SMCOMEDY.COM

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!

Episode 23: Scotch w/ Troy Conrad...Part 1

2012-01-04T15:54:14Z

Happy first Wednesday of 2012! Actually, we don't give a shit; it's just another Wednesday. What an enthusiastic intro for a podcast, huh?

On today's S&M, we have part one of our two part interview with Troy Conrad to share with your eager ears. You may not have yet heard of Troy if you're fairly new to the PHX comedy scene, but you're almost certainly hanging ten on waves he helped create here before moving to L.A. to train at UCB and Second City. That training, melded with an entrepreneurial vision and distaste toward the idiot status quo, has led Troy to fearlessly create such acts as The Comedy Jesus Show, Angry Townhall, and his current pride & joy, an improvised stand-up show wildly popular among comics and international audiences, Set List: Comedy Without a Net. So prolific is Troy that we had to break this interview into two separate podcasts to temper the avalanches of information that would otherwise snow-in your comedic brain. Enjoy digging out like you've never enjoyed it before.

Upcoming shows for us: Sanderson and Marek will be performing the all new material show at the Hidden House on 1/4. Steve Marek will be performing at Copper Blues and Filmbar on 1/10, while Jamie Sanderson will be in Kansas City, hanging with his old, arthritic, Alzheimer's riddled mama. Aaaawwww.

Also, on January 29th the S&M guys will both be performing at the Comedy Spot in Scottsdale. Get advance tickets for the 9pm show at www.TheComedySpot.net

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, a free special event with Tom Clark, as seen on Comedy Central's Premium Blend! Tickets available at Ticketmaster, just click on the 'free special events at Pants for which you do not need tickets' tab at the top of the screen.

Pertinent Links:

Check out www.setlistshow.com for upcoming dates, including 1/27 at SF Sketchfest (can you say PHX Comedy Roadtrip?) and every Friday at Flapper's in Burbank CA at 5pm.

Also check out www.troyconrad.net to see all of Troy's projects, including Comedy Jesus and "Runyon: Just Above Sunset" starring Jim Earl and Eddie Pepitone.

Never forget the podcast on Facebook www.facebook.com/smcomedy, never forget 9/11, and never forget to email us at smcomedysucks@gmail.com.

We're also the proud owner of a new Twitter account. Follow us @SMComedySucks

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

Slowly Hurdling the Hurdles.

2011-12-28T17:08:26Z

Time for a quick Wednesday morning blog post, then back to the holiday hangover.

For whatever reason, we here at the S&M Comedy Podcast have a tendency, whether unhealthy or not, for setting mental hurdles and roadblocks for ourselves. It's an inclination for compartmentalisation that has run through our lives, long before we met a decade ago. We don't really know where it stems from, and that's less important than recognising those self-imposed roadblocks and plowing through them, leaping over them, or simply realising that they're only in our own stupid, self-defeating heads and we can just ignore them as we carry out our day.

You'll be proud of your little S&M Podcasteers this morning, as we handsomely devastated one of those roadblocks just last night at the Lenny Lizzard Birthday Roast at Prankster's Too in Scottsdale. Neither of us had ever done a roast, and it's safe to say that our long-winded setups and not very "jokey-joke" style of comedy is not well suited to the quick set-up/punch style so frequently showcased by the popular Comedy Central roasts, but we wanted to be a part of Lenny's birthday, regardless of the tremendous cost that our egos may have to pay.

In typical S&M fashion, we did not want to be unprepared, so we did our research on the other performers, scrutinised every word uttered by Jeff Ross and Greg Giraldo on the Comedy Central roasts, and we wrote our asses off for several weeks. Last night finally came, and before a packed house, we unfurled our formidable comedy cocks and let them sway meatily in the breeze. We did well, we got heartfelt laughs, we passed out stickers to audience members that weren't aware of the local comedy scene, and we had a genuinely great time. Most importantly, however, we demolished one of our self-imposed roadblocks and discovered a new skill for writing quick jokes, an ability to churn out eight new minutes under pressure, and a new self-confidence in hurdling our mental hurdles.

Upcoming shows for us: Both Sanderson and Marek will be at the Icehouse Tavern for Sean McCarthy's 43rd birthday on 12/28/11. It's not necessarily a roast, but we'll see if we can't slip some digs in there.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, Anthony Desamito, Dustin Elkin, Jason Marshall, John Connell, Josh Dent, Josh Stark, Marc Crossman, Matt Anderson, Mike Gillerman, Steven Cathcart, Teddy Bearskovich and Zack Andresen will have you laughing so hard you'll extinguish your yule log and blow over your Christmas tree!

