SMCOMEDY.COM

Episode 33: The Jill Bryan Doughnut Delivery Service

2012-05-23T16:47:15Z

Oh good, you’re here! Now we can finally get started on this podcast thingie.

Today’s podcast features our talk with the affable and generous Jill Bryan. If you don’t find Jill particularly affable or generous, perhaps you should do an interview with her so she can change your mind with the gift of doughnuts. What, you already interviewed Jill and she didn’t bring you any doughnuts? Guess she doesn’t like you, then.

Jill’s got plenty of things going on in the Valley, booking monthly showcases at Stand Up Live, appearing on the Lu Valentine Radio Show on Fridays, and running a Tuesday night workout room at Dos Gringos at Priest & Elliot. Going to that Dos is always a trip down memory lane for the S&Mers, as Steve & Jamie first met at the nearby Guitar Center 10 years ago. Oh, how the past just comes rushing back…like a really boring tidal wave.

Anyway, the chat with Jill was easy, fun, and extensive. We covered just about everything we possibly could; her showbiz family, her origins in comedy, and since the announcement had come out only the day before we recorded this podcast, we had plenty of ground to cover on the infamous closing of the Tempe Improv. Enjoy this little time capsule, because things obviously change so abruptly here in our little microcosmic PHX Comedy Scene, you never know what will disappear next. DOT DOT DOT.

Upcoming shows for us: It's all about Comicon now. Comicon, Comicon, Comicon. As part of the Phoenix Comicon, we'll be doing our first ever live podcast at the Hyatt Regency Remington Room at 7pm on 5/26, and a comedy showcase directly afterward in the same room at 9pm. Performers will include Teddy Bearskovich, Ernesto Moncada, Justin Phillips, Jeffrey Wiles, Will Novak, Steve Maxwell, Nate Sinclair, Stuart Mazzeo, and James Mabry! Advance Saturday passes are $30, and are available at www.phoenixcomicon.com.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, come be a part of the writing process, as The Reverend Dan Hull presents another Digging for Gold! The all riffing, all improvising, all totally awkward extravaganza will feature (of course) Dan Hull, Justin Phillips, Ernesto Moncada, Xchel Hernandez, Jim Bambrough, Dave Schnier, Kirk Buckhout, the newly married John Griggs, and the introduction of Phoenix’s drunkest improv troupe, The Morgans!

Pertinent Links:

Twitterin'! @jillbryan @SMComedySucks @JammySands @CaptPiggles

Jill Bryan's webpage: http://www.jillbryancomedy.com/

Stay up to date on Jill Bryan's Comedy Gold Showcase at Stand Up Live!

And be a part of history by viewing our first ever live podcast- purchase a Saturday pass to the Phoenix Comicon! http://phoenixcomicon.com/page/10

We are now fully on the Torch Theatre bandwagon. We had such a great time this past Saturday, with such unbelievably quick, intelligent performers, that we are regularly going to be plugging the hell out of that place. Take a look at their super-sexy, hip website at http://www.thetorchtheatre.com/.

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Confetti Cupcake-Eating PHX Comedy Scene!

We DIO

2012-05-16T16:46:28Z

Guten morgen! Let's all sit down for a quick blog post and a schnitzel!

Our big news here at the S&M Comedy Encampment is Jokeless. It was really, truly, a wonderful time. The show was a great success, and there is no botttom to the well of gratitude that we have for everyone that came out.

That said, what an incredible cavalcade of mixed emotions is still trampling our psyches, almost a week later. The concept for Jokeless has existed since we took over Thursday Night Comedy at Monkey Pants a year ago, but it wasn't until we did our information and advice packed interview with Troy Conrad (Episodes 23 & 24, Jan 2012) that we finally realised how we could pull it off.

So we rented a theater, employed an artist, created a website, printed tickets and flyers and posters, wrote up press releases, spoke with press, and generally stressed the fuck out over our material. And boy, did we stress out- a month's worth of rehearsals and re-writes; this could easily be one of the more difficult things we've ever done, but we did it ourselves, and the tidal wave feeling of accomplishment afterward is intoxicating. The reliving of that teriffic evening could be so habit-forming that we'd never want it to end, and we'd want to do it over and over again, just to maintain that level of elation and joy. We've heard of that before, somewhere...where...oh yeah- crack addiction.

There will be more Jokelesses (Jokeli, if you will) in the future. New stories, new storytellers. Stay tuned.

Upcoming shows for us: Steve Marek will be at Hidden House on 5/16. Jamie Sanderson will be the monologist for The Neighborhood Series at Torch Theatre on 5/19. Both Sanderson and Marek will be at Pranksters Too on 5/22.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, Captain Morgan invites you to set sail on a flotilla of laughter with Justin Phillips, Amy Donohue, Zack Lyman, Brian Lester, Stuart Mazzeo, Colin Casey, Kristofer Royer, Ernesto Moncada, Jonathan Gregory, James Hoenschiedt, and Tusconite Ali Musa! Accompanying us will be $4 frigates of bacon wrapped deep fried hot dogs smothered in nacho cheese and a squadron of racing goldfish!

