Flying with the Conchords

Stand-up comedy is an art form that can either be brilliant or utterly painful to watch. Much like playing the guitar, when done properly, it seems effortless. A pro looks as if he is on stage being himself, and he just happens to be hysterical. But it's a long, hard road to that, and as Lewis Black said in a book of his that I read some time ago, in the early days you're gonna crash and burn and hate yourself and hate your life. But if you can endure through that, you could actually get somewhere.

So for that reason, I have respect for those who dare to grab a microphone and stand before a crowd. However, before this past weekend I had only seen one stand-up show live (the previously mentioned Lewis Black). Having some old college chums passing through the area, I decided I'd give it another go, and we hit up the Punch Line club in San Francisco. 12 local comics hitting the stage. It was entertaining, affordable, and I got some pointers on what does and does not work.

(Sorry for the blurry picture, it's all I could snag before the bouncer yelled at me.)

So I'd go back and do it again, but that's beside the point. That adventure was just a warm-up to tonight's, which I'd been looking forward to for some time. Yes, Flight of the Conchords, a comedy act that has an excellent show on HBO (funniest on TV, according to Time), came to Berkeley for two shows, both of which sold out during the internet pre-sale. Fortunately my brother paid the extra fee to snag 'em, because I was left high and dry when they actually went on sale (they said "on sale at 10 am"... how the hell is it sold out?!).

Outsiders may be confused by their awkward interactions, bizarre songs and terrible singing voices... but those were few and far between at the Berkeley Community Theater tonight. These guys have a rabid underground following, which was apparent from the moment that they hit the stage adorned in cheap robot costumes to crank out their new classic, "Too Many Dicks on the Dance Floor".

The laughs were plentiful from the adoring crowd, as they plowed through their 90-minute-or-so set of song, awkward banter, song, awkward banter. I laughed my ass off, even to the songs that I knew by heart. I understand that there is a fine line with this type of humor, and it can be really hit-or-miss with some people, but for my money, I was quite pleased.

The guy next to me, a lanky fellow with his lady friend, seemed less impressed. Not once did I see him laugh, and I was well aware of his reactions, as I was leaning awkwardly close to him in order to see around the gigantic man sitting in front of me. Right around the time the band drove into a powerhouse drum-driven version of their hip-hop classic Hiphopopotamus VS. Rhymenoceros, they gathered up their things and called it a night. Works for me, since I could shift over and stop spending the evening trying in vain to peep around Gigantor's head, but given the fact that these tickets were so hard to come by, I can't help but wonder what they thought they were getting themselves into when they bought their pre-sale tickets. I guess the Conchord brand of humor isn't for everybody, but damnit, it's for me!

There were certainly a few lulls during the show... songs that aren't all that funny and seem to go on for too long, such as Bowie's in Space and Foux Du Fa Fa. Meanwhile, my personal favorite of theirs, the outrageously out-of-control love song If You're Into It, was notably absent (despite having a miniature red piano on stage). The track was also left off their full length CD that was released last summer, which I feel is a terrible tragedy.

Overall though, the show was goddamn hysterical. These goofy New Zealanders have really got one hell of an act, and I encourage you to check out the first season of their self-titled show. I'd tell you to see them live, but you probably won't be able to get tickets.

But here's one of the songs from tonight's show, a little diddy that's hoping to corner the robot music niche once machines take over the world. I must note, though, that I did not shoot this (a drunk coworker broke the zoom on my camera during a previous adventure), but it was made available by way of YouTube:

Good stuff. Good goddamn stuff.

American Idolatry

Things have been a little quiet around here as of late. Not for lack of eventful material, but rather because of a crazy schedule and overworking, primarily centered around an adventure to Los Angeles to cover the American Idol finale. More tales to come on this journey full of self-discovery, equipment malfunctions and bikini chicks... A well-known coworker was along for the ride and documented these events through the art of photography, so once I nab some of his pics the tales will begin (possible travel video to come as well).

However, without going into too much detail, I will provide you with one quickie-

Another longtime cohort was in tow for this adventure. My old traveling buddy Alfonzo and I go way back, and we've traveled the world together.

So of course, no Idol adventure would be complete without the lil' guy. Now, being no American Idol expert myself, it was nice to have someone along that understood the show. He even got a chance to meet his favorite, runner-up Adam Lambert.

And while Lambert didn't get fresh with him like he did with a certain local reporter, Alfonzo was able to score an autograph from the glam rocker, who seemed confused as to why he was signing a tape with a mustache. But, to his credit, he went along with the ludicrous request and earned my respect for it.

With a little luck, ol' Alfonzo will cross paths with more celebrities and perhaps one day become the most valuable mustached beta tape in the world. Hey, every young tape has a dream...

Akon VS. the Rain

Cinco de Mayo is coming up, and what better way to celebrate than to throw a party on Tres de Mayo!

Well, that seems to be the logic behind today's concert in Sacramento's Discovery Park. The only problem? As previously reported, we've been hit by some unseasonable climatic moisture. Being that weather=ratings, we were ready to pounce on this potential disaster, and I was leading the charge!

The only problem? The rain let up right as the afternoon show started. AKA all my soundbites on people battling out the rain were now moot. Good thing I don't have to write this story. Best of luck, suckers!

One thing that I learned today is that when a concert is put on by a radio station, they're cool as hell to the media. An all-access wrist band provided me with all the food and drinks (non-alcoholic, of course... I was on duty) I could take, and they made every effort they could to set up interviews with the artists. Previous concerts I've covered would give you the minimum of what you needed, then shuttle you out. Still appreciated, but they could have fed me... all I'm sayin.

Today's main act was some hip-hopper named Akon... I was unaware of his work, but a quick YouTube search led me to a song where he declares "blame it on me, even though you were 17 in a 21 and up club". Classy stuff.

Every live act has it's own rules as far as media access... the general rule of thumb seems to be "First 3 songs and you're out". The Nazis running Carrie Underwood's show allowed only 2 minutes of the first two songs (and scolded me for snapping a few shots with my digital camera), which seemed rough. Akon? You get either the intro (which he wasn't even in) or the first song. I opted for the first song, and wasn't even sure it was over when I was asked to leave.

I would have been crankier if the rest of the day hadn't have been so easy. Free food? No rain? All access pass? Yeah, I'll get paid for this. Just wish somebody decent was playing. Still, I haven't had an all access pass in a while, so I suppose I can't argue.

Anyway... "Sold Out Concert in the Rain" with no rain... There are days where I'm happy that I'm only hired to take them pictures.

I'm On A Boat!

Today's assignment? Sailboat regatta on Folsom Lake. That's right, and it went a little something like this...

Well... something like that, which is to say that I got to ride on a boat. Unfortunately, it was the one day that there just happened to be an unseasonable downpour. When it's raining, the last place you want to be is surrounded by water, with no place to hunker down.

Despite the sopping shoes and dampened underknickers, I'd prefer an adventure like a boat ride over a city hall meeting or drive-by stabbing any day.

But at the end of the day, the only thing that really mattered was that I didn't drop the camera overboard. Also I didn't puke in front of the Coast Guard. It may not be f'ing mermaids with T-Pain, but I figure those two things make for a successful outing.

As for tomorrow? Probably a city council meeting about drive-by stabbings. Man, life on a boat is a sweet life indeed.