Comics Thu Nov 12 2009
Chicago's sinner concentration isn't any higher than say, San Francisco's, but God's Pottery will do their best to -- satirically -- save some souls when they hit The Lakeshore Theater on Thursday.
"It would be nice if we could say honestly that all the heathens were located in one place, but unfortunately, there are desperate souls spread out across the land," said Gideon Lamb, half of the screwball duo that spreads their God-fearing message through music and motivational spoofs.
"The truth is, there are people sprinkled all over this country who need our help and that's why we're on the road," said duo's other Christian caricature, Jeremiah Smallchild. "Really, our work is never done."
The real truth is that God's Pottery is promoting their new book, What Would God's Pottery Do? released on the heels of their attention-grabbing run on NBC's "Last Comic Standing." They've also been busy making "Christ'd" episodes, sort of like "Punk'd" but with good-natured pranks, and hitting audiences over the head with their twisted theology.
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— Michelle Peterson /
Feature Thu Oct 01 2009
No stranger to comics, movies, or Chicago, it seems only natural that Gordon McAlpin would create Multiplex, "a comic strip about life at a movie theater." The Peoria native's knowledge of and deep affection for the webcomic's prevailing topics is evident: characters and dialogue have an easy familiarity to them, movement and expression coming through surprisingly well given the strip's slightly static, cartoonish aesthetic. Recently, Gordon filled me in on his history, Multiplex's backstory, and the next step in its evolution.
How did you get into comics in the first place?
I always loved superheroes from watching cartoons, specifically Super Friends. My older brother read a few comics, horror comics, he had the most copies of Gru. He was never really into it. He was more into D&D and heavy metal. In 4th or 5th grade, I got the DC Heroes roleplaying game. They kept referencing this series called Crisis on Infinite Earth, so I saved up more allowance, trucked on over to a comic book store, picked up the old Crisis books. I started hanging around Metropolis, a comic book store, then Acme, its competitor. A chain-smoking, curmudgeonly guy named Jim would recommend stuff to me. Eventually, he would introduce me to slightly more grown-up stuff, he knew I wasn't going to run and show it to my mom. I hung out there for years. Fell in love with the medium, and I always liked to draw.
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— Rose Miller /
Art Sat Sep 26 2009
I just got home from a remarkable show, so remarkable in fact, it kept me from going to the Gapers Block meet up this evening. Tonight, at the Co-Prosperity Sphere, was the opening of Tales from the Bubble, new work by Berry Sanders.
Now, I know what your thinking: retired running back Barry Sanders is making art now -- how awesome is that? And, as much as I would like to tell you that was true, it is just too good to be so. Berry Sanders is a painter from Eindhoven, in the Netherlands. He is in Chicago participating in a residency program at the Co-Prosperity Sphere.
These works are all large, black and white, oil paintings on a prepared paper, you "prepare" paper because otherwise you would get unsightly stains from both the turpentine and the oil. With the smallest dimension of every piece being 55 inches, these do demand a bit of attention. The imagery is obviously narrative, and in the statement for the show they address that calling the pieces "stories". These stories do have a lot to tell, although it is ultimately left to the viewer to decide how much and what.
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— MartinJon /
Comics Tue Aug 25 2009
First it was Pat O'Brien, now we find out that Chicago stand-up Hannibal Buress has also been hired to write for the newest season of Saturday Night Live. Buress has been living and performing in New York City, having recently appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and he recently announced on his Twitter page that he would be joining the SNL cast on the 17th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
"hey. i found out that ill be writing on this season of SNL. lots of elaborate poop sketches will be pitched this season:"
Tune in to the season premiere of the 35th season of SNL on September 26th on NBC!
— Dyan Flores /
Long el rides, MegaBustrips to visit your family in Milwaukee, waiting to see if you'll be called to serve on a jury- these painfully long occasions all require some sort of self-contained entertainment to get you through them, and a clever podcast might be just what you need.
We'll Be Right Back with Ruby Streak is a Second City endeavor, hosted by their mainstage musical director Ruby Streak. It's both entertaining and edutaining, as the show's guests chat about life, comedy, and often their paths that lead them to Second City. They interview local Second City folk, in addition to reaching out to their extended family on the coasts and getting folks like "30 Rock's" Jack McBrayer and Scott Adsit to spill the beans. The show may slant towards comedy nerd-dom, but all should find it a good listen.
— Dyan Flores /
Comics Wed Jul 29 2009
Tonight Chemically Imbalanced Comedy hosts their fledgling Open Mic night at their home at 1425 W. Irving Park Road. The free show starts at 9:15, but if you're hoping to perform yourself, sign-up begins at 9 pm. The night isn't just limited to stand-up, and the evening may include sketch comedy, music, slam poetry, and more.
Fore more details visit Chemically Imbalanced Comedy.
— Dyan Flores /
Are you a Doubting Thomas with a sharp tongue and a penchant for reilgious satire? If so, the Best Church of God may be looking for you!