Pertinent Links:

Twitters are twittin': @smcomedysucks @jammysands @captpiggles

Get passes for PHX Comicon and our first ever live podcast on 5/26 at www.phoenixcomicon.com!

Booking June at Monkey Pants has begun with a vengeance! Send your available dates to jokes@monkeypantsbar.com!

Thanks for reading; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Brilliantly Burning Incandescent PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 32: Hal Sparks' Brain

2012-05-09T16:37:55Z

Hey! Ho! Let's go! (listen to a podcast)

Alright, today's podcast is the unstoppable Hal Sparks! You may know him from TV's "Queer as Folk", from his band Zero 1, or his Showtime stand-up special, "Charmageddon". That's a lot of shit, man. But Hal Sparks is more than just relentless onslaught of comedy and music and acting, his brain is like a runaway bullet train, fueled by a quest for knowledge and anger at the modern political system.

We first met Hal a couple months ago, when he was performing at the Orpheum with John Fugelsang (S&M Episodes 30 & 31) on the Stephanie Miller Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour, and when we told him that we'd just interviewed Fugelsang and we'd like to talk to him soon, he was excited to come back and do this very podcast. Crazy- people actually want to talk to us slobs! So fast forward a couple months, and there we all are, huddled around a black table in the side room at the Tempe Improv when he was here headlining, having a great conversation about all his history, his side projects to keep busy, and his disdain for lazy comedians. It's like an audio tornado of information. Put in your earbuds and hang the fuck on.

Upcoming shows for us: Jokeless. Finally. Like you didn't know. Steve Marek will also be at Bridgett's on 5/15. Jamie will be catching up on sleep.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, get ready for Mother's Appreciation Day with Diethrich Shelton, Ronnete Daniel, Nick Paul, Chris Bennett, Laura Wheeler, David Giordano, Josh Dent and Gene Moore, all of whom love their mothers very much, and will love your mother for a nominal fee.

Pertinent Links:

Attack of the Tweets! @HalSparks @smcomedysucks @captpiggles @jammysands

Hal Sparks Fang Page on Facebook- complete with fangs!

Tickets for Jokeless- www.jokeless.net

We'll be doing our first ever live podcast and a comedy showcase at Phoenix Comicon on Sat, 5/26! You can get passes for that day, or for the entire weekend at www.phoenixcomicon.com!

Thanks for listening, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Steam-Rolling Herculean Juggernaut of the PHX Comedy Scene!

The Comfort of the Finish Line

2012-05-02T16:52:54Z

Grab your mug o' coffee and start the morning right, with a post from your buddies at S&M.

Jokeless is coming together nicely. We've had a couple of writing sessions over the past few weeks and everybody is pushing themselves outside their comfort zones. It's a bit odd for all of us not to try and write punchlines, but to try and write something a bit deeper then we're accustomed to. The silence doesn't scare us; we're all certain of that, it's just really nice to finally have the show waiting right around the corner, instead of looming like an insurmountable obelisk on the horizon, like it has for the past two months. It's going to be one hell of a show, pick your tickets up at www.jokeless.net.

Next week's show features our interview with national touring comedian, musician, multilinguist, movie and television actor, activist and Jamie's hermano in the struggle against the tyranny of tall people, Hal Sparks. Hal's Henry Rollins-esque work ethic and enthusiasm for life is one that makes even us question whether we're doing enough with our stupid fat selves. If was a fun and insightful interview that we know you'll enjoy.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be performing at Filmbar on 5/8, and both Sanderson and Marek will be performing at Copper Blues on 5/8.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, slide down a magical rainbow of laughter into a gumdrop forest of comedy with Ricardo Rocha, Xchel Hernandez, Brian McNett, Matt Anderson, Dave Schnier, Erin Ontko, John Connell, Gabriel Wakow, Jas Clay and Ian Gilb! $4 Captain Morgans, $4 hot dogs, $3000/doz Pegasus Wings!

Pertinent Links:

Jokeless Jokeless Jokeless! I said Jokeless!

Everybody on dey Twitter! @smcomedysucks @jammysands @captpiggles

The first ever live S&M Comedy Podcast will be at Phoenix Comicon on 5/26! Get your day passes to this monumental event at www.phoenixcomicon.com!

Thanks for reading, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Ferociously Independent PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 31: The Return of the John Fugelsang

2012-04-25T16:25:34Z

Previously, on Lost...and by Lost, I mean the S&M Comedy Podcast...

Hello! Today we're presenting to you the second half of our interview with John Fugelsang. You'll recall in episode 30, we talked about John's upbringing as the son of a nun and a Franciscan Brother, his early career as a young comic, and his origins in television. We left off in the first half of the interview as he was just moving from NY to LA, and that's where we pick up here. In this second half you'll hear much more about one-man shows and their development, comedians correctly using social media as a promotional tool, and, of course, we turn it around to Bill Hicks. Again, if you like what you're hearing from John Fugelsang, please come out to his one-man show, "Guilt: A Love Story," at the Orpheum on 5/5. Link for tickets below. Click that mutha.

