Margaret Cho, who it’s difficult not to adore, talks with Joy Behar about her refusal to adopt the label “bisexual,” her admiration for Adam Lambert’s queer rock sensibility, and her love of her wacky parents. My favorite bit is when she owns up to why she was kicked off the Obama campaign: she couldn’t stand Sarah Palin’s politics, but she found her so sexy.

Cho’s new concert DVD is entitled “Beautiful.” If you’ve never heard her perform, check out her unabashed, hilarious comedy.

bean and i went to the doyle & doyle xmas shindig last thursday and were given the opportunity to try on some REAL jewelry.  we’re not talking that plastic crap in pretty pretty princess that always pinched your finger/wrist whenever you shoved it on your chubby hands, but the real antique deal.  of course the majority of the baubles were under lock and key (as it should be)  but the owners had set aside a few choice gems for us eager partygoers to model.  here’s proof:

i'll be your mirror

since you’re probs uber tired of seeing just our faces, here are close-ups of some of my faves from the show.

fanning the flames

door knockers

itsy bitsy spiders

hoo's there?

superstar

solid as malachite

the jewels around my neck!

(a million thanks to the beautiful, pie-baking lauren who was there to greet us in her yuletide red tights and christian louboutin heels!)

 Beautiful by Margaret Cho

2009 (20 tracks, 1:18:23)

comedy/spoken word

“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird,and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours,we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love” -Margaret Cho

Isn’t it the best feeling ever when you find someone that you can be your goofy weird self with and they still want to have sex with you?

When your doing all your best farm animal impressions and he cant help but jump your bones in the middle of “moo moooo im a cow”,that’s love baby..thats love :]

So, you hot pieces of ass, I’m participating in Women, Action, & Media’s benefit auction. There are tons of fun things upon which you might bid–for example, show tickets & a meet + greet with Lily Tomlin, Margaret Cho, or Cyndi Lauper! You can also bid on dinner with Jessica Valenti of Feministing, which is a website for man-hating bra-burners who are bound for Hell (but probs a girly lipstick feminist Buffy kind of Hell, with Spike and shit.) It’s a great fucking site.

And there’s lots more. But wouldn’t you prefer to bid on the following?

Comedian Sara Benincasa will write a personalized poem about how the winning bidder is the sexiest feminist person of all time. The winner will be required to fill out a short, exciting questionnaire about his or her favorite things and personal characteristics. The resulting poem will be free verse and will be presented in handwritten form amidst a delightful handmade collage consisting of shit she found in her apartment. It’s a poem AND it’s Outsider Art (TM)!

Of course you would. I’m like Henry Darger combined with Bella Abzug! Wheee!

Careful...she'll cut a bitch.

Against all conventional logic, the glass ceiling in the comedy world remains intact. One would think that if Joan Rivers and Phyllis Diller could achieve great success almost half a century ago, we’d be flush with popular and successful female comics in 2009. Instead, the woman with the biggest draw is Lisa Lampanelli, who has extrapolated “I’m fat and I bang black guys” into a large venue following. Meanwhile, the brilliant Maria Bamford – easily one of the ten best comics working today regardless of gender – is better known for her recent commercials for Target than for her consistent excellence as a writer and performer. Don’t blame her for that.

Over the years we’ve seen Roseanne Barr and Ellen Degeneres and Whoopi Goldberg find tremendous success, and during the 80’s comedy boom there were several that were household names. So what’s wrong in 2009? There’s no shortage of strong current female comedians worthy of adulation, but fewer are breaking through at the level that many of the male comedians attain. Try asking a friend to name five current female comedians. You’ll likely get Lampanelli, Sarah Silverman…and a blank stare. 

Maybe they’ll come up with Wanda Sykes or Margaret Cho or Kathy Griffin, all of whom have had wider exposure thanks to multiple television shows. I doubt many would come up with Whitney Cummings, but after laughing my ass off listening to her first album (Emotional Ninja) I predict that will change very soon.

