Whine Flu mars return to Bill’s Records

“Don’t worry about this cough. Jews don’t get the Swine Flu. We get the Whine Flu!

“Oh, my, Gawd, is this guy back again? He’s hooorrrible!” I mock-kvetched to the sparse Bill’s Records audience during my Memorial Day weekend set.

To compound the misery, Bill’s booker Becky Hyden has posted a pair of YouTube videos, where you can see me failing miserably in front of nobody. Continue reading

Posted in: Gigs at 11:44 pm Fri, May 29, 2009.

Me and Bill make the society page

I had just begun bombing during my Saturday set at Bill’s Records when Bill Wisener came sprinting back from his post at the front door, waving the Society page of Park Cities People.

“We made the paper! That’s me and you!” Bill exclaimed. In Chris McGathey’s candid photo from the April 24 edition, I appear to be holding up a happy but exhausted Bill, late on the second day of his 65th birthday celebration. Continue reading

Posted in: News at 5:00 am Fri, May 29, 2009.

Bleeding art: Steve van Gelder is Joe Fool

Steve van Gelder is more than just a double for newsworthy comedian and Howard Stern Show favorite Robert Schimmel.

In fact, he’s a versatile and accomplished talent who’s achieved notice as a tasteful Canuck rocker, prize-winning painter and self-hating corporate graphic artist.

Now, Steve is following the lead of other indie musicians who have given up on making money with their art by dumping his entire catalog on the Web via his new site, joefool.com. Continue reading

Posted in: Profiles at 11:29 pm Tue, May 26, 2009.

Big Phil brand could be in play

Big Phil’s dieting. Identity in question, he’s not sure whether he’s really Big Phil, Bizarro Phil, Bald Phil (He confesses he’s also stopped shaving his head!) or James Brown, the Godfather of Soul.

Which Phil is he today? “The Bizarro Phil, not…the Phil…Big Phil!” he replies triumphantly after some hesitation. Sigh.

Madison Avenue is shaken. Analysts suggest the U.S. $1B Big Phil brand could be up for grabs. Meanwhile, Phil Thompson, host of the popular podcast Big Phil’s Love Parade, continues to try on new hats, seeking the best fit for his smooth dome. Continue reading

Posted in: Podcast Roundup at 3:32 pm Mon, May 18, 2009.

Nation asks: Who will be the next weiner?

The time for panic will arrive soon enough.

As the Department of Homeland Security often reminds us, every American should know when to abandon all sense, cover your mouth and nose with a 10-cent dust mask from Home Depot and imagine you’re bleeding internally.

But that moment is not here yet. Continue reading

Posted in: Hot Topics at 12:57 pm Fri, May 1, 2009.