Upcoming shows for us: Steve Marek will be on the showcase at Stand Up Live on 4/25 and at Filmbar on 5/1.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, get stuffed on $4 hot dogs, get faded on $4 Captain Morgans, and get your comedy appreciation well-rounded with sketch troupe Bully Mammoth, Tim Stump, Brian Lester, Teddy Bearskovich, Charlie Speez, Stuart Mazzeo, Jeff Turbitt, Ricardo Rocha, Justin Phillips, and John Connell! Seriously, that lineup is like getting a sample of EVERYTHING at Baskin-Robbins, including the cakes and stupid sherbets. No one likes the sherbets.

Pertinent Links:

Get tickets for John Fugelsang's Drama League Nominated "Guilt: A Love Story" on 5/5 right here!

Everybody's Twitt'rin'! @johnfugelsang @smcomedysucks @jammysands @captpiggles

Jokeless is full steam ahead! Get tickets at www.jokeless.net or at Stinkweeds!

Our first ever live podcast will be happening on 5/26 at Phoenix Comicon! Get discounted day passes to Comicon at www.phoenixcomicon.com!

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Lush, Verdant Oasis that is the PHX Comedy Scene!

Swirling

2012-04-18T20:25:52Z

A little late on the blog post, but it's a busy morning, so whatevs.

Our boss is out of the office today, and you'd think it would be easier to get in extracurriculars like posting blogs and stuff, but it tends to be quite the opposite when the business employs less than 10 people. It's a bit like the nucleus of the cell has suddenly disappeared, and the all the electrons that have been whizzing about in a tight elliptical orbit are suddenly without a center, without an anchor, and they must find a way to keep it together until the nucleus gets back from lunch. What we're saying is that it's been difficult to find time to post on the blog because we've had to ACTUALLY work at our job. Psshhht. What an inconvenience.

Next week is the second half of our John Fugelsang interview! It's good stuff, really entertaining and extremely usesful information for performers. So stick around, stay tuned, whatever you gotta do- just be here next Weds.

Upcoming shows for us: Steve will be at Hidden House and Jamie will be at Dos Gringo's Mesa on 4/18. Jamie will be at Firestage on 4/20 and Steve will be at Toso's. And both will be at Pranksters and Dos Gringo's Tempe on 4/24.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, there will be a veritable comedy avalanche, with Clayton Perkins, Steve Maxwell, Chris Felix, Ryan Gaumont, Douglas Mize, Kirsten Alberts, Ethan Grimes, Kirk Buckhout, Geof Piccaretta, Kevin O'Dea and James Mabry! Brrr- avalanches are cold, just like a delicious $4 Captain Morgan! See what I did there?

Pertinent Links:

Jokeless is less than a month away; get tickets from any of the performers, at www.jokeless.net , or at Stinkweeds!

John Fugelsang's one man show is coming up on 5/5, get tickets at the TicketMaster!!!

Please share the twitters that we're sharing with you: @jammysands @captpiggles @smcomedysucks @johnfugelsang

Thanks for reading, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Free Radical, Ionic PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 30: The John Fugelsang Strikes Back, Part One

2012-04-11T16:03:40Z

Like a sermon from the pulpit cometh the S&M Comedy Podcast!

Today's podcast features the first half of our conversation with the prolific and generous John Fugelsang. Well, "prolific and generous" are meek little words to describe John- perhaps if you shot "prolific and generous" through a prism and created a dazzling spectrum of proliferation and generosity burning with such ferocious intensity that to look upon such unbridled magnificence with your naked eye would cause irreparable harm to your vision...well, you get the picture.

John is a national comedian, and we caught up with him in February when he was in town with the Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour, along with Hal Sparks and Stephanie Miller. We covered a range of topics, and in the first half of this interview you'll hear us talking about his very unique childhood, his early career, and his incredibly well informed and passionate views on politics and religion. Seriously, the guy should run for office or own a church. People own churches, right?

So big on politics is The Fugelsang, that he was actually the CNN interviewer that ellicited the now famous "Etch-A-Sketch" comment from a Mitt Romney advisor. We've included that youtube video below so you can get a taste of John's incisiveness. Enjoy watching the squirminess, and then don't vote for Romney. Seriously. That guy's a douche.

If you like what you hear, John will be back in Phoenix on May 5, performing his one man show, "Guilt: A Love Story," at the Orpheum. This is a critically acclaimed piece, nominated for the Drama League's Distinguished Performance Award, a "solo show for people who hate solo shows." There is a link below for tickets, which we are proud to strongly encourage you to buy.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at Hidden House on 4/11. Steve Marek will be at Toso's on 4/13.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, you'll ululate with laughter as Tom Sims, Steve Jenkins, Amy Donohue, Mike Repik, Chris Stone, Kirsten Alberts, Dave Schnier, KB Bolin, Jorge Ruiz, and first timer David Barta lavish you with luxurious loads of comedy love!

Pertinent Links:

The John Fugelsang website is your hub for all your Fugelsangy desires! www.johnfugelsang.com

You can get tickets for "Guilt: A Love Story" riiiiiiight here!