Cummings doesn’t have a schtick or a character, and her material is pretty much old school observational comedy about sex and relationships. But while she can be crude and vulgar, she’s also ferociously funny. She’s strong with a quick one liner but also has well-structured longer pieces that pile one laugh on top of another. She’s able to play both ends of the men vs. women card in such a way that you laugh at all of it regardless of your gender…probably because you realize most of what she’s talking about is absolutely true.

Cummings doesn’t talk down to the audience, she places herself within it, so we’re on her side even when we’re the butt of the joke. She’ll humble herself with a self-deprecating stinger, but she’s no victim. She might launch some vitriol towards the losers and bad dates, but she’ll also admit to being a sneaky manipulator. Basically she’s showing that we’re all playing games…so let’s get those cards on the table and laugh at how shallow and absurd it all is.

The bits that aren’t about relationships are topical but universally funny, like the banality of social networks, the true definition of yoga and wondering why we reward our friends’ biggest mistakes with gifts. I won’t spoil the punch lines, but my favorite bits - her breast exam, sleeping her way to nowhere, how women snoop on and argue with men – had me rolling. She excels at stringing together a wealth of material with exceptional timing and delivery, adept at a pregnant pause before a punch line or punctuating a sarcastic retort.

I’m not exactly going out on a limb here by praising her work. In the past couple of years her profile has soared; she’s been tagged as a rising star by Entertainment Weekly, Variety and Alternative Press. Her panel time on Chelsea Lately is usually brilliant, and her breakout performance on the Comedy Central roast of Joan Rivers was a logical next step (she had been writing for them for a couple of years). Cummings is only in her mid-twenties, yet she’s already proven to be a prolific writer and a strong performer. She’s attractive, she’s very smart, and she is fearless.

There are thirty-three tracks on Emotional Ninja, most under two minutes, and there might not be a clunker in the bunch. This is truly one of the funniest comedy CDs of the year – go get it.

Buy Emotional Ninja online

Whitney on Showtime’s Live Nude Comedy

Her killer set on Comedy Central’s Roast of Joan Rivers

Compilation of panel bits from Chelsea Lately.

Whitney Cummings website.

Mo 11/23: Margaret Cho, Carl Edwards
Tu 11/24: Maria Bello, Peter Capaldi
We 11/25: Robin Wright Penn, Wolfgang Puck
Th 11/26: Toby Keith, Michelle Monaghan (R 10/16/09)
Fr 11/27: Sherri Shepherd, Alex Dryden (R 10/26/09)

Watch Dawn French exploring the relationship between Beauty and Comedy

I had a lovely time at Comedy Death Ray at UCB last night. Scott and BJ run an incredible show. I followed the delightful Andy Kindler, no small task, but the crowd was cool and I enjoyed doing a show where people were literally sitting on fucking stage. People lined up around the block to go to CDR, just as they do each and every week. It’s really inspiring and awesome to see people wait in line for literally hours to get to see live comedy. Also performing: Jimmy Dore, Chip Pope, Moshe Kasher, Aziz Ansari, and my beloved friend Reggie Watts.

This is the promo poster for the off-Broadway play we're not doing.

I also got to hang out with my excellent friend H. Alan Scott. If you only meet one ex-Mormon with 12 siblings in your life, this young geigh comedian should be the one.

Earlier in the day, I had the unique pleasure of visiting (“Queer as Folk” star and) beloved activisit-actor-comedian Hal Sparks at his wonderful renovated 70-something year old home, which is filled with magickal statues and a wonderland of photographs and paintings and special art and music and colors. I told his assistant, Amy, who is awesome, “This is exactly the kind of house I would want if I had the chance.”

We shot an episode of Gettin’ Wet with Sara Benincasa, and a VERY special guest stopped by.

This is me as an extra in someone's gay wet dream.

I also went and visited Mr. James Urbaniak, starrrr of stage and screen and the voice of Dr. Venture on the crazy cartoon series “Venture Bros.” His twins were at nursery school, so he allowed my trusty friend Adam Finmann and I to invade his abode and interrogate him about his life and work.

