Mike Birbiglia: Live @ Brea Improv

I hardly ever go to see live comedy shows, but when I heard that Mike Birbiglia was going to be in Brea, I had to go.

I first heard Mike on This American Life, and then later on The Moth. Mike tells jokes, but most of his comedy is storytelling. He can illuminate the humor in everyday moments and he's not afraid to mock his own foibles. You laugh with him and at him, and it begins to feel like listening to a friend tell a hilarious anecdote. Well--maybe not just any friend, but your funniest friend ever.

Check out Mike's website! If you want to hear my favorite story by him, you should listen to This American Life's show on the theme, "The Fear of Sleep". Mike has a sleep disorder which sucks for him, but makes for a really good story. Check it out here. If you've never heard him before, please tell me what you think!

The Best of 2009

I emerge from my winter hibernation to share my Best of 2009 list. Instead of sharing several top ten lists, I decided to choose my absolute favorites from the year in arts and media. This means, of course, that there are plenty of great things that I won't mention, so I am guessing that I will hear from those of you who think I have made any gross oversights. In fact, I hope I do...

Best MOVIES:

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson's latest brings together a retro claymation style with his usual blend of quirky, neurotic characters with family issues. The result is a kid-friendly film that is both heart-warming, humorous, and odd. I always love the off-beat pace of Anderson's films and here the cartoonish elements of his style are pleasantly exaggerated.

Best Parts: Ash's insistence that he is an athlete, the use of cuss, and the mystical appearance of the Wolf.

Where the Wild Things Are
This is another great example of a kids' book being interpreted and elaborated on in an intelligent and thoughtful way. Spike Jonze's version of Maurice Sendak's picture book brings to life the easily overlooked depth of the simple tale. The Muppet characters and set design haunted me for days later, but in a good way. Older kids would enjoy this movie--it's magical and kind of scary--but the film's themes of loneliness and isolation will resonate even more strongly with adults.

Best Parts: the best fort ever and the wild rumpus.

Best ALBUMS

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes - Up From Below

I hear they put on a killer live show that dwarfs the energy of the album by comparison. Even so, the band's debut album is my favorite one of the year. Ridiculously full of hippie swagger and joy, Up From Below is full of both complexity, fun, and catchy tunes.

Best tracks: Janglin, Home and 40 Days

Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms

This album is a sonic journey that takes you from haunting melodies, to soaring vocals, to home-made percussions. In this sense, Patrick Watson is both a storyteller and craftsman. From the nervous energy of "Beijing" to the pensive restraint of "Man Like You", this album impresses throughout.

Best tracks: Beijing and Big Bird in a Small Cage

Best SONGS

"Chains, Chains, Chains" by Elvis Perkins

"I and Love and You" by The Avett Brothers

"My Body's a Zombie for You" by Dead Man's Bones

"Wicked Blood" by Sea Wolf

"I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas

Best of RADIO

All Songs Considered: Round Table Discussions

Bob Boilen is great on his own as he picks songs to showcase on All Songs Considered, but the show is at its best when he brings in Robin Hilton, Carrie Brownstien and Stephen Thompson for a chat. The result is much lively and intelligent debate about music and some friendly teasing and banter over musical tastes. Even if you can't stand the songs that they are showcasing, the round table shows are worth checking out for the non-musical entertainment.

Best example: The Holiday Mix Show

The Moth: "Gut Instinct" by James Braly

There are so many wonderful stories that I have heard on The Moth that to choose one is almost painful, but James Braly's tale of temptation and fidelity while on vacation has stuck with me months after hearing it. Braly's delivery of a simple story showcases his self-effacing sense of humor with painfully honest revelations. Listen to it here:
http://castroller.com/podcasts/TheMothPodcast/1182434

Best of TV

Glee

I had to check this show out for two reasons: first, it is a musical and I can't pass up a musical; second, I was sure it would be too horrible to stay on the air very long. On the latter point, I am delighted to be proven wrong. Glee is wickedly self-aware in its staging which makes the musical performances much less awkward than if it was a bit more conventional in its approach. It also helps that the songs are awesome. From Journey to Barbara Streisand to Beyonce to Creedence Clearwater Revival, there is a little something for everyone. The stand out performers here are Lea Michele as the budding Broadway diva and Jane Lynch as delightfully evil Sue Sylvester.

Best moment: Rachel performs "Rain on My Parade" at Sectionals

What did I miss? What are your favorites from 2009? Do you think I am wrong?

Can't wait to hear from you...

COMING SOON: THE MOTH

My friend Kim and I are pleased to announce that The Moth is coming soon!

Save the date for TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27th!

For those of you who are not familiar with The Moth, it is a public radio program of true stories from life told without scripts or notes.

Our theme for the night will be, "The Maiden Voyage: Stories of First Attempts."

Storytellers for the evening will be:
Judy Smith
Monica Romig-Green
Danny Paschall

If you would like more info on The Moth, check out their official site: www.themoth.org

Invite a friend a come along!
Kim and Judy

The Moth

The Moth is an organization dedicated to storytelling. They host evenings where people get up on stage and tell true stories from their lives without notes or scripts. You can listen to podcasts of stories on iTunes, or their website: http://www.themoth.org/

I love that there is a community of people out there dedicated to preserving personal narratives. I love it so much that my friend Kim and I have decided to host our own Moth night!

It's still in the works, but we have some really exciting plans in the works. We hope to have our first Moth Nighte in October and we are already getting some good interest generated among some of our favorite storytellers.

If you enjoy storytelling and you want to be involved or attend, be sure to let me know. If it goes well we may do these on a semi-regular basis.

And let me know if you have any good ideas for themes!