Tweets in your face: @johnfugelsang @smcomedysucks @captpiggles @jammysands

Hey, speaking of tickets and people talking and telling riveting stories from their lives, Jokeless is just a month away! Get tickets at jokeless.net!

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Hotel Room-Invading PHX Comedy Scene!

A Gaggle of Dicks

2012-04-04T17:00:29Z

Quick crunk blog post time!

Last night was the Farewell Roast of Todd Hibbeler at Monkey Pants, and the place was packed! Thanks so much to everyone that came out; the massive support from the local comedy community was thrilling to see! It was a big party of dickheads on stage; everyone did a great job whipping the quips and taking their lumps, and the audience made some very generous donations to Hibbeler's little gay basket, so there's not a single complaint to be made- except that Hibbeler's leaving. *saaaad faaaaace*

We will miss the li'l buckaroo here at the S&M Comedy Podcast; it seems like just yesterday that we were recording Episode 7 with him and watching him shoot beer out of his nose. Ah, the good ol' days. Go peruse our archives to hear these audio snapshots from simpler times, or you can just check out Todd Hibbeler on Episode 7.

Upcoming shows for us: Steve Marek will be at Filmbar and Jamie Sanderson will be at Copper Blues on 4/10. Dear god, it's April already. Time flies when you're flailing.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, the stage will finally be cleaned up from last night's brutal 12-man gang bang and prepared for the sweet, smooth, one-on-one comedy lovemaking of Xchel Hernandez, Nick Paul, Demetrius Lee, Anthony Desamito, Kinglsey Amukamara, David Giordano, Isaac Orr, Josh Dent, Ian Gilb, and David Mendelsohn!

Pertinent Links:

May the tweets be with you: @smcomedysucks @captpiggles @jammysands

Jokeless will be here before you know it, so get your tickets now! Right now! Go. We'll wait. www.jokeless.net

Thanks for reading, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Stayin' Put, Not Traveling Around The Country Like A Smelly Gypsy PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 29: Digesting The London Broil

2012-03-28T16:38:50Z

Good morning or something like that.

Today's podcast is our conversation with Duncan, Matt and Louie, more formally known to Renaissance Festival enthusiasts as The London Broil! This is a fun, chaotic talk with three guys that have been infiltrating our beloved PHX Comedy Scene for a couple months at a time the past couple years, and getting to sit down to talk with them all at once was a real treat. A cyclonic, frenetic treat that sometimes sent us searching for our happy place, but a treat nonetheless.

We're pleased to present this conversation this Wednesday, as Duncan, Matt and Louie are at Stand-Up Scottsdale tonight with several of their RenFest bretheren performing as the Almost Homeless Comedy Tour. This is the culmination of all the stand up they've been honing since arriving in town in February at all our great little rooms like Turf, Hidden House and Monkey Pants. Now they're all on the big stage at SUS, shooting their collective wad before leaving us all here to toil in the summer dust, and tickets are still available to tonight's show if you want to snuggle up to the link below.

Upcoming shows for us: Fuck you.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, there will be no faking the funk allowed as we join forces with the Reverend Dan Hull for the all-riffing, all-improv Digging for Gold! Teddy Bearskovich, Andy Steinberg, Arturo Ruiz, Genevieve Rice, James Mabry, John Higbee, Matt Anderson, Mike Gillerman, and Xchel Hernandez will be taking part in this massive, chaotic, live-action writing session!

Also at Monkey Pants, join us Tuesday, 4/3 as we say farewell to our beloved friend, Todd Hibbeler! Todd will be leaving PHX to join the Renaissance Festival, but not before we get to roast him to a tasty crisp with Kirk Buckhout, Steve Maxwell, Chris Bennett, Mike Kennedy, Matt Anderson, Jeff Wiles, Jared Blake and Justin Phillips!

Pertinent Links:

Get tickets for the Wednesday Almost Homeless Comedy Tour by visiting London Broil's website!

Vigilantly follow us upon Twitter: @smcomedysucks @captpiggles @jammysands

Get your tickets now for Jokeless, Jamie & Steve's new comedy storytelling show! It's at Space 55, which is a very small venue, so it will sell out! www.jokeless.net

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Tossing, Catching, Neck-Craning, PHX Comedy Scene!

A Lesson from Chapter 58

2012-03-21T18:03:20Z

"Bad fortune is what good fortune leans on,
Good fortune is what bad fortune hides in." --Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching.

Last night, the S&M Comedeers were booked at Prankster's Too in Scottsdale. If you've never been there, Prankster's has a lovely side room with low tables up front by the stage, generous booths on the sides, and a long bar & bench seating all the way to the back of the room. It's a room that's absolutely perfectly designed for comedy. If you have been there, you know that the room, in spite of its ideal setup, is frequently not that much fun for performers due to a lack of audience members. Seems that someone at Prankster's took that "if you build it, they will come" shit a little too seriously.

When we arrived there just prior to showtime, there was one non-performing civilian in attendance. One. The dread in the room was a living, breathing thing. It sat in the middle of the room like an elephant with an upset stomach. It lurked in every dark corner like a waiting mugger. It flapped about the rafters like a crazed bat. Every comedian knows that not only is the sound of one man laughing is not enough to displace dread like that, it feeds the disillusionment like a mogwai after midnight.