The local sketch comedy group has been a favorite of audiences and critics alike, and they recently were part of Chicago's inaugural Just for Laughs festival. They're hoping to expand their congregation of writer/performers as they prepare to begin a run at the Lakeshore Theater. Audition information is below:
Auditions for Best Church of God
Monday, July 20th from 6-10pm
Location: The Theater Building at 1225 W Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657
Call Backs: July 21st from 6-8pm at the Theater Building
Email resume to: auditions@BestChurchofGod.org
Best Church of God, the critically acclaimed, hard-hitting religious satire is adding ensemble members. You must have at least 1 year of improv and/or professional theater experience. Comedic writing skills a plus. Prepare two (2) contrasting 1-minute comedic pieces; at least one must be original. You may also prepare 30 seconds of a song (optional). Accompanist provided. Email resume (include any writing credits) and availability to secure a spot. BCOG will run Sundays at 1pm beginning September 6th at the Lakeshore Theater. No pay.
— Dyan Flores /
Art Mon Jul 06 2009
Chicago visual artists are invited to submit their work to a competition sponsored by Gapers Block and the Rockford-based arts purveyor Wall Blank.
The four winning artists will be featured on Gapers Block, and their work will be offered as prints for sale on Wall Blank during "Chicago Week" in August 2009.
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— David Schalliol /
Comics Wed May 27 2009
No, that's not the name of R. Kelly's latest album, but rather the latest stage show by Big Dog Eat Child. Big Dog Eat Child (of Boozeleggers Ball and Jones' Good Ass BBQ and Foot Massage fame) brings their show to the Lakeshore Theatre stage this Friday, May 29th at Midnight. More than just your run-of-the-mill comedy show, Intergalactic Sex Rodeo features live music from buzz band The Wires, burlesque dancers from the acclaimed Varietease Cabaret, comedy super-group Big Dog Eat Child, and comedians Marty DeRosa and Bill Cruz.
For ticket info:
Call Lakeshore Theater Box Office at: (773) 472-3492
Or visit: www.lakeshoretheater.com
For more information on Big Dog Eat Child visit their website.
— Dyan Flores /
Comics Mon May 18 2009
Maybe some of y'all will accuse me of being a Jerome to his Morris Day, but I'm going to hype my man Hannibal Buress whenever I can, because he's hurt-your-abs-hilarious and if we don't support our local people, we're no good.
After doing a great set to benefit the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators at Funky Buddha Lounge on Saturday, Hannibal will now be doing a week at Zanies in Old Town. Tickets are cheap, and its an intimate venue worth the price. Go check Hannibal out, he'll make you laugh and you'll be able to say you saw him back in the day.
— Ramsin Canon /
You probably have plans after-work today to sit on a patio in the sun sipping mojitos, but what are you going to do when the sun goes down?
Perhaps you should hit up the Schadenfruede Rent Party. Tonight at Gallery Cabaret (2020 N. Oakley, Bucktown), for only $10, the local comedy group will host an evening of (free) food, (cheap) booze, and (plentiful) laughter. Doors open at 8pm, and the show starts at 9pm, featuring Lola Balatro, Ken Barnard, Eric Zorn, and Seth Weitberg (host of the Chicago Sessions, which we love).
— Dyan Flores /
Comics Fri Apr 10 2009
The Reader has named oddball stand-up Robert Buscemi as the city's best, a fact you appreciate more when you consider that something like 30% of America's comedy comes from Chicago (there's actually a statistic somewhere to back that up, but I can't find it, so you'll have to rely on my considerable integrity).
I first saw Robusc (not a real nickname, I'm just tired of typing Buscemi) perform in the cramped confines of the Beat Kitchen's upstairs room, essentially an apartment, two years ago or more. Buscemi's stand up is unique and, in an era of irony-heavy, tortuously self-aware comedy, refreshing. He maintains a relentlessly sunny but thematically strange and even dark stage persona, going between stem-winding set pieces with rewarding payoffs to one-off one liners and observations. The thing that's refreshing about Buscemi's comedy is that it's shot through with a selfless desire to perform for an audience--a lot of stand up (even good stand up) suffers from the performers' desire to showcase cleverness or a certain sensibility without risking making an ass of themselves.
Punchline magazine interviewed Buscemi recently--the article is missing from their site, so here it is on Buscemi's own. He recently released his second DVD, and can be seen among other local places at Chicago Underground Comedy, the showcase you're going to claim you used to check out every Tuesday when it is cited as part of the revitalization of American stand up in a few years.
Congratulations Robert.
Here's a NSFW clip:
— Ramsin Canon /
Film Wed Mar 11 2009
Every March the nation's coolest kids head to Austin, TX for South by Southwest, a series of film, interactive, and music festivals and conferences where the newest emerging artsists and technologies are showcased. This year, two of Chicago's own will be heading down for the SXSW Film Festival, where their short film will be presented. Teenager of the Year, also known as Joe Avella and Tim Racine, made Scatterbrained!, which will be shown as part of the "Midnight Shorts" series.
They describe the film as follows:
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— Dyan Flores /
Art Tue Nov 11 2008
The Trubble Club is a group of local artists -- Al Burian, Lilli Carre, Ezra Claytan Daniels, Anya Davidson, Lucy Knisley, Rachel Niffennegger, Burnie McGovern, Onsmith, Laura Park, Aaron Renier, Grant Reynolds, Becca Taylor, Jeremy Tinder, Marco Torres and others -- who get together once a week to create collaborative comics, with each one contributing one panel. The result is often beautiful and almost always utterly surreal.
The Trubble Club recently produced a comic book collecting a bunch of their strips. It's available at Quimby's for just $3.
— Andrew Huff /
