. If you want a sneak peak at some of the material, Hazard will be on the Reid and Renata show at the Comedy Studio Friday with MC Mr Napkins, Billy Bob Neck, Dan Sally, and others.