But as despair and resignation descended upon the S&M duo, Steve was struck by a heroic idea! Instead of performing our material as though there were an audience to impress, we should perform each other's material, and at least make it fun for us. And by golly, it was fun. We made sure that the "audience" was in on the joke, and everyone had a great time. We laughed very hard at each other, the other performers laughed very hard at us shouting "IS THAT RIGHT?" at each other, and we gave the producer a springboard for the rest of what turned out to be a very lively show on a lovely Tuesday evening. Lesson learned.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie will be at Space 55 on 3/24. Both Sanderson and Marek will be at Hidden House on 3/21 and at Monkey Pants every Thursday with the hot dogs and the Captain Morgans and the one o'clock shirtless shots.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, serving up heaping helpings of comedy will be Zack Andresen, Brian Lester, Jas Clay, Ricardo Rocha, Kevin Gassman, John Connell, Tusconites Ali Musa and Glendon McGee, and RenFesters Louie Skaradek, Duncan Pace and Collete Desingue! Bacon wrapped deep fried hot dogs smothered in nacho cheese will be the gravy on your comedy heaping helping! Just go with me on that.

Pertinent Links:

Get info and tickets for Steve & Jamie's new storytelling show, Jokeless, right here: www.jokeless.net

Follow us on the Twitters: @smcomedysucks @captpiggles @jammysands

Thanks for reading; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Ever Learning, Sage-Like PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 28: Tony Vicich on the Radio on the Internet

2012-03-14T16:39:22Z

Oh yeah like the Kool-Aid Man! Time for a big steaming hot black cup of...podcast. Enjoy.

Today's podcast features our conversation with the man, the myth, the legend- Tony Vicich. We had actually never met Tony before conducting this interview, so we really had no idea what to really expect, but we had a thousand swirling preconceived notions of what we might encounter. To be quite honest, we were planning on 2 cups Darth Vader, 1 heaping tbsp Godzilla, and a generous splash of Bukowski. In reality, we got the same thing that we get from every dude that we encounter that has a larger than life reputation--just a dude. Well, there's certainly still a lot of Charles Bukowski in Tony, a lot of high quality hard living experience, but it's tempered with a solid dose of Anne Sullivan. BAM! Miracle Worker reference!

Really though, there are so many things to learn from talking to Tony. He has been through so much comedy history first hand- through all the drugs and booze, through the booms and the busts, and he even ran with our idol Bill Hicks. After living through so much of comedy's highs and lows, it only makes sense that he'd feel confident enough to open his own comedy school in 2001, where he's instructed dozens of stand-up comics, including many that have mentored and are great friends of your beloved S&M Comedy Podcast crew. That successful business continues today at the Tempe Improv, and you're thinking of starting out on your own sadomasochistic comedy adventure but you're a bit unsure about getting on stage the first time, Tony's class would be a great place for you to build your confidence.

Upcoming shows for us: Both Sanderson and Marek will be at Prankster's Too on 3/20. Steve Marek will be at Hidden House on 3/14 and will be making his debut on the 10 for 10 show at the Tempe Improv on 3/15! Come find either of us for free tickets to the monumental event! Be sure to drink your Ovaltine and start getting ready for Jamie & Steve's storytelling show, Jokeless, on 5/11! We've got a website and flyers and posters and tickets and everything, just like a real show!

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, rollick and frolic in the Grand Old Comedy Party with Steve Maxwell, Downtown Tommy Brown, Paul Lucie, Gene Moore, KB Bolin, Todd Hibbeler, Gordon McKay, Kirk Buckhout, and RenFesters Duncan Pace and Muggsy! A good time will be had by all in the name of life, liberty, and the pursuit of $4 Captain Morgan beverages!

Pertinent Links:

Whether you're looking to build your intestinal fortitude before taking the comedy stage for the first time or you're a seasoned veteran wanting to brush up your skills, get more information on Tony Vicich's comedy school at www.comedyschools.com

Follow all tweeting facets of the podcast @smcomedysucks @captpiggles @jammysands

Check out the Jokeless website for tickets and info on this somewhat exciting, not very groundbreaking event!

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, NPR Spring Pledge Drive Avoiding PHX Comedy Scene!

The Sphere of Influence Expands...

2012-03-07T16:50:36Z

Guten morgen from Arizona's grumpiest comedy podcast!

Today's just a quick blog post, but on next week's podcast, we'll have our interview with Tony Vicich! For those not in the know, Tony is a bit of a "behind the scenes" player with the Tempe Improv. He teaches comedy classes, the very same classes that many of our mentors like Kirk Buckhout, Steve Maxwell, and Stu Baker started with, and he also is the Improv's promotional guru. We talked with him about all those things, and we discovered during our conversation that he is well steeped in some of the most influential years of stand-up comedy, from the late 70's to the early 90's. There's a lot of knowledge and wisdom in the many facets of Tony Vicich, and we think we did a little scratching of the surface in next week's interview.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at Hidden House on 3/7 and at the illustrious Tempe Improv on 3/8, and Steve Marek will be at the Improv on 3/15! Both Improv shows are the 10 for 10 showcase, and we have free tickets for you if you ask nicely! Or don't ask nicely, it doesn't matter; we'll still give you free tickets. We have no self respect.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, allow your blood pressure to be lowered by laughter at the expense of Brian McNett, Steve Jenkins, Ronette Daniel, Ian Gilb, Charlie Speez, Dustin Elkin, Diethrich Shelton, Amy Blackwell, Dan Hull and RenFesters Jeremy Jacksen and Matt Connoly! After your blood pressure has been lowered by the power of laughter, watch in awe as it gets sawed in half and put back together by the Amazing Hans Shadow, The Worst Magician in the World!