Thanks for reading; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Self-Aware, Artificially Intelligent PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 22: Chicken Tacos with Polkadot Cadaver

2011-12-21T16:37:29Z

Feliz Navidad (and shut the hell up, Xchel) from your beloved S&M Comedy Elves!

This week's podcast features our first foray into music interviews, with Dave Cullen and Todd Smith from Polkadot Cadaver. Yes, Polkadot Cadaver. They're a very awesome, unique, tongue-in-cheek band from Baltimore, risen from the ashes of another awesome, unique, tongue-in-cheek band from Baltimore, Dog Fashion Disco. Both bands are characterised by their eclectic styles, blending metal, circus music, and new wave with dark, sinister lyrics and Mike Patton-inspired vocals. As big fans, we were happy to sit down with them at Los Favoritos Taco Shop before their show at The Clubhouse. That's right, motherfucker, we fucking interviewed a fucking band named fucking Polkadot Cadaver at a fucking taco shop in a fucking strip mall in fucking Tempe. We're fucking street like that.

Upcoming shows for us: Both Sanderson and Marek will be at Pranksters Too for the Lenny Lizard roast on 12/27.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, soak in a tub of eggnog seasoned with the comedy of Kirk Buckhout, Justin Phillips, Charlie Speez, Chris Felix, Dave Schnier, Demetrius Lee, Kon Stamadianos, Michael Sanchez, Reggie Campbell, Rick Roddam, Stuart Mazzio and Tom Sims!

Pertinent Links:

Sadomasochistic podcasts on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Email all your testaments of newly discovered enjoyment of the music of Polkadot Cadaver to us at smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Polkadot's very own record label, featuring all Dog Fashion Disco, Polkadot Cadaver, El Creepo and Knives Out releases: www.razortowrist.com/

Polkadot Cadaver on Facebook: www.facebook.com/polkadotcadaver?ref=ts

Like Todd Smith's family friendly solo project, El-Creepo! on your Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/El-Creepo/176963323009

Good luck not being creeped out by Polkadot Cadaver's Chloroform Girl:

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Hubristic, Decadent, Bacchanalian PHX Comedy Scene!

Happy Pointless Birthday

2011-12-14T16:16:33Z

Alright, let's get this out of the way quick and easy: No show at Monkey Pants this Thursday because of bar caroling. If you want to be involved in bar caroling, go down to Pants at 6.30, pay $60, and you will be driven from bar to bar in a goofy sweater, singing carols and drinking a shitload. Your money covers drinks and tips at all bars. It's a good deal and a great time; no comedy show, though. Also, Steve Marek will be at the Comedy Spot on 12/18. Visit www.thecomedyspot.net for more information.

Now, for the business at hand. This Friday, 12/16/11, will be the 50th birthday of Bill Hicks. Hicks was an amazing comedian that never held back, never compromised, consciously attempting to further his art by injecting his acerbic judgements of life, religion, and culture into his stand-up. He could shock an audience with his vulgarity and his morality, sometimes in the same sentence. He paved the way for countless comedians to speak their minds about what they saw was wrong with the world, and to do it within the confines of a comedy stage. There were some before him, like George Carlin and Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor, but those guys weren't Hicks, shouting and screaming from the stage, sweat dripping, leaving bits of soul on the stage, dying to have his truth heard.

Bill Hicks is the reason why this podcast exists. When I first met Steve in 2001, we both knew Hicks' comedy, and it was the only thing we had in common. It was the springboard for everything else that came after. From there we learned to appreciate or tolerate each other's taste in music, we played in bands together, and we started our own adventures in comedy together directly because of Hicks' influence on us.

When we first started going to shows, we were very pleasantly surprised by the caliber of the local performers, but it didn't take long for us to realise that the local comedians just didn't quite have OUR voice. They were making us laugh, but they weren't shining a light on a dark subject like we wanted to. They were entertaining audiences, but they weren't shouting from the pulpit like we felt we could. They were getting laughs, but they weren't changing minds...and that's why we started doing comedy.