GO TEAM VENTURE! I asked James to show me how to do this because a fan had demanded it, on the online.

I got to know and work with a really cool gent named Damion Dietz, director of Dog Tags (2008) and many other films. I voiced a Sarah Palin movie involving dildo puppets. NO. BIG. DEAL. We went out for Mexican food in Silverlake to celebrate the conclusion of a cumulative 12-ish hours of recording voice magic, and I got to check out a really cool altar for the Days of the Dead.

When I lived in New Mexico, we saw beautiful displays like this everywhere.

Later that night, back in Beachwood Canyon, I walked past a dude who was out grilling his dearly beloved deceased’s favorite foods. It smelled so good, and he looked kind of proud, as if he knew that people were stopping by and watching in curious admiration.

Did AGORAFABULOUS! at Largo again on Monday night. It was a really different show from the previous outing. After the first out at Largo, I think I finally got what the shape of it is going to be, thanks to some really fucking helpful notes from friends and strangers alike. So the second outing was a lot closer to the eventual “final” form it will take. Sometimes I do the show and it’s too heavy on the funny and not enough on the sad. Other times it’s too heavy on the sad and not enough on the funny. Eventually it’ll balance out. Looking forward to bouncing some ideas off the wonderful folks at Ars Nova when I get home. They’re insightful birds and bees and I know talking to them will be great. My friend Soce the Elemental Wizard and my friend Jessica Delfino are doing their ANT Fest ‘09. If you’re in NYC, check that shit out.

The “Three Card Spread” thinger will happen tomorrow night on Sara’s show “Get in Bed”. She’s talking to Margaret Cho tonight. Margaret. Cho. I have no words.

…but rather tame in the bedroom.

Seriously, when I interviewed him, it was in a hotel bedroom, and he was quite reserved.

Mika last Friday at the United Palace Theater

Someone decidedly not reserved on stage, or in the bedroom, is Margaret Cho.

[Mom and Dad, it's in your best interest to stop reading here.]

I know the “in the bedroom” part because last night at the RISK! event at Joe’s Pub, Cho revealed her love for bondage and domination behind closed doors. If you’re not familiar, RISK! is a weekly night/podcast hosted by Kevin Allison of The State, where folks get up on stage and tell true stories about themselves.

Last night’s theme was “We Were Young: Things We’d Never Do Again” and Cho regaled us with a story about being in a relationship with an unattractive man who was bad at sex. She introduced us to a fun game she plays with her friends, where she runs up to them and yells

WHY DIDN’T YOU COME?

Because that’s what the dude used to ask her when she didn’t orgasm.

Oh, how I love Margaret Cho, and her willingness to mine her personal tragedies for the benefit of comedy. I also thank her for that game, which I’m gonna start playing. Just a warning to my friends.

We were left last night with some sage advice, that being “Don’t fuck someone you don’t love.” Then she amended to “Don’t be in a relationship with someone you don’t love.” Because, yeah. The first way would make life pretty boring.

You can see the marvelous Ms. Cho when she accompanies Eugene Mirman and Kristen Schaal for John Roberts and Friends tonight at Comix.

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Margaret Cho joins a star-studded group of comedic storytellers tonight at Risk!

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

7:00 pm & 8:30 pm & 10:00 pm ($6.13 per show online): NYC improv and sketch troupes—many of whom perform at The PIT—compete against each other via this unusual annual contest in which each group, regardless of specialty, will perform both improv and sketch…as well as a comedy form known as sketchprov using the Second City routine The Pad. The 27 teams participating this year are Audience of Two, Bacivo Nuggets, Bad Luck Rising, Cool Guyot, Dave and Ethan, Do You Like This in Your Face?, Dumpster Tequila, Etc…, Foolhardy Manor, Friends of the Museum, Gentleman Caller, Halfbear, Hopeful Chester, Inside Joke Films, Maybe Sherman, Mrs. Estherhouse, Ninja Sex Party, Nobody’s Token, Party Lights, Pembroke and Lu, Peoples Sketch Association, SidViscous, Sisters!, Slapstick Picnic, Swords, Veal, and Yawn. The competition, running through Saturday, is SketchProv