Pertinent Links:

Follow everyone on twitter! Oh, the tweets you'll read! Podcast: @smcomedysucks Marek: @captpiggles Sanderson: @jammysands

Like the podcast on Facebook at www.facebook.com/smcomedy

And you can always email us at smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Thanks for reading, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Curmudgeonly, Haven't-Had-Enough-Coffee-Yet-So-Don't-Fucking-Talk-To-Me PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 27: The Sklars Epidemic

2012-02-29T16:39:53Z

Welcome to the podcast. Enchante.

Today, we're so excited to bring you our conversation with Randy and Jason Sklar, more formally known as the Sklar Brothers! We spoke with them in between sets backstage at Stand Up Live, and they couldn't have been nicer fellas. Seriously- as far as nice fellas go, if you're not a Sklar Brother, fucking step it up, pal.

If you're not familiar with the Sklars and their rapid-fire, tag-team delivery, treat yourself to a listen of 2011's "Hendersons and Daughters," and then you won't look at Steve & Jamie so crookedly when next they yell, "AND TWYYYYNS!" at you. That album made instant fans of us, with the beautifully crafted absurdist humor rampant throughout. However, that is only the most recent tip of the iceberg for the indescribably prolific Brothers, so please check out the links to some of our favorite Sklar works that we've posted below. (oh, and don't forget that Elvis video)

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at Copper Blues on 3/6 and at Hidden House on 3/7. Both Sanderson and Marek will be at Filmbar on 3/6. And some big time shows to announce: The fabled Tempe Improv will have some S&M on their stage in March! Jamie Sanderson will perform on the 10 for 10 show on 3/8 and Steve Marek will perform there on 3/15! We've got tickets; hit us up if you want 'em!

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, celebrate the first day of the third month of the two thousand and eleventh year of the Anno Domini calendar by laughing at Jeff Wiles, Chris Felix, Geof Piccarreta, Kristofer Royer, Demetrius Lee, Josh Dent, Mike Repik, Nick Paul, and RenFesters Louie Skaradek and Steve Cowan!

Pertinent Links:

The official Sklar website: www.supersklars.com

Watch their awesome sports-based web series: www.backontopps.com

Check out the Sklar Brothers' cleverly named podcast when you need a break from our cleverly named podcast: http://www.earwolf.com/show/sklarbro-country/

Regale us with email at smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Like the podcast with all your might on Facebook! www.facebook.com/smcomedy

And follow us on Twitter as though your life depended on it! @smcomedysucks

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Genetically Distinct, Fraternal, Dichotomous PHX Comedy Scene!

Coffee and Comedy

2012-02-22T16:46:42Z

Rise and shine and blog post! Let's start off the next year of S&M Comedy the right way.

We have an exciting podcast to release next week, our much anticipated talk with the Sklar Brothers! The Sklars were gracious enough to talk to us in between shows at Stand Up Live way back in December. Good lord, that feels like a long time ago.

The Sklars were so generous with their time, as we were all worried that they would barely be able to talk at all because one of them was sick and wanted to save his voice for the next show, but we wound up doing plenty of talking, and they shared so much with us. Most notable was their burning lust for a particular Elvis video that they made us promise to post along with their podcast. So lucky you, you're not just getting our Sklars interview, but you're receiving some bonus Elvis!

Upcoming shows for us: Steve Marek will be at Hidden House on 2/22, Next Coffee on 2/25, and Turf on 2/27. Both Sanderson and Marek will be performing on the Comedy Spot Pro-Am show on 2/26. See the flyer below, and visit www.thecomedyspot.net for tickets!

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, Jeff Turbitt, Clayton Perkins, Alex Levi, Brian Kohatsu, Derrick Tesson, Tom Sims, Remy Burgess, Jason Campbell and Tim Stump will cause laughter be expelled from your mouth at a high velocity, ricochet off the walls, and fall to the floor in peals of joy! Comedy starts at 8.30, goldfish racing at 11, $4 Captain Morgan drinks all day long!

Pertinent Links:

Like the podcast with your Facebook: www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Follow the podcast on Twitter @smcomedysucks

And email your cascades of appreciation to smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Thanks for reading, keep coming out and supporting the Live, Local, Sagacious, Salubrious, Sarcastic PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 26: A Year of Fortnights with Jamie and Steve

2012-02-15T16:07:36Z

Good morning, and welcome to a new era in local comedy scene podcasting! Well, probably not really a new era, but at least a continuation of the same shit we've been doing. That's like an era, right?