Of course, there's been a lot of learning since we started doing stand-up. Lesson 1. It's impossible to get good laughs, subvert a paradigm, and ignite the lust of every woman in the room when you have a mere 6-8 minutes to perform. Lesson 2. The more we learn, the more we realise just how vast is the gap between Hicks' stand-up and our own. Lesson 3. Read Lesson 2 until your eyes dry out.

No one has affected us nearly as much as Hicks. Recently at work, after listening to 2005's "Sane Man" on Netflix, I turned to Steve and said, "Patton who?" After leaving a screening of "American: The Bill Hicks Story" at Madcap Theaters, Steve jokingly told me he was quitting comedy. Something in Hicks' material gets under our skin and gives us chills. Something in Hicks' performances makes us believe that if we can find a similar freedom on stage, maybe we'll be happy.

I don't ordinarily care about the birthdays of dead people- hell, I don't ordinarily care about the birthdays of living people. This one matters to me, however. Maybe it's because I want to follow Bill Hicks' trajectory so tightly, because I want to emulate him so badly, because I want to bear his flag into the great spiritual and cultural battles that are waging right now, that I'm thinking of his birthday. That Hicks would've had 17 more years of experience today to apply to the crashing Euro, to the Occupy Wall Street movement, and to the deplorable state of American politics is an awe-inspiring idea.

But that's a what-if that can never be answered, and will only take up valuable time and creativity. It's far more important that we at the S&M Comedy Podcast simply issue a fondest of happy birthday wishes to the ether, pick up a mic and keep blurting out in the name of truth, to never back down, and never stop growing. That is the truest emulation of Hicks that we can muster, and the most fitting tribute to his memory that we can offer.

Episode 21: Kyle Cease A-GoGo

2011-12-07T15:52:48Z

Good morning! Did you have sweet dreams? That's nice. Now go to work and keep dying slowly.

This week's podcast features our conversation with national comedian, actor, and renowned motivational speaker Kyle Cease. You may know Kyle from his 2007 one-hour Comedy Central special, "Kyle Cease: Weirder. Blacker. Dimpler." and roles in "Not Another Teen Movie" and "10 Things I Hate About You."

Kyle was in town, performing two nights at The Comedy Spot in Scottsdale, and he was gracious enough to speak with us in the bar at the Spot while waiting to go onstage. It was a good talk, one we were very excited to get, because Kyle is known for his ability to help comedians improve their performances, their love lives, their hair growth, their penis size, and earn millions upon millions of dollars. OH YES HE CAN!

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, feel the natural ebb and flow of life and comedy with Kingsley Amukamara, Christian Avila, Jeff Turbitt, Brian Lester, David Giordano, Jimmie Whisman, Jorge Ruiz, Kevin Maxwell, Marc Crossman, Remy Burgess and Travis Lee. Find peace and stillness through laughter and hot dogs.

Pertinent Links:

Your one stop Kyle Cease shop, complete with videos, twitter links, and performance schedules: http://kylecease.com/

Like the podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Email us at smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Thanks for listening, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Breathing, Expanding, Shrinking, All-Knowing, All-Loving PHX Comedy Scene!

Oh the Exhaustion

2011-11-30T18:10:36Z

The holidays have descended without mercy. Nightfall comes early these days, sapping the energy of every living creature with relentless bleakness and piercing chill. All the zest with which you normally approach your days is just out of reach, shrouded in a dense fog of shopping in bland malls for gifts to render a weak, fleeting joy from someone you grow further apart from year after year. You wake every morning in the cold and dark, feeling like a fat waif wandering Depression-era alleys searching for a crust of bread to sustain your body one more miserable day. If only there were something to take your mind off the seemingly neverending onslaught of lethargic apathy punctuated by moments of despair- something to make you laugh for a while, share a timely endorphin-releasing memory with friends, maybe even meet a girl or three. Something like...shutting the fuck up and going to a comedy show. Yeah. That's nice.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at the Icehouse Tavern on 11/30 for the Genevieve Rice Snark Show.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, feel the joy of pain and the pain of joy with Kon Stamadianos, Teddy Bearskovich, Alex Lightfoot, Dan Hull, Derek Williams, Dustin Elkin, Jerry Rider, Josh Stark, KB Bolin, Markus "Booge" WIlliams, Michael Sanchez, and...and...oh god, do I have to type this...and Tampon Man.