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($12 ticket, plus two-drink or $12 food min. if you sit at a table): Top comics and comedic storytellers—who tonight are Margaret Cho, Tom Shillue, Mike Daisey, Jon Friedman, and Rachel Dratch—join brilliant sketch comic and storyteller Kevin Allison (The State) in Joe’s Pub to share tales on the theme “Never Again” at the exciting new weekly storytelling event Risk!

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Delightfully quirky monthly storytelling show in which comics and comedic yarn-spinners are asked to reveal aspects of themselves that are odd and unusual—and that includes such carnival elements as an accordion player, and a challenging trivia contest for someone in the audience to win a bottle of wine. Tonight’s performers are Peter Aguero (Conan O’Brien, Moth GrandSlam, BTK Band), Bruce Cherry (Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn), Amy Dixon (UCBT), Becky Flaum (UCBT) ,and thoroughly charming and razor-sharp host Leslie Goshko (Manhattan Monologue Champion, UCBT): Sideshow Goshko

[FREE] 8:00: Sharp NYC stand-ups Emily Epstein, Jamie Lee, Chris Doucette, Rocco Supreme, Mark Giordano, and Nate Min performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Thoroughly wonderful stand-ups Eugene Mirman, Pete Holmes, Kumail Nanjiani, and Matt McCarthy performing at a free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn’s Cameo (behind Lovin’ Cup) hosted by Jenny Slate (Saturday Night Live), Gabe Liedman and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): One of the finest comedic storytelling shows in the country, in which brilliant writer/performers—who tonight are Anthony Atamanuik (30 Rock), John Flynn (Showgirls! Best Movie Ever Made. Ever!), Noah Garfinkel (Totally J/K), Mark Sam Rosenthal (stellar one-man show Blache Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire), and wonderful host David Martin—tell tales that are brutally honest and utterly hilarious, with tonight’s theme “Sexual Embarrassment:” The Nights of Our Lives

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that’s part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don’t forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

17 Again

17 Again.
DVD mit Zac Efron

Was würden Sie tun, wenn Sie im Leben einen zweite Chance bekämen? 1989: Mike O’Donnell ist der Star des Basketballteams seiner High School.

Einer glänzenden Zukunft scheint nichts im Wege zu stehen. Doch dann beschließt er auf seine große Karriere zu verzichten, denn kurz vor dem alles entscheidenden Spiel erfährt er, dass seine Freundin Scarlet schwanger ist. Er will nun das richtige tun und entscheidet sich für Freundin und Baby.

Rund zwanzig Jahre später: Mikes glorreiche Zeiten sind vorbei. Die Ehe mit Scarlet ist zerbrochen, im Job wird er bei der Beförderung übergangen und seine Teenagerkids halten ihn für einen Versager. Doch er bekommt wie durch ein Wunder eine zweite Chance und wird plötzlich wieder 17 Jahre alt.