We really anticipated being more sentimental about this whole thing than we are. After all, in a town where performers and shows alike pop up and drop off like a mosquito season, producing a podcast for a whole year is akin to witnessing the evolution of man. Alas, in true S&M fashion, we are too busy looking forward to our next interviews, our next shows, and our big plans for 2012 to spend much time looking nostalgically back over the past year.

So on today's episode, to mark our one year of the S&M Comedy Podcast, you'll get to hear Xchel Hernandez and Brian Kohatsu turn the card table on us and try to learn more about our origins in stand-up and in this here internet radio program. We felt completely comfortable entrusting the interview duties to these guys based on our preconceived notion that their improv training would enable them to salvage the dead moments in any conversation. Were we right? Guess you'll have to listen and find out! And thanks for listening to our one year episode, by the way.

Upcoming shows for us: Steve Marek will be at Toso's on 2/17. Both Sanderson and Marek will be at Icehouse on 2/15.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, have your guts busted by Mike Gillerman, Mike Repik, Charlie Speez, Chris Felix, KB Bolin, Ricardo Rocha, Teddy Bearskovich and Matt Anderson! Have your poor ol' guts repaired by $4 hot dogs and $4 Captain Morgans before gently urging your thoroughbred goldfish to a speedy, resounding victory!

Pertinent Links:

Emails, emails, emails! Email the podcast at smcomedysucks@gmail.com and email your available March dates for Thursday Night Comedy at Monkey Pants to jokes@monkeypantsbar.com

Follow the podcast on Twitter @smcomedysucks

And finally, befriend S&M Comedy on Facebook. Please be our friend. www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Thanks for listening and thanks for being a part of our past year, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Barreling Forward, Carrying Onward, Ever Venturing Forth PHX Comedy Scene!

New Milestones, Same Curmudgeons.

2012-02-08T17:48:52Z

Happy Wednesday, or whatever kind of Wednesday you want to have. Let's do a quick little blog post, and get the hell out.

Steve and Jamie are about to enter their third year of comedy. It's been two years of writing feverishly at dimly lit bar high top tables, moments before walking on stage and perfoming to audiences ranging from receptive packed houses to empty, cavernous bars with three disenfanchised comics and a surly bartender. Two years of learning, developing a thick skin, and becoming calloused to bright-eyed newcomers that talk about writing all the time, just like we did when we first started. "I write all the time, I've probably got an hour already!" *snicker* We'll be celebrating the past two years by co-headlining Monkey Pants this Thursday, so please come out and join us!

Coincidentally, we're also approaching our one year of the S&M Comedy Podcast! Next week's episode will be Jamie & Steve being interviewed by Xchel Hernandez and Brian Kohatsu, so you'll be able to hear what Enquiring minds want to know. People give two shits about us, bro. If you have any ideas for interview topics, email us at smcomedysucks@gmail.com, and we'll see if we can't answer your well-thought, brilliantly constructed query.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at Hidden House on 2/8.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, come celebrate Jamie & Steve's two years in comedy with Zack Andresen, Andy Steinberg, Dave Deasy, Dave Thurston, Ernesto Moncada, John Higbee, Isaac Gordon, Josh Dent, Paul Lucie, and Ray Love! Then celebrate goldfish by dumping them in a gutter and squirting them with copius amounts of water!

Thanks for reading, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Jubilant, Gleeful, Ecstatic, Celebratory PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 25: Brian Kohatsu, Himself

2012-02-01T16:10:00Z

Howdy, pardner. Take a load off and belly up to another podcast, why don't ya?

On today's podcast, you'll get to hear our talk with local improvisational master, accomplished comedian, award-winning director, and all around genuinely nice guy Brian Kohatsu. Brian is a good friend and valued supporter of the podcast, and with all his achievements, we're not really sure what took us so long to get him to the card table, but we're glad it finally happened. In this conversation, you'll get to hear Kohatsu entertain us with stories about everything from filmmaking and improv to impressions and doing comedy radio in the ghetto.

By the end of this interview, you may think to yourself, "you know, hearing about Brian's seemingly bottomless well of experience, I think I could really learn a few tricks from this uncompromising and enduring performer of stage and screen." Well lucky you, Brian and his Improvonauts sidekick, Mike James, are teaching an eight week improv class at the Comedy Spot. Classes start this Saturday, 2/4, so get signed up and get ready to be edumacated!

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at Bridgett's on 2/7. Both Sanderson and Marek will be at Turf on 2/6.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, all groundhogs get in free for comedy featuring Los Subtitles, David Giordano, Jim Murr, Dan Hull, James Mabry, Josh Brown, Kon Stamadianos, Mike Gillerman and Steve Horton! Comedy begins at 8.30, groundhog racing at 11.

Pertinent Links:

For info on that improv class you're drooling over, visit www.briankohatsu.com and become a better performer because of it.

Email the podcast. Seriously. smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Like us on Twitter and follow us on Facebook, @smcomedysucks and www.facebook.com/smcomedy, respectively.

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Adorably Snuggleable PHX Comedy Scene!

