Magic Brian's Barrel of Monkeys

Magic Brian's Barrel of Monkeys at Iridium
January 10th at Midnight $20.
1650 Broadway @51st Street
New York, NY
International award winning variety entertainer Magic Brian has been producing variety shows in New York City for the last 7 years. He finds the most unique and original talent and weaves their performances into a seamless night of high-quality entertainment. Along with his outrageous comedy-magic and side show act, Magic Brian's Barrel of Monkeys features the circus skills of Harvest Moon, who blends elements borrowed from the circus' big-top with vintage Burlesque style. Storyteller Greg Walloch who's work has been described as '...a breathless exhilarating and irreverent ride through the emotional spectrum.' And, Curtis Eller, self-described 'yodeling banjo player' who's unique style and energy '...finds the middle ground between silent film The General and a banjo-packin’ Jello Biafra.'

Greg Walloch @ Monday Nights with Mr. Nobody

Greg Walloch @ Monday Nights with Mr. Nobody
Royal Oak
December 14, 2009
8:00pm - 11:00pm Free!
594 Union Ave. at North 11th Street
Brooklyn, NY

Mr. Nobody says: End the weekend right... On Monday night. I'm going to stick in a bunch of info about Greg below, but basically, Greg is hilarious. Also he is tender as a lamb. Two qualities you don't find in the same gay dude often. Honestly, if you haven't seen him, you won't get a bunch of other chances to check the dude out FREE. It'll probably be like $100 bucks or something, because he's so funny and tender. Somebody'll be spinning some wax, and somebody will probably be throwing some dice. Gonna be a throwdown with big Ian at the bar slinging drinks as well as peaceful wisdom. And I'll be there. Mr. Nobody. Greg Walloch has appeared on everything from The Howard Stern Show to Kurt Andersen's Studio 360 on Public Radio International. His live solo shows have toured in Moscow, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Ireland, Germany, Australia, Poland, Scotland, Tel Aviv, and across the United States. He recently opened for '60's icon Janis Ian at the Ever Widening Circle gala in Oakland, CA.

2nd Annual A Very Balthrop Christmas

2nd Annual A Very Balthrop Christmas
Joe's Pub
December 12th 11:30PM $15.
425 Lafayette Street
New York, NY
Come hear Greg Walloch share a wee Christmas tale in "A Very Balthrop Christmas" with Balthrop, Alabama - only the best band ever! Toxey Goodwater on ink and paper. 'Tis the holiday season again; seems like it happens every year about this time. Big whoop and a bah humbug to you and yours. But , no, wait - this year, the town of Balthrop, Alabama is returning to Joe's Pub to shake a little dust off the plastic Christmas tree and put a pucker back below the mistletoe. The village will reprise all the Balthrop holiday classics as well as some new holiday humdingers too - luckily Balthrop, Alabama is a right talented small town, located in a corner of Christmas Carroll Gardens. The night promises to be an evening of seasonal surprises with special guests and new classics, all of it accompanied live on the big screen by town drawer, Toxey Goodwater (Michael Arthur). It's a holiday Chalk Talk for the 21st Century, great tunes and a live drawing display that, when combined, will dazzle and amaze! Bring all yer friends! Also, it's best to buy your tickets in advance. You can purchase them here. If you want to make reservations for a table, call 212-539-8778.

Nonsense NYC 10th Anniversary Show

Nonsense NYC 10th Anniversary Show
October 10, 7 p on, $10
Advanced Tickets Highly Encouraged. *Door tickets not available until 1 a the night of the show*

A one-night physical manifestation of the Nonsense NYC email list, celebrating 10 years of weird art and culture coverage in New York City. Featuring artwork by 75 artists and collectives, an all-night dance party, and performances every five minutes. With eight installation theater spaces and a spectacular spectacle on a brand new floor at one of the best venues in Brooklyn, 3rd Ward.

Artists, collectives, and makers look into the future with a salon-style gallery show on the main floor. The enemy of anyone celebrating 10 years in New York is nostalgia. To fight it, we decided to ask what people want to see in the next 10 years. The response is overwhelming: 75 visions of what culture could be like in the next decade. From Rubulad’s line-up to swim races in the Gowanus Canal, from the Danger’s antics to the Bruce High Quality Foundation’s gender benders, you’ll see it here first.

A partial list of artists and performers: Hungry March Band, Flux Factory, Tom Beale, Winkel and Baltick, House of Yes, Mark Read, Hi Christina, Gemini and Scorpio, ABC No Rio, Cinders, Joe Tuba, Galapagos Art Space, Madagascar Institute, Union Docs, the Change You Want to See Gallery, Glowlab, Jason Sinopoli, Matt Wasowski, Tom Richford, Shel Kimen, Mia Ihara, We'll Never Have Paris, Black Label Bike Club, In Our Hearts, VAST, Newmindspace, Paula Segal-Dylan Gauthier, Shanimal, Kayrock Screenprinting, Mean Red, Improv Everywhere, Secret Project Robot, the Poetry Brothel, Michele Carlo, Reverend Billy, Matt Levy, Ayen Tran, Paige's House of Collection, Dorkbot, Rude Mechanical Orchestra, Anney Fresh, Keith Ozar, Nerd Nite, Dark Passage, Jollyship Whiz Bang, Sleep When Dead, Glasslands, Small Print Fare, Figment, Paul Lukas, Takedown, Figment, Touching You, Ari Boles, Dizzy Izzy and the Rockets of Desire, Zemi 17, Marygoround, Bushwick Book Club, Nicole Whelan, Jean Loscalzo, Audrey Crabtree, Zero Boy, Metro Metro, Porter Fox, Normandy Raven Sherwood, Grub, Nate Hill, Sxip Shirey, Erin K. Orr, Paul Burn, Robin Frohardt, Robyn Hasty, Ryan O'Connor, Erin O'Donnell, Dances of Vice, Veronica Dougherty, Aliens, Jessica Delfino, Starshine Burlesque, Porno Jim, and Cinema 16 and Greg Walloch.