Darsteller: Matthew Perry, Brian Doyle-Murray, Thomas Lennon, Lorna Scott, Leslie Mann, Gregory Sporleder, Zac Efron, Michelle Trachtenberg, Vanessa Lee Chester, Hunter Parrish, Larry Poindexter, Melora Hardin, Loren Lester, Christopher Scott, Margaret Cho, Jim Gaffigan, Rachele Brooke Smith, Nicole Sullivan, Ellis Williams, Danielle E. Hawkins, Keith Oney, Will Schaub, Allison Miller, Lindsay Taylor, Diana-Maria Riva, Tommy Dewey, Tiya Sircar, Adam Gregory, Katrina Norman, Jeanine Jackson, Bubba Lewis, Angee Hughes, Collette Wolfe, David M. Tran, Linda Eve Miller, Michael Bretten, Leonard Wu, Antonio Lewis Todd, Sagine, Darin Maddox, Daniel Bateman, Renee Krieg, Mihran Kirakosian, Chanel Malvar, Rhapsody, G. Lane Hillman, Jeff Snyder, Melissa Ordway, Martin Pierron, Cody Kennedy, Justin C. Todd, Megan Galiber, Kiara Nicole Ely, Amber Estrada, Tiana Brown, Chris Valenti, Ed Ackerman, Josie Lopez, Tyler Steelman, Jobeth Wagner, Jonathan Newkerk, Jason Castle, Jaclyn Matfus, Raymond Chacon, Terrance Harrison, Tyne Stecklein, Liana Blackburn, Alexander Goschin, Katerina Graham, Jordan Schatz, Eric McCoy, Dres Reid, Galen Hooks, Tasha Monique Clark, Shelby Rabara, Hope Riley, Kodi Kitchen, Randy Gordon, Mario Cassem, Sterling Knight.  Filmperlen Bewertung ****

True love, destiny and fate — all spark an age old debate

Ending the first season on a spectacularly high note, Drop Dead Diva’s finale dealt with no less weighty issues than: Are we destined to have one true love?  Are our lives predetermined by destiny?  Or is it all simply a matter of fate? These were the questions delicately and quite humorously addressed and, unfortunately, left hanging in this episode.  For Deb (Brooke Elliott) had begun to wonder about her life as Jane and whether it meant that she must live the life old Jane carved-out, or if she can change her life and live as a new Jane.

Fresh off her inadvertent date with Grayson (Jackson Hurst) in the prior episode, after Tony (David Denman) had canceled at the last minute due to work and Kim (Kate Levering) had broken up with Grayson, we got a glimpse into Grayson’s inner thoughts as he awoke from a dream about nearly kissing Jane.  The expression on his face clearly showed his confusion about the dream and what it meant.

But, in Jane’s world, things are going smoothly with Tony (David Denman) who thoughtfully brought Jane lunch at the office and invited her on a romantic getaway to Napa.  Grayson could only watch in the background contemplating how he felt about Jane.  Later Grayson inadvertently admitted to Stacy (April Bowlby) that he was having trouble sleeping because he had been dreaming about Jane.  Predictably, Stacy told Jane about Grayson’s revealing disclosure and that put Jane in a quandary:  does she continue to pursue the relationship with Tony or take the time to find out whether Grayson feels something for her?

Continue reading article at:

http://nicegirlstv.com/2009/10/15/drop-dead-diva-%e2%80%93-grayson%e2%80%99s-anatomy/

If you get the chance to see Margaret Cho on her most recent tour and you enjoy raunchy humor, go.

This was my third time to see Cho and she never disappoints.  This time around she showcased both her musical talents and the talents of John Roberts.  Roberts opened for Cho and he is a lot of fun - donning different wigs, he adopts crazy characters, my favorite of which was Linda, the hippy lesbian with homicidal violence brimming just under the surface.

The recent show may be my favorite – the focus was more on creative expressions of silliness rather than politics or preachiness.  It was a lot of fun and I was sad when it ended.

On a personal note, the best part for me was the company – I went with Spencer, Kfir and Skanky.  We had a ball.  The show was at Harrah’s in Kansas City, so beforehand we ate at Toby Keith’s restaurant, which, due to the show, was full of more homosexuals than you could shake a stick at (no pun intended).  Quite unusual for that establishment, I can imagine.  Afterwards we went to the casino and I won twenty dollars!

On Saturday, we all went to brunch and then Skanky and I hit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  I had never been before and really enjoyed it – they have a very extensive collection.  Afterwards, she and I made the trek to Dean and Deluca for baked goods and gourmet razzmatazz.  Man, if I lived in Kansas City, I would be fucking classy.

don’t forget, folks, last chance to register is october 18th! click here for info…

check out the most recent list of bands…is this not a huge mindfuck??