Working and Waiting...

2012-01-25T16:43:08Z

Time for a quick Wednesday blog post, and then back to the grindstone with you!

There really isn't much to report here. The S&M Crew is dilligently performing every night to hone their individual sets for the Comedy Spot show on Sunday, 1/29. It's a grueling cycle- drink, perform, drink, take notes, go to bed late, wake up late, listen back to last night's set, change a few things, question every life decision up to this point, aaaannnd repeat. It's a good learning curve, but it can be exhausting on an immune system weakened by lousy diets and low self-esteem. But the shows are always fun times, hanging out and talking shop with our peers, getting valuable stage time, and most importantly, feeling like progress is being made. So without any further blathering...

Upcoming shows for us: Both Sanderson and Marek will be at the Icehouse Tavern on 1/25, Monkey Pants on 1/26, Toso's on 1/27, and The Comedy Spot on 1/29. See below for our handsomely designed and incredibly informative flyer for the Comedy Spot show.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, the laughter continues all night long with Jeff Turbitt, Brian McNett, David Mendelsohn, Greg Freiler, KB Bolin, Michelle Mikstas, Ricardo Rocha, Rick Roddam, Teddy Bearskovich and Zach Lyman. Seriously, you won't be able to sleep from all the laughter.

Thanks for reading, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Budding, Blossoming, Burgeoning PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 24: Scotch with Troy Conrad...Part 2

2012-01-18T15:47:46Z

A good Wednesday to you. Let's get a podcast in your face.

Today, we have the second of our two part conversation with Troy Conrad. We were planning on this one being a long one, since Troy cut his teeth here in our happenin' PHX Comedy Scene before moving on to Los Angeles and developing such influential creative projects as Set List and Angry Townhall. In this episode, you'll hear more about what came along for Troy after leaving Phoenix- the connections he made and the opportunities he created for himself. It's very good material for all of us hungry, eager comedic personalities to pay attention to as we look forward to our further development. Take notes. Or even better, just repeatedly visit the site and listen over and over!

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at Filmbar on 1/24 and at the Icehouse Tavern for Geneveive Rice's Snark Show on 1/25. Steve Marek will be at the Hidden House on 1/18.

The S&M Comedy crew will be performing at The Comedy Spot in Scottsdale on 1/29. Tickets are $10, and are available at www.thecomedyspot.net. A real club gig that real comedy patrons are really paying real money to see. That's a whole new level of anxiety that we're not used to dealing with at bar shows with surly audiences. Will we rise to the occasion? Come out and see!

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, Guillermo Robles, Brian Lester, Charlie Speez, Dan Miller, Jim Bambrough, Justin Phillips, Keith Wilson, Kevin Maxwell, Marc Crossman, Steve Marek, Jamie Sanderson, and Matt Champagne from L.A. will rock your hurricane like it's just a tornado!

Pertinent Links:

Visit www.setlistshow.com for upcoming dates, including 1/27 at SF Sketchfest and every Friday at Flapper's in Burbank at 5pm. The Flapper's show is open to all performers at all experience levels, so take a day off work and perform some Comedy Without a Net!

Stay in tune with all Conrad happenings on Twitter @troyconrad

Booking Thursday Night Comedy at Monkey Pants. It happens when you email jokes@monkeypantsbar.com

And all things S&M- @SMComedySucks smcomedysucks@gmail.com www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Thanks for listening, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Kicking, Screaming PHX Comedy Scene!

Dividing and Conquering?

2012-01-11T15:27:37Z

It's Wednesday, might as well have a blog post from S&M, right?

After overcoming our most recent roadblock (see the "Hurdles" post on 12/28) of the All-New Material Show at the Hidden House on 1/4, Jamie Sanderson had to leave his S&M partner of Steve Marek and board a plane headed for the grey, humourless midwest. Since then, Jamie has dealt with his crazily religious family, a hellacious fever and scratchy throat, a mother with Alzheimer's and a couple of bouncing baby nephews drooling everywhere and getting into everything. Steve has had to deal with work without his left hand man, a small company owner that almost seems to refuse to prepare for the week long absence of his third longest employee, and the overall numbnuttery that seems to increase a dozenfold when Jamie's not around.

But today, Jamie returns to his beloved PHX Comedy Scene and a home tinged with the aroma of cat pee. A soothing blanket of calm will fall over so many lives as normal routines are re-established and a full strength workforce resumes picking up the slack for our weirdly cavalier boss. And now the S&M Comedy duo looks forward to the next roadblock, our real club gig at The Comedy Spot in Scottsdale on 1/29. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at thecomedyspot.net.

Upcoming shows for us: Steve will be at the Turf on 1/16 and Pranksters Too on 1/17.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, you too can get retarded in here with Cristin Davis, Demetrius Lee, Jerry Rider, Kristen Alberts, Steve Marek, Michael Senn, Nick Paul, Jamie Sanderson, Steve Jenkins, Steve Maxwell, Tim Stump and Xchel Hernandez! Oh, the retardation!

Thanks for reading; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Ever-Expanding, Ever-Unfurling PHX Comedy Scene!