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

Episode 20: Howard Hughes Vs. The World

2011-11-23T16:08:27Z

A good Wednesday to you and yours during this fine, burgeoning holiday season! Butter your bird and burden your butt with another podcast from S&M Comedy!

Today we share with you our interview of Howard Hughes. Howard runs Stand-Up Scottsdale, a comedy venue that, in less than two years, has grown from a side room at a rock & roll club to a side room at a hotel restaurant into the current incarnation, a free-standing comedy club boasting a small-stage lounge for local open mics and a large main room with two bars and 170 seats!

Howard Hughes tends to be a bit of a lightning rod on the local comedy scene, as free with his opinions as he is. In this interview, you'll hear opinions as layered as a spring mix salad with dried cranberries, gorgonzola cheese crumbles, and candied pine nuts on topics ranging from educating audiences on comedy, the importance of integrity of material, Phoenix comedy clubs, and humor in Mexico City. Yeah, Mexico City.

Upcoming shows for us: Both Sanderson and Marek will be at the Hidden House on 11/23.

There is no show this Thursday at Monkey Pants due to Thanksgiving. Monkey Pants will still be open, however, in case you need a bacon wrapped deep fried hot dog smothered in nacho cheese to top off all that turkey drowning in a puddle of semidigested mashed potatoes with thick magenta veins of jellied cranberry sauce. Just in case. You can never have your bases too covered.

Pertinent Links:

For upcoming shows at Stand Up Scottsdale, visit http://standupscottsdale.com/

Facebook profiles of Howard Hughes and Stand Up Scottsdale are here, just for you: https://www.facebook.com/HHlive https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stand-up-Scottsdale/119885174690274

Email the podcast at smcomedysucks@gmail.com

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

Thanks for listening, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Overeating, Going Back For Seconds, Who The Hell Took All The Stuffing PHX Comedy Scene!

The Calm Before The Storm Before The Calm

2011-11-16T16:25:25Z

Time for another meanderful blog post!

It's that time of year. You know, that batten down the hatches, get ready for the panic, waiting for the cyclone time of year. Not sure whether to quit going to shows now to find a moment's peace before the tornadic activity of the holiday season, or to hit as many shows as possible to fill up the tank in preparation for all your free time to be swallowed up by the whirlpool of family functions and shopping and overeating and early nightfall. Then, just as the frenetic pace begins to seem normal, the holidays will be gone, and a residue of gluttony and parentally-induced post traumatic stress disorder will be left on our souls, like three consecutive days without a shower. But hey, at least this year you didn't have to sit at the kid's table.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at Stand Up Scottsdale on 11/16. Steve Marek will be at The Comedy Spot on 11/17.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, the unbridled hilarity of Mike James, Stu Baker, Brian Lester, Mike Gillerman, Brian Kohatsu, Dan Miller, Charlie Speez, Tom Sims, Dave Schnier and Jim Bambrough will make you forget about how much terror you feel when you think of spending the holidays your loser family for at least a little while.

Pertinent Links:

Be the first on your block to like the podcast on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Be the first on your block to email the podcast: smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Be another anonymous face in the hoary throng of comics at Monkey Pants by emailing jokes@monkeypantsbar.com

Thanks for reading; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Seasonal Depression Suffering PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 19: Sean Dillin Is Who He Thought He Was

2011-11-09T16:16:03Z

Time for a hard-hitting dose of journalistic integrity, delivered by the reporters on the street- Jamie Sanderson and Steve Marek, the diuretic duo known as the S&M Comedy Podcast! Boom! Pow! Biff!

In the current paradigm of American language, phrases like "ultimately," "at the end of the day," and "it is what it is" are bandied about when there is nothing left to say about a situation, and it's time for every individual to examine what's going on by using their personal judgement that has been cultivated by their individual genetic makeup and years of unique experience. There are a lot of those moments here in our discussion with Comedy Spot proprietor Sean Dillin.

We got to talk to Sean about his take on the local comedy scene, running his comedy club, and how comedians can improve their performances and further their careers. Having not had much insight into Dillin's personality prior to sitting down with him, in this talk we discovered that as a club owner, his first priority is to his audiences. If an audience is happy, the performer is happy, and that sometimes gets lost in the chaos of the comedic brain, always searching for the next edgiest, most mind-blowing, power-usurping rant to unleash on an unsuspecting comedy crowd.

