A bearded Nick Offerman, sporting not the trademark Ron Swanson coiffure, but a svelte buzz cut, sauntered onto the historic Paramount Theatre stage shirtless, his exposed, barreled torso garnering charmed gasps from the audience. He took his time draping himself in a button-down shirt that can only be described as a perfect marriage of “Born in the U.S.A.” Americana and Garth Brooks-era brushpopper. more ›

As soon as I walked into the Paramount Theatre lobby, something compelled me to order a small popcorn and a bourbon and coke. The bartender said to me, “That just might be the perfect combination of food and drink for this show.” “I think you might be right…” I replied, not sure of the appropriate response to that sort of off-kilter observation. A few minutes before show time, as I waited in line in the men’s room, the gentleman ahead of me turned around, unprompted and said, “You know, about two weeks ago, my son threw up all over these floors…” and then turned right back around, uninterested in how I might react. Right before the show began, the disembodied voice of Mike MacRae was interrupted by the disembodied voice of Matt Bearden. This was the strange and wonderful prologue to a strange and wonderful evening with Steven Wright. (You can read the Austinist interview with him here). more ›

Host Chase Durousseau warmed up the audience quickly with high-energy ruminations on his own “blackness,” the absurdities of The Neverending Story, and a spot-on Mark Wahlberg impression. Austin’s own Bryan Gutmann, whose specialty is finding the hilarious in the mundane, uncoiled the stupidity of all those “ghost hunter” shows, explained with conviction why watching television is better than going to the library, and recounted his visit to a Creationist museum. more ›

Every discipline has its required reading: for doctors, it’s the medical journal; for scholars, it’s the quarterly imprint. For comedians, Marc Maron’s WTF Pod is the instrument that measures turns both subtle and seismic in the tectonics of stand-up. more ›

Maria Bamford would perhaps have a difficult time living in the near future, where voice-recognition technology plays an integral role in tasks as mundane yet important as entering your home, or taking money out of the bank. Or perhaps, she wouldn’t. Perhaps she could live multiple lives with her multiple voices (many of them distinct, a few of them other-worldly, all of them hilarious). Stand-up connoisseurs know Bamford from The Comedians of Comedy as well as her appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live; cartoon buffs may recognize her voice talents from Cartoon Network's Adventure Time, Disney Channel's Kick Buttowski, Nickelodeon's Kung Fu Panda, and PBS's Word Girl; and television commercial aficionados remember her as the overly-excited shopper in Target’s Black Friday ads. Leading up to her performances this week at the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, we caught up with Bamford to discuss self-help books, sipping diet soda, and iPhone river challenges. more ›

When Matt Bearden walks into a comedy open mic around town, a low-register hum effuses the room. The comics communicate like a hive of bees when they see he’s there. Those who have already finished their sets second-guess the delivery of a punch line or a tag; comics who have yet to go up abandon new bits and fall back on the tried and true. They want to make people laugh hard when Bearden’s there. He’s not even on stage and he owns the room. And for good reason: Matt Bearden has some hard-earned bona fides; he won the coveted Funniest Person in Austin Contest in 2002; his television appearances include MTV’s ‘Austin Stories’ and Comedy Central’s ‘Premium Blend.’ He’s done well with this comedy cache; he’s the mind and muscle behind PUNCH!, a weekly comedy showcase at Cap City that’s consistently great and always sells out (on a Tuesday of all days); he’s the snarky voice of reason on KLBJ’s Dudley and Bob Morning Show; he’s served as host every year for Misprint Magazine’s insanely popular Beard and Moustache Contest, and is a mainstay on Fun Fun Fun Fest’s comedy stage. Leading up to a whirlwind of forthcoming shows (including a headlining gig this week at Cap City and next month’s Moontower Comedy Festival), we talked with Matt Bearden about the business of making it as a humorist in a town still a little unwilling to call itself a “Comedy” town. more ›

f you have never seen a nine-year old girl ace an improv set or watched a one-woman show performed by a former madam from Detroit, you're missing out. If you are one of those people who thinks that ‘women aren’t funny’, then you definitely are, and you probably weren't at last week's Ladies Are Funny Festival here in Austin. more ›

After announcing their preliminary lineup last week, SXSW Comedy has made several additions to their roster, including SXSW veteran Chelsea Peretti. more ›

