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.

Mort Sahl = intellectual crack

Mort Sahl is the cool, cerebral comic, a man whose brand of social and political commentary only went out of style when Americans decided they’d rather shop at the mall than question authority.

It’s a wonder a guy like that was ever in style.

“You’re right about the line shifting,” Sahl told Schnauzer Logic host Robin Goldstein. “It’ll get closer until you won’t be able to say anything, and you’ll forget what you believed in. Because you’re afraid of getting your throat cut.”

He recounted “the great American disclaimer — my opinions are not necessarily my own.” Continue reading

Posted in: Profiles at 1:00 am Sun, Apr 22, 2007.

Tyrone Kahn keeps the Demented faith

Weird Al Yankovic isn’t the only nerdy white guy who owes his funny music career to Dr. Demento. A whole generation of geeky musicians, with names such as Worm Quartet, The Great Luke Ski and Dino-Mike, get played not just by Dr. Demento, but also by hard-working Internet radio hosts Tyrone Kahn and David Tanny.

Someday I’ll ask Dr. Demento whether he’s heartened or bedeviled by the corps of eccentric Internet radio hosts he’s inspired to carry forth the flickering flame of funny music.

Uber-geeky by nature, they’re nevertheless devoted to Dementia and the like-minded artists who have found a welcoming audience on the Web and in the nerd network of sci-fi and comic book conventions. Continue reading

Posted in: Profiles at 5:01 pm Wed, Feb 7, 2007.

Brandon Higgins: Kicked In The Nuts

Higgins

Brandon Higgins slammed his wedding ring down on the Winedale Tavern bar and declared his marriage had reached an impenetrable impasse. “If you don’t leave with me now, then we’re finished,” he demanded, glaring at his wife of nearly six months through dead, drunken eyes.

Alysen, skinny, tattooed, pierced and pretty, returned her husband’s gaze with a satisfied grin. “I think you need to get back to the motel and go to sleep,” she told Brandon. “I’m not quite ready to leave yet.”

Once again, I was caught in the middle of a domestic dispute. Continue reading

Posted in: Profiles at 7:08 pm Wed, Nov 29, 2006.

Brit comic covers My Fat Ass Itches

Chris Wilkinson, primary purveyor of the “North of Watford” sound that originates from his hometown outside of London, England, has produced not one, but two covers of the comedy blues tune My Fat Ass Itches.

My Fat Ass Itches reached No. 3 on syndicated comedy radio host Dr. Demento’s “Funny Five” during April 2005 and appears as the lead track on my EP, Look What I Made! It became a staple of a weekly long-distance jam session between Chris and friend Lia De Reis after Lia caught the tune on the Web. Continue reading

Posted in: Profiles at 4:27 pm Wed, May 10, 2006.