No, we didn't delve into the drama too deeply, but we got some good insight into a great room and the way it's run, and we look forward to continuing a healthy relationship in the future with the Comedy Spot. Because ultimately, the S&M Comedy Podcast only wants to do good interviews that performers can use to step up their game and become more complete comedians at the end of the day, and those more complete comedians can look back and say, "it isn't what it's not." Or something like that.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at the IceHouse Tavern on 11/10. Steve Marek will be at FlimBar on 11/15.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, feel the warm intellect and moist humor of Chanzo Tambuzi, Christian Avila, Jon Neal, Matt Storrs, Patrick Rosetti, Ryan Stoltz, Scott Stoyer, Liliya Souslova, Zack Andresen, and Jas Clay! Mmmmmm. Warm and moist....

Pertinent Links:

For all manner of information regarding The Comedy Spot, including events, classes, and booking for open mics, visit www.thecomedyspot.net

Send us mail. No really. smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Sado-masochistic Facebook page!!! www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Buzzword-Dropping, Cliche-Hurling, Playing to Win the Game PHX Comedy Scene!

Age Before Beauty

2011-11-02T19:28:54Z

Hey there. Want a Wednesday blog post? You got it.

It's a few days after Halloween, and Jamie's back still hurts. You read that right. You see, Jamie thought it would be a lot of fun to dress up as a slutty devil in order to make fun of all the hot girls in skimpy outfits that seem to crawl out of the darkness on 10/31. (Although kudos to the hot girl in the Julia Roberts "Pretty Woman" prostitute outfit on Mill Ave. Hot and slutty, with a dollop of witticism on top.) To achieve these mean-spirited ends, Jamie dressed up in a red sequined tube top, red sequined horns, a red tutu, black fishnets and black, thigh-high five-inch heeled boots. Oh, and his esposed white, bulbous, fat, gelatinous protruding beer belly to complete the ensemble. and headed out to Mill with girlfriend and friends to join the hoary throng.

As it turns out, bearded pale fat dudes ironically dressed in skimpy women's outfits are very popular, particularly among hispanic males, aged 24-34. After repeated photo shoots with various passers-by, several enthusiastic young bros hefted Jamie off the ground, flipped him up in the air, and spread his legs to expose the black frilly underwear beneath the red tutu. You read that right as well, friend. The gentlemen returned Jamie bootfirst to the ground with an air of chivalry, albeit a bit clunkily, and now old Jamie's lower back is officially wrenched. It's not often that we say "we're getting too old for this," but when it comes to being contorted in midair by a swarm of horny mexicans to expose frilly underpants, yeah, we're getting too old for this.

Upcoming shows for us: Steve Marek will be at Hidden House on 11/2. Jamie Sanderson is enjoying a break from performance.

A very special night of comedy this Thursday at Monkey Pants- it's Morgan Captain's Grandma's Comedy Rec Room, featuring Malik Robinson, Jas Clay, Liliya Souslova, Chris Bennett, Xchel Hernandez-Zendejas, and Justin Phillips! Join these terrific comedians as they sit around the fireplace exchanging stories , answer audience questions, and entertain the audience and judges Dan Hoen Hull, Steve Marek, and Jamie Sanderson for an illustrious headlining spot at Monkey Pants!

Thanks for reading, keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Candy-Stuffed, Sugar High-Inducing PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 18: Godspeed Sean McCarthy

2011-10-26T16:44:11Z

It's Wednesday morning, the cocks are crowing, the coffee's flowing, and the podcast is ready to roll gently into your ears.

This week, we have our second Sean McCarthy interview to thrust upon you. We were glad to have Sean back on the podcast and to actually have him at the Official S&M Comedy Card Table, now that Steve's place is no longer under construction, as it was when we recorded episode 14. Sean came over and brought his frenetic whirlwind of energy, churning guinea pigs and musical instruments in his wake. It's easy to fill time when chatting with McCarthy. Good god this motherfucker can talk.

Upcoming shows for us: Steve Marek will be at Casey Jones on 10/26, Handlebar J on 10/31, and Prankster's Too on 11/1. Jamie Sanderson is on a diet and recharging the batteries.

Get your money's worth at another stellar free Monkey Pants Thursday Night Comedy night with Jeffrey Wiles, Brian Lester, Chris Stone, David Giordano, Eric Smith, Hershy Petty, Jim Bambrough, John Higbee, Michael Sanchez, Rick Larsen, Steve Jenkins and Zack Andresen!