Louisiana-born, Brooklyn-based comedian Sean Patton has been described as a "comic's comic," a stand up whose act favors personal storytelling over rapid-fire punchlines and a man who, despite all the Belushi comparisons, finds more humor in honest individuality than character-driven gags. Sean's been seen on VH1 and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, he's worked with sketch heroes Derrick Comedy, and his fall tour with the Southern Comedy Quartet (alongside Nate Bargatze, Jarrod Harris, and Rory Scovel) was documented for an upcoming film; with such high-profile projects on his radar, what else could Patton possibly have time for? Only coming up with the most mind-boggling Halloween costume of all time and establishing a strict scientific method for categorizing comedy fans across the globe. That's right. Catch Sean Sunday at 6 at Fun Fun Fun Fest, or Monday at 9:30 at The New Movement Theater. more ›

The thrill of an open mic lies in a comic’s ability to capture or lose an audience in mere minutes. For a performer, this means either the elation that comes with leaving a crowd wanting more or the cold comfort of knowing your set is, if nothing else, at least mercifully short. Whether you’re a stand-up looking for some stage time or you’re in search of new, under-the-radar acts, we recommend stopping by one of Austin’s many anything-goes comedy nights. more ›

Tonight the Ladies Are Funny Festival (LAFF), which is in its fourth year of production, takes over Salvage Vanguard Theater. LAFF, running through Saturday night, has expanded over the last few years to include more nights of shows featuring a bigger line up of female comedians and performers from all over the map, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. Over the next four nights sketch comedy, improv, stand-up and one-woman-shows will be tickling audience's funny bones. more ›

Comedian Doug Benson has spent the past several years working hard to lay claim to the title of America's top pot comic. His 6th place finish on NBC's Last Comic Standing in 2007, his regular appearances on VH1's Best Week Ever, and the documentary Super High Me, where Benson smoked pot continuously for 30 days, have all helped him stake that claim. In addition, Benson's also done his work on the ground, touring constantly over the last several years. (Last fall's "Medical Marijuana Tour" saw him perform in all 13 states with medical marijuana laws in as many days.) And if that's not enough to earn him the distinction of being America's hardest-working stoner, Benson also co-created the live show The MarijuanaLogues, which has played in clubs and theaters across the country. more ›

That’s right. Someone who worships Conan O’Brien believes Todd Barry to be “Icky”. So that puts him amongst the ranks of Gonzo journalism and oh who gives a shit what O’Brien’s viewers think. Todd will be visiting Austin for Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009! But not to protest Eugene Mirman! more ›

Maria Bamford, along with Zach Galifianakis, Patton Oswalt, and Brian Posehn, was one of the original Comedians of Comedy. We spoke with Maria recently about her upcoming performance tonight (sold out) and tomorrow night at Cap City Comedy Club. The Comedians of Comedy premiered at SXSW in 2004, right? Right. Were you there for that? I think I was. Hold on a second. Yes, I was. I was there. What did you think about SXSW? It was awesome. You get to watch movies. I like the place where you watch movies and can have a beer and eat something. The Drafthouse. Yeah. That was really great. I like that. more ›

This year's SXSW Music lineup seems to be taking shape a bit more quickly than last year, as bands have taken it upon themselves to announce showcases publicly before the official list release by SX organizers. This is a departure from prior years, but since festival officials aren't complaining, we assume they're happy to let the hype build as the acts trickle in. This week's top twelve additions: more ›

Friday, July 6artB Scene - Too Darn Hot! at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress ($5-$10) booksAlan Porter presents Before They Were Beatles, with Beatles cover band Daytripper at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedyJohn O’Connell with Jesse Pangelinian at Cap City Comedy Club comedyPunchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) comedyLovey and Lovey at ColdTowne Theater (8pm) comedyWeekly Improv Cage Match! at ColdTowne Theater (11:30) film"Bonnie & Clyde" and "White Heat" at The... more ›

FRIDAY [15] juneteenth/parade • Alvin Patterson Battle of the Bands and Drumline Competition at Congress Avenue (2pm) books • Lama Surya Das presents Buddha is as Buddha Does at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Billy D Washington with Doug Mellard at Cap City Comedy Club comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Constellation, a site-specific dance work from Sally Jacques at Pickle & Thornberry Federal Courthouses (9pm) dance... more ›

FRIDAY [8] music • DJ Krames (Cobra Kai), Prince Klassen at Beauty Bar (Free) books • Dominic Smith presents The Beautiful Miscellaneous at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) film • "The Secret Mirror" at The Paramount film • Master Pancake Theatre: "The Breakfast Club" at Alamo Downtown film • "Severance" at Dobie Theatre food • Central Market Cooking Class: Manicotti Workshop with Foodie Barbara Sampson at... more ›

