The 2012 RIOT LA comedy festival made good on its Kickstarter promise this past weekend. One city block was transformed into a gathering place of the best in alt comedy with the added bonus of a marketplace, food, and booze. The festival offered just over 30 shows spread out among several trendy venues. The three main venues included the Five Star Bar, your classic dive bar; The Smell, an all ages art and music venue; and the Downtown Independent, an independent movie theatre and home of the Holy F*** free comedy show. Just looking at the overwhelming number of quality shows I decided that I’d try to experience shows I’d never attended before; I added just a few staples for good measure. To make it simple I thought I’d list all shows I attended and point out the highlights of each. Big congrats to Abbey Londer and crew for making this idea a reality, and we are already looking forward to next year. Just a super time. Now can we just have one of these in every major city so everyone can experience it please!? Read on for the recap!
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The Moth
Jackie Kashian by Liezl Estipona
I absolutely love the concept of this show. It’s Battle Royale meets story slam. 8 comics compete for a prize, each having 6 minutes to tell a true story on a pre-assigned topic. Between stories the host reads the tales audience members have written down before the show on the same topic. The topic for this event was “Trips to the Dark Side.” Three audience teams are chosen to judge each performer’s story and assign a score to determine the winner. The comics did NOT hold back on the designated topic. The stories ranged from the touchingly poignant to the just plain laugh out loud funny. The standout tale of the night for me was told by one of my favorite comedians, Jackie Kashian. Comedy doesn’t always have to be base, bawdy humor. Sometimes it can be raw, melancholy and downright meaningful. Jackie described how her stepmother and father raised her and her 5 siblings, after her birth mother died tragically in a motorcycle accident. She went on to illustrate how difficult it had been for her stepmom to take on the responsibilities of motherhood at an early age and deal with an often adulterous spouse. About this time is when the knot in my throat started forming. I already knew Jackie had recently lost her stepmom to illness. I’d heard her talk about how one colleague had made a stingingly inappropriate joke about her stepmom’s passing at a gig and how that one joke made her laugh so cathartically, long after. It wasn’t just the story that got to me because I knew what was coming but it was watching Jackie break for just one moment as she told it. To connect with an audience on such a deeply emotional level and to do it with such poise and humility is the mark of an excellent storyteller. Beth Stelling (also great) was deemed the winner of the contest but in my eyes Jackie Kashian came out the on top.
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“Best Of” RIOT LA
Will Weldon
RIOT LA had several “Best of” shows. The one I had the privilege of catching was hosted by the witty Will Weldon, a new friend of SO. This show had a mix of both the established and emerging comics. Aparna Nancherla, Jon Dore and Matt Braunger were just some of the wonderful comics that graced the stage. Aparna did her fantastic joke about finding herself in an alley (just something she does for fun) and finding a trashcan thrown out in a garbage bag. The punchline: “Ooooooh, the student has become the master.” Hard laughs! Her delivery still slays me when I think about it. The co-headler, Jon Dore, had Will shuffling about for a bit. When Jon got on stage he started his bit in the usual fashion then an audience member inadvertently coughed. Of course, the spontaneous Dore immediately incorporated this into his act and made Weldon re-introduce him. Priceless! The final performer of the show was the incomparable Matt Braunger. His observation about people in Los Angeles strapping on anything they can fit atop their car hoods and driving around like maniacs was so spot on I could barely breathe from laughing so hard.
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ADHD: Ask Axe Cop
ADHD
Of all the weekend’s programming this panel discussion of “Axe Cop” was the most impromptu and irresistible. The star of the panel, 8-year-old Malachai Nicolle, paraded around the Downtown Independent (decked out in Axe Cop gear) chopping down as many audience members as he could with his trusty axe. FOX will use “Axe Cop” to premiere its new late-night animation block that will compete with Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. “Axe Cop” has been adapted from the comic series created by a then 5-year-old Malachai and his 29-year-old brother Ethan. Malachi writes, outlines, and acts out “Axe Cop” while Ethan brings the stories to life through comic artwork. Originally the episodes were just posted to Ethan’s blog. However the site soon gained notice and the series was put into print by Dark Horse comics. Nick Weidenfeld, a former producer at Adult Swim, is heading up production of the soon to be “ADHD” (Animation Domination High Definition) series. Both Nick and Ethan Nicolle joined Malachai on the panel discussing the series and taking questions from the audience. Malachai managed to change out of his costume, fight aliens, and insult the producer (AKA Loudmouth) all in the span of an hour. This kid is ready for showbiz! The series is expected to make its premiere some time around summer next year starting with a Comic Con debut.