Pertinent Links:

View the history of Sean, from Australopithecus to Neanderthal to Modern McCarthy: www.phunnycomic.com

Email us your anti-Wall Street manifesto and we'll read it (no we won't) on the next podcast! smcomedysucks@gmail.com

Like the podcast on Facebook, everyone's doing it! www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Thanks for listening; keep coming out to shows and supporting the Live, Local, Entrepeneurial, Philanthropic, DIY Against All Odds Phoenix Comedy Scene!

Contests and Confidence

2011-10-19T18:15:35Z

From the desk of Steve Marek:

I am not a winner.

I think most of us who get into comedy aren't winners, otherwise we would have succeeded at the dreams we set out for (unless your dream was to be in comedy).

I participated in the finals for a comedy contest this Monday. I never intended to make it into the finals. My philosophy was simply to get stage time, and if I can make people laugh, I win--and I win regardless of actually placing. By some strange twist of fate I took second and advanced to the finals. I competed this past Monday and did horrible, at least in my own eyes.

The problem with competition is that I take it too seriously, not to mention comedy is subjective, so to have a constest is a ridiculous idea in some regards. I'm not knocking this particular contest, its just the reality of any competition involving art. Instead of focusing on doing something that was enjoyable to both myself and the crowd, I spent my time trying to figure out the best way to win, not realizing that both are the same. Ultimately, a comedy contest is just another show. Whether we are performing for $500 or for free we should still be peforming to the best of our ability.

I spent part of Monday night questioning my own existence, but a bad show doesn't signify the end, nor should it signify the end for any of us. I'm always grateful for the opportunity to make people laugh and will continue to do my best in that area.

From the desk of Jamie Sanderson:

I didn't even place in the contest, so fuck that whiny bitch Steve Marek.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson is at Dillon's on Central and Hidden House on 10/19, and at Firestage on 10/21. Steve Marek is at Joe's Grotto on 10/19.

This week at Monkey Pants, come celebrate Charlie Spies' first headlining gig, and be shocked and awed by Amy Donohue, Chris Felix, Dave Schnier, David Mendelsohn, Elliot Kitchens, John Henry, John Kennedy, Kon Stamadianos, Matt Anderson and Stu Baker! Special guests from Los Angeles Ron Babcock, Sean Green, and Cornell Reid will join us to help blow your mind and race your fish!

Thanks for reading; keep coming our and supporting the Live, Local, Non-Day Job Conducive PHX Comedy Scene!

Episode 17: Will Novak Style

2011-10-12T15:23:30Z

Stop! Podcast time!

Today we're joined by the far-flung, well-traveled, worldly Will Novak. We were giddy with excitement to have Will back here in Phoenix, performing all over the valley- the way it used to be; the way was meant to be. But instead of just being wowed by his smart comedy, we were able to get him to sit down at the card table with us and chat for a while. It was a great time for us because we've always felt a kinship to Will, but when he was living here and we were new, there was no S&M to bring us all together. In our conversation, you'll get to hear a great take on the Phoenix scene and the politics and egos that sometimes keeps comedy in the valley from achieving its full potential. It's the view of a former insider that is now outside and untouchable, and has nothing to lose by trying to fix what's broken. Names are named, ideas are presented. Enjoy.

Upcoming shows for us: Jamie Sanderson will be at Filmbar on 10/18. Steve Marek will be at Toso's on 10/14 and competing in the Handlebar J finals on 10/17.

Check out Steve's band, American Gods, as they open for the incredible Polkadot Cadaver at Chaser's on 10/16.

This Thursday at Monkey Pants, Ricardo Rocha, Alex Levi, Charles Newton, Dustin Elkin, Greg Freiler, Jason Covich, Robbie P, Joe Tullar, Justin Phillips, Teddy Bearskovich and Tim Lavoie will break it down, analyze it, reconstruct it, and present it in new and exciting ways! Feel free to define "it" however you like.

Pertinent Links:

Follow Will on Twitter @RealWillNovak

If you're unfamiliar with Will's performance style, check out some videos at http://www.youtube.com/willnovak

Electronically mail the podcast at smcomedysucks@gmail.com

The podcast is your friend, don't you like your friend? www.facebook.com/smcomedy

Thanks for listening; keep coming out and supporting the Live, Local, Hilariously Nerdy, Intellectually Tittilating PHX Comedy Scene!