Onstage, you get the impression that Todd Barry is at best put out, his insipid wit never delivered above the clip of “exasperated.” This is the best method of delivery for the veteran comic, his genre of social commentary augmented by subtlety. Oh, he’s also the most delightful sort of jerk on Twitter. In his more than two decades as a stand-up comic, Barry has earned a reputation not as just a “comic’s comic” but as comedy fan favorite. His television performances include appearances on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and two “Comedy Central Presents” specials. Additionally, he'll have his own hour-long special called Todd Barry: Super Crazy airing on Comedy Central on July 21st. His television and film credits include a recurring role as himself on “Louie,” Sherm in the film “Wanderlust,” and most notably, Mickey Rourke’s masturbating boss in “The Wrestler.” Leading up to a tour that includes several dates in Texas, we were able to catch up with Barry by phone to talk about podcast culture, overzealous fans and the challenges of performing while a band sound-checks next to you. more ›

If you aren't going to the launch party tonight, you can watch the first episode of Downtown's third season tomorrow night from the comfort of your own home. For those unfamiliar with the show, KLRU's award-winning series focuses on, well, the downtown area. Topics covered in past seasons have been: Waller Creek, First Night Austin, bicycle messengers, Austin's hip-hop scene, the Austin Farmer's Market, urban density, and more. Each thirty-minute episode is made up of... more ›

As always, let us know about any corrections or suggestions! MONDAY [3] [music] ICP Orchestra at Scottish Rite Theatre (link) [art] Gabriel Perez-Barreiro, Curator of Latin American Art, discusses "Art is Connection: America/Americas" at Blanton Museum of Art (Free, 6-8pm) (link) [books] Michael Gordon presents Cobra II at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [books] AAIM, Austin Area Interreligious BookGroup will discuss Peace is the Way by Deepak Chopra. Lori Seremetis will be the Special Guest at BookPeople... more ›