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Imaginary Radio Program
Drennon Davis by Tyler Ross
I had only ever seen Drennon Davis perform a snippet of his full show at Nerdmelt Theatre. Watching the show with musical accompaniment and guest stars in front of a large audience really changed the experience completely. “The Imaginary Radio Program” uses live-looped songs, beat boxing, one-man sketches and guest performers to parody your stereotypical radio stations, DJs, commercials and interviews. I’m glad I don’t work on radio! The outcome of this effort is pure hilarity. Some of my favorite parodies of the show were Brent Weinbach doing his Russian alphabet, Drennon spoofing Morrissey and Gotye, and the Walsh Brothers’ magic on the radio. Good times were had by all who attended except maybe the folks who tipped over their beer glasses. Clink! Crash!
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Bitter Buddha Screening
Eddie Pepitone & Crowd by Zach Dobson
I lined up for the LA premiere of the Eddie Pepitone documentary Bitter Buddha 2 hours early; boy oh boy, was it worth it. It has taken only 30 years of struggle and obscurity for Eddie to finally get the recognition he deserves. Producer and director Steven Feinartz followed Eddie Pepitone around for a about a year chronicling history and events that lead up to his hometown performance at Gotham City comedy club. Feinartz shows us a side of Eddie not many of us see. Eddie is calm and introspective.
(Spoilers!)
He discusses his childhood, he feeds squirrels in the park, he hikes with his companion, he vacuums, and yes, we learn the names of all his cats. This is certainly a far cry from the angry, boisterous Eddie we are used to seeing in comedy clubs and on film and TV. Interviewing Eddie’s friends and colleagues on screen, Feinhartz shows us how revered Eddie has been in the comedy community while being a relative unknown to audiences at large. Eddie jokes about young comedians and friends attaining success so quickly but we come to understand that underneath that veil of laughter lies much deep seated resentment.
(Spoilers!)
So it such a beautiful moment when we finally hear Eddie’s curmudgeonly dad praise the performance he’d reluctantly attended. To see how far this Bitter Buddha has come on his comedic journey is an absolute joy to watch. As a bonus, Eddie, Feinhartz, and host Frank Conniff did a Q&A post-screening. We were also entertained by the talented James Adomian who had just viewed the movie directly behind yours truly. Adomian pretended to be Eddie’s cranky brother and a shouting match ensued in classic Pepitone style. A glorious event I won’t soon forget. This film is a must see for comedy nerds, up and comers, and “everyman” in-between.
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You Made It Weird
Pete Holmes
I’m a huge fan of Pete Holmes. Let’s me restate that. I ADORE PETE HOLMES!!! There, I said it. I’ve seen him perform stand-up innumerable times. I’ve watched all his YouTube videos. I’ve rewinded E*Trade baby commercials. I’ve read all his New Yorker cartoons. I’ve watched shows he’s written for. I’ve attended his pilot taping. And, OF COURSE, I have listened to all episodes of his wildly popular podcast “You Made It Weird”. HOWEVER, I had never been to a “live” recording of YMIW. RIOT LA was finally my chance to experience the podcast in the flesh. Was it worth the wait? Duuuuuuh. Pete’s list of guests included Joe Mande, Chris Thayer, Jacqueline Novak, Harris Wittels, and James Adomian. I won’t give too much away since the show hasn’t hit the Nerdist airways yet but I can summ it up in 5 words: Pristiq, Shaman, crumbling, humblebrags, and Alan Rickman. I actually can’t wait to hear it all again. Am I a weirdo? F*** yeah! Pete made himself available after the show to take pictures and chat with those purchasing YMIW merchandise in true Holmes fashion. So whenever YMIW comes to your town do not miss the chance to catch it. Keep it Crispy folks!
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Team Coco Live
Jon Dore by Susan Moss
Is there anything better than assembling the best writers and performers from “Conan” in one room and letting them say whatever they please? No, no there is isn’t. Well, maybe letting us eat popcorn while we watch. Score! It took all the comedy geek energy I could muster but I made it through the marathon weekend. I had just enough juice left to conquer Team Coco and it was a delightful end to a fun-filled weekend. The show was hosted by the whacky and hilarious Jon Dore. Dore was up to his usual craziness selecting random audience members to sit at the sofa on stage between acts. He grilled the female audience member on her choice of holey leggings and even tried to encourage the “friends” to kiss. The kiss never happened but encouragement was first rate. Off the top of my head, the entertainers of the evening included Jesse Popp, Rory Scovel, Laurie Kilmartin, Brian Kiley, Brent Morin and Beth Stelling. We were also treated with some “Conan Scraps” presented by Aaron Bleyaert where Conan tested out a new video game. Overall Team Coco live was a hearty comedic meal I enjoyed immensely. I can’t wait to plot out my RIOT schedule next year and experience the best alt comedy Los Angeles has to offer.
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SO Note: Deborah Thomasian is the West Coast Editor for Serial Optimist. Follow her @SOoooohaha.