Blogcritics Category: Music: Comedy and Spoken Word

DVD Review: George Carlin - It's Bad For Ya

Fitz — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:32:18 EST

George Left Us With a New HBO Special Before He Left Us...
George Carlin has been a huge influence on my life. While I'd never consider myself a comedian, Carlin, serving as a comedian/philosopher, showed me (and everyone else) not only that language can express thoughts, but that it can express the absurdities that exist in everyday life as well. He helped us see things for what they are (or at least...

Comedy Review: Robin Williams - Weapons of Self Destruction tour

Michael Prince — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:56:33 EST

Robin Williams delivers an amazing night full of belly laughs and enjoyment in his current tour.
They say things get better with age and having had the pleasure to attend the Ottawa, Canada portion of Robin Williams current tour – Weapons of Self Destruction I know that statement is true.I have been a long time Robin Williams fan and have CD’s (and DVD’s) of every major tour he has done, some of them are upgrades from VHS...

Comedy Review: John Cleese Hosts We Are Most Amused for the Prince's Trust

Christian Cawley — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:50:36 EST

Veteran comic performer John Cleese was on superb form as he emceed the Prince of Wales' birthday comedy event.
Prince Charles celebrates his 60th birthday this year, and among various engagements Thursday November 13th was the date that The Princes’ Trust – an organization set up by Charles to help young people – held an evening of A-list comedy entertainment in his honour at the New Wimbledon Theatre in London. The performers were Rowan...

Music DVD Review: Tenacious D - The Complete Masterworks Part 2

The Other Chad — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:36:10 EST

An entertaining concert plus a revealing, candid documentary make this one a must for fans.
Five years after the release of the first volume, Tenacious D return with The Complete Masterworks 2, but the thrill is long gone. This new two-DVD set is essential for fans, since the band's projects are so few and far between, but despite the addition of a backing band and more elaborate sets, the 2007 concert on the first disc suffers from...

Music Review: Indie Round-Up - Matt Morris, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Asylum Street Spankers

Jon Sobel — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:34:01 EST

Matt Morris's high, fluty tenor wafts his words into your consciousness like a message carried on the wind.
Matt Morris, Backstage at Bonnaroo and Other Acoustic PerformancesListening to Matt Morris, intimate is the word that comes most readily to mind. His high, fluty tenor, recorded closely into the mic, wafts his words into your consciousness like a message carried on the wind.The first three songs on this sparsely produced EP have little more than...

CD Comedy Review: George Carlin - Carlin On Campus

El Bicho — Sun, 9 Nov 2008 11:38:34 EST

Anyone driving slower than you is an idiot and anyone driving faster than you is a maniac.
When George Carlin passed away on June 22, 2008, humanity lost one of the greats, a man who over the course of his decades-long career revealed a tremendous ability to provide insightful humor (or is it humorous insight?) about life in between moments of absurdity and silliness. He deserves to have his face put on the Mt. Rushmore of stand-up...

Interview: Sandra Bernhard

Don Baiocchi — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:57:54 EDT

The comedienne, actress and social provocateur is touring the country and stopping in Chicago for some Halloween tricks and treats.
Sandra Bernhard, the outspoken comedienne, actress, singer and author, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her breakout one-woman show, Without You I’m Nothing, by restaging it across the country this fall and winter. (Check out SandraBernhard.com for details.) She’s also stopping in Chicago on October 27th at the Steppenwolf Theater...

Music Review: Weird Al Yankovic - Whatever You Like

Fitz — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:48:28 EDT

Weird Al comments on the economy in his own, unique way.
"Weird Al" Yankovic has released a new single on iTunes and the web called "Whatever You Like", which is a parody of T.I.'s song "Whatever You Like". He turns T.I.'s version on its head and uses lyrics to comment on the state of today's economy.The beauty of Weird Al is that occasionally he can take a...

Interview: A Conversation With Raine Maida

Sherry Lipp — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:44:42 EDT

The Our Lady Peace singer talks music and politics.
Singer/songwriter Raine Maida is probably best known as the lead singer of the Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace. He co-founded the group in 1992 and with them has released eight albums (including a live album and a greatest hits compilation), with a ninth album scheduled to be released in early 2009. This year he released his first solo album The...

Comedy CD Review: Lewis Black - Anticipation

Donald Gibson — Sun, 7 Sep 2008 03:10:49 EDT

There's nowhere else to go but down, but at least Lewis Black makes it sound funny.
Remember vinyl? Remember how, if you wanted to play one particular song on a 33 1/3 RPM record, you had to pinpoint the exact groove in which to drop the needle? The attentiveness and precision required for this feat was enough to drive the most docile person into an apoplectic fit. As Lewis Black recalls, though, fidgeting in vain to find...