The Lights Out – A Million Years – Acrylics – Adam and Dave’s Bloodline – Adam Matta – Adam Tensta – Adventure – Alex Gopher – Alexandra Hope – All Day Holiday – Aloha – Amber Rubarth – Amy Kuney – An Albatross – Anamanaguchi – The Antlers – April Smith and the Great Picture Show – Atlas Sound – Bear Hands – Beat Radio – BELL – Benjamin Wagner – Benji Cossa – Bermuda – Big Takeover – Birds of Avalon – Black Hollies – Black Taxi – Blacklist – Blood Warrior – Bloodsugars – Body Language – Bonerama – Break Science feat. Adam Deitch – Brit and the Calvary – Broadcast – Brother Josephus & the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra – The Budos Band – Cale Parks – Calypso – Casino vs Japan – Choir of Young Believers – Chris Barron & Friends – Chris Kasper – Christopher Denny – Clare and the Reasons – Claymation Velociraptor – Clinton Curtis – Cobra Skulls – Corridor – Crystal Antlers – Cymbals Eat Guitars – Dada Life – Danger – Dan Torres – Dang-It Bobby’s – Daniel Pujol – Dark Meat – Dark Room Notes – Darshan – Darwin Deez – Das Racist – Deer Tick – Denney and the Jets – Dent May – The Depreciation Guild – DeScribe – Diane Birch – Dick Prall – The Dig – Dinowalrus – Disciplines – Diwon – Dizzy Gillespie™ Alumni All-Stars – DJ Jonathan Toubin – DJ Odd Nosdam – Dolorean – Drawlings – Dred Scott Trio – Drink Up Buttercup – Drug Rug – Dum Dum Girls – ear pwr – ECHOecho – Electro Morocco – EOTO – Eprhyme – Ethan Lipton – Every Avenue – Excepter – Eyehategod – Felix Cartel – Fervor – Fieros – Fionn O Lochlainn – First Aid Kit – Flexions – Floating Action – Flying Machines – Fool’s Gold – Foreign Echange – Frat Dad – Free Energy – French Horn Rebellion LIVE – French Miami – FUCT – The Fumes – Furcast – Generationals – Gentleman Reg – Gigi Fouquet – Goat Whore – Golden Boots – Golden Triangle – Grammar Debate – Great Republic of Rough and Ready – Greg Davis – Guyora Kats – Hank and Cupcakes – Harlem – Headlights – Heath Brandon – Heavy Cream – Heavy Weather – Hecuba – Helado Negro – Hesta Prynn – Hey Champ DJ – Higgins – The High Strung – Higher Giant – The Hi-Risers – Hockey – Holiday Shores – Hollerado – Hollis Brown – Holy Sons – Home and Garden – Hospital Bombers – Hot Panda – HotChaCha – Ian Axel – Ian Thomas – Immaculate Machine – Inlets – Ivan “Funkboy” Bodley – Ivana XL – J. Dash – Jaguar Club – James Husband – James Maddock – Janel and Anthony – Japandroids – Javelin – JBM – J.D. Souther – Jeff Taylor – JEFF The Brotherhood – Jess King – Joey Cape (Lagwagon) and Jon Snodgrass (Drag The River) – Jonny Hirsch – Josh Mease – Julius C – Jupiter One – Kaiser Cartel – K-Holes – Kosha Dillz – Kria Brekkan – LA Riots – La Strada – Las Rubias Del Norte – Laura Marling – Laura Warshauer – Lemon Bell – Leslie Mendelson – Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez – Lia Ices – Like Bells – Lisa Bianco – Local Natives – Lost In The Trees – Lovvers – Lynch (ft. Jim Loughlin of moe.) – Marcus Johnson – Margaret Cho – Marianna Falusi – Math the Band – Mere – Michael Daves – Michal Towber – Mickey Factz – Midnight Juggernauts – The Mieka Canon – Mighty Five DJ – Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – The Minutes – Miz Metro – Modern Science – Modern Skirts – The Moi Non Plus – Mon Khmer – Montag – The Moore Brothers – Mr. Move – Múm – Mumford & Sons – Mutlu – Mystery of Two – The Naked Hearts – Nate Campany – Nathan Corsi Band – Natural Child – The Neanderthals – New Villager – Ninjasonik – NLX – Obits – The Octagon – Owen – The Pack A.D. – Paleo – Papa – The Paparazzi – Patrick Watson – Pela – Pepi Ginsberg – Pete & J – Pig Destroyer – Pill Wonder – Pissed Jeans – Pitbull – Pocketknife – The Polyamorous Affair – Portugal. The Man – Princeton – Puba – Ravens & Chimes – Red Wire Black Wire – Richard Julian – Right On Dynamite – Rings – Rob Roy – Rumspringa – Saul Williams – Savoir Adore – School of Seven Bells – Screaming Females – Sean Bones – Selmanaires – Shaky Hands – Shayna Zaid and The Catch – Shout Out Out Out Out – Signer – Silver Starling – Sin Fang Bous – Sissy Wish – Sister Hazel – Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds – Slow Club – So Many Wizards – So So Glos – Social Hero – Sonya Kitchell – Souljah – Space Capone – Speech Debelle – The Spinto Band – Squaaks – The Stalkers – The Star Department – Stationary Set – Still Flyin’ – Still Life Still – Strong Intention – Subplots – Suckers – Sugar & Gold – Super Extra Bonus Party – Superdrag – Superhuman Happiness – The Surrender – Sxip Shirey – Takka Takka – Tall Tall Trees – Taylor Barton with GE Smith – Teenage Bottlerocket – Telepathe – The Temper Trap – Terry Poison – Tickley Feather – Timber Timbre – The Title Tracks – The Toby Lightman – Tommie Sunshine – Toro y Moi – The Trashmen – Trouble Andrew –True Womanhood – Twi The Humble Feather – Two Man Gentlemen Band – The Uglysuit – U-God – Underwater People – Unnatural Helpers – The Unsacred Hearts – UUVVWWZ – Val Emmich – Vega – Vertical Horizon – Very Best – Via Tania – VIKING – Wallpaper – Warpaint – We Are Country Mice – We Are Enfant Terrible – We Are The World – We Should Be Dead – The Wheel – White Tie Affair – Wild Light – Wild Yaks – Wiyos – The xx – Y-Love – Yes Giantess – Zac Brown Band – Zaza – Zeus – Zs – Z-Trip – Zuri Star – ZzZ