FRIDAY [1] party • Rare Magazine Summer Issue Launch Party at Mean Eyed Cat (5:30pm) bikes • Republic of Texas Biker Rally at All Over Austin dance/benefit • Project Transitions Hosts 12th Annual Texas Swing at Saengerrunde Hall and Scholz’s Beer Garten ($40, 8-Midnight) art • Opening Reception: Cantanker/us, the Cantanker Magazine staff show at Else Madsen Gallery, 411 Brazos, Suite 99 (7-11pm) art • The B Scene at The Blanton Museum of Art,... more ›

FRIDAY [25] party • The Onion's "Summer Fun Blast Blowout Extravaganza!" Party with Clap!Clap!, Crash Gallery, Devil in the Choir, DJ Rubix, Prince Klassen, and a chance to win a scooter from Scooter Revolution at Beauty Bar ($2, 9:30pm) theatre • Rubber Repertory presents A Thought in Three Parts at The Vortex (8pm) music • Emissions From the Monolith Fest at Emo's music • Voxtrot, Au Revoir Simone, The Black, Zykos at Emo's music... more ›

FRIDAY [4] party/bikes • Yellow Bike Project's Second Annual Bike Art Show with music by DJ Orion, DJ Katherine at Gallery 1906 (Free, 7pm-Midnight) art • Opening Reception: memoria/memoir: Carol Flax at Volitant Gallery, 320 Congress Ave., Ste 100 (6-9pm) art • B Scene at the Blanton Museum of Art 1st Anniversary Celebration at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress ($5 members, $10 non-members, 6-11pm) art • Opening Reception: Tunnel Vision: Parading Down the... more ›

FRIDAY [27] music • While You Were Out, presented by Bueno Music Bureau, with The Unbearables, She Sir, The Scripts, Friday After Dark at Club de Ville ($5) books • Anita Gonzalez, Ph.D., presents Dancing Between Myth and Reality at CAAAS (UT - Jester A232) (3:00pm) comedy • Tig Notaro and Steve Burr at Cap City Comedy Club comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Fetish and Other... more ›

FRIDAY [20] benefit/music • Ashera-Blare-A IV with All In the Golden Afternoon, The Heirs, The Minderchucks, and The Otters at Club DeVille beer/party • Black Star Co-op's Craft Beer Celebration with Pong, Opposite Day, The Second Line Social, and fine craft beer from around the country at Fiesta Gardens (8pm-Midnight, $10) comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Room, part of Refraction Arts' Fuse Box Festival at The... more ›

FRIDAY [13] fashion • RARE Magazine Spring Fling Fashion Show at The Belmont Hi-Lo (Moved due to rain) art/music • Take That!, a show of new images by Lance McMahan, plus music by Amanda Jones, Connie Ball, & Teddy and Marge at The Opera House (7-10pm) art • Hot and Cold: The Best of Canadian Contemporary Art at Art on 5th, 1501 W 5th (10am-6pm) art • Opening Reception for abstract paintings and encaustics... more ›

Memorial services for beloved newspaper columnist Molly Ivins, who passed away on Wednesday, will be held at 2pm this Sunday afternoon at First United Methodist Church. A gathering will follow at Scholz Garden. Donations in Ivins' honor can be made to The Texas Observer or the American Civil Liberties Union at: The Texas Observer 307 West Seventh Street Austin, TX 78701 American Civil Liberties Union 125 Broad Street 18th Floor New York, NY 10004 Related:... more ›

Nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, political reporter, and beloved Austinite Molly Ivins passed away in her home yesterday at the age of 62. In a remarkable career that spanned nearly four decades, Ivins commanded the respect and admiration of a devoted national readership, who rallied around her unapologetically liberal, often satirical, and always insightful coverage of the Texas "Lege" and our leaders in Washington. Among various and sundry positions held, Ivins served as co-editor of the... more ›

I had a good one saved up. I really, really, really wanted the whole thing to go smoothly. In my mind, it was an event. A mind circus. Something that I had, in some small way, planned for a long time. I had grand expectations. more ›

Today being National Coming Out Day and all, we think it's the perfect opportunity to clue you in on a nifty nonprof that recently relocated to our little blue oasis: Fine By Me prints t-shirts emblazoned with the simple and catchy slogan, "Gay? Fine By Me." The long and short of it, as told by the FBM folks themselves: The T-Shirt Project is an easy way for the many, many Americans who support their LGBT... more ›