(Mostly) inspirational quotes

Success is meaningless if you can’t sleep at night because of harsh things said, petty secrets sharpened against hard and stony regret, just waiting to be plunged into the soft underbelly of a ‘friendship.’
            — Margaret Cho, Margaret Cho’s Weblog, 04-12-2006

If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.
            — George Bernard Shaw

You can’t do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.
            — Evan Esar

Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything.
            — Eugene Delacroix

A dog is the greatest gift a parent can give a child. OK, a good education, then a dog.
            — John Grogan, An Interview with John Grogan, 2008

Noise Addict's new release, "it was never about the audience"

For several years now, I have loved Ben Lee. The best explanation that I can give is that his music just makes me exceedingly happy. I can literally turn on Ben Lee when I need to be cheered up and it will work.

When I saw a Twitter update from comedian and a star on Lifetime’s new hit show Drop Dead Diva, Margaret Cho, saying that Ben Lee had a new project, I decided to look into it.

It turns out that while it may not be an entirely new project, an old band of Ben’s has reunited in some form or fashion. Noise Addict, with Ben Lee on vocals, released an album earlier this month titled it was never about the audience.

If you like Ben Lee, you will love this music. It’s like some of his older stuff and Awake Is the New Sleep had a love child. Some of the songs are very short- I liken them to short, unfinished artistic vignettes. Listening to this album is like playing music with your friends in the garage.

If you’ve made it this far into this post then you’ve earned a reward. I know a little secret: Noise Addict is giving away their album to their fans entirely free. No strings attached. You can download it for yourself at their website. Happy listening!

HIGHLIGHTS