This is a special night. Dress like it.

Greg Walloch gets up to some HIJINX w/The YES Men

HIJINX w/The YES Men
The Delancey
Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 9:00pm
168 Delancey St. (btwn Clinton & Attorney)
New York, NY
Penny Arcade & Justin Bond Host this 3-story Explosion of Performance, Music & Insurrection to Celebrate the Release of "The YES Men Fix the World." The audience from the 8p showing at Film Forum will join EVB / FAG CITY denizens and DJ NICK HALLETT spins upstairs while PENNY ARCADE & JUSTIN BOND get the show started in the basement featuring a special appearance by JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL. Over the course of 2 performance sets you'll be treated to performances by: THE GAY AGENDA, BILLY EICHNER, YVONNE GOUGELET, JEFF HNILICKA, ERIN MARKEY, GLENN MARLA, GIO BLACK PETER (and the world premiere of his new video with SLAVA MOGUTIN!), ULTIMATE PARTY 4 and GREG WALLOCH Dancing into the night with DJ DESIGNER IMPOSTOR! Performance Installation from ZHENESSE and visual art by JESSICA ROSEN round out this fult-tilt evening of thrilling HIJINX! A portion of proceeds from this event benefit NOT AN ALTERNATIVE Admission is $10 or $5 if you RSVP to HIJINX@scenedowntown.com

39 Steps on Broadway - and that's just to get to your seats in the mezzanine

39 Steps on Broadway - and that's just to get to your seats in the mezzanine.
Are you a theatergoer with special needs? And I'm not talking about your special need to channel LuPone and and perform the entire original cast recording of Evita in your morning shower. Read More...

Greg Walloch at Joe's Pub

What Would Ron English Do? An interview with Ron English about arts & the economy by Greg Walloch

President Barack Obama says the economy is showing “glimmers of hope.” Agit-Pop Artist Ron English is putting the clouds up for sale and fairing the economic tide.

Fact or fiction: Do hard times fuel the creative process and produce more meaningful and innovative work?

No. Money is the root of all art.

Blue Abraham Obama 2008 by Ron English

What is your artist's survival tip for weathering bad financial times?

Raise your prices. Take a year off.

The stock market crashes, captains of industry fall, but does the economy at large actually affect your creative life and livelihood in
a meaningful way?

Not really. I can only make so many paintings and I'm vastly out numbered by collectors. The revolution goes on.

Is necessity the mother of invention?

If inspiration is the father of invention necessity could certainly be the
mother or the aunt or the sister. Yes, I think the she's the mother.

How do you use what you have?

When I'm out of paint I pee in the fireplace and call it performance art.

How does that inform your work?

I don't have to flush.

Would money change everything? If money was no object, how would your work change?

It would be bigger, it would be better, and it wouldn't be
for sale.

Tell me about an upcoming project you are working on that you'd like folks to know about.

I'm going to do this interview for Greg Walloch then I'm going to hire one of those skywriting planes and have them spell out the word cloud twenty times over Manhattan. The words would dissipate and look like actual clouds. These actual clouds will be for sale.

All The People You Love at Dixon Place

All The People You Love at Dixon Place
Finally a show with All The People You Love!

All The People You Love
Friday, April 24, 2009
10:00pm - 11:00pm $15.00
Dixon Place
161 Chrystie Street
New York, NY

"...funny, edgy and inspiring." - Time Out New York

"...something in your heart will be touched." - Next Magazine

"This is a really good show, with great curation. The guests are smart and Greg is tremendously charming and funny." - Jeff Stark, Nonsense NY

ALL THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE at Dixon Place. Join us for a truly lovely evening of stories and music from some of the best artists in New York City! Featuring: James Braley, Magic Brian, Corn Mo, and Curtis Eller. Hosted by Greg Walloch. Wear somethin’ cute and bring all the people you love!

Host: Greg Walloch has appeared on everything from The Howard Stern Show to Kurt Anderson’s Studio 360 on Public Radio International. He has a thing for skaters, surfers, cowboys, and celebrity chefs. www.GregWalloch.com

James Braly is the writer/performer of the critically-acclaimed monologue Life in a Marital Institution. www.JamesBraly.com

Magic Brian hammers nails into his head, eats glass, and escapes from a straitjacket and chains. Oh yeah, he does some cool card tricks too. www.MagicBrian.com

Corn Mo's music has been described as Tiny Tim meets Freddie Mercury in the back of the short bus. www.CornMo.com

Curtis Eller is New York City's angriest yodelling banjo player. He sings about pigeon racing, performing elephants and Jesus, all of which he has seen with his own eyes. www.CurtisEller.com

Project Jenny, Project Jan: Pins And Needles

There are few things I love more than Project Jenny, Project Jan!

Project Jenny, Project Jan: Pins And Needles (Featuring Fujiya & Miyagi) from their forthcoming EP, Colors.

And YOU can see 'um in your town:

02/20/09 - Cats Cradle - Carrboro NC#
02/21/09 - 40 Watt Club - Athens GA#
02/23/09 - Back Booth - Orlando FL#
02/24/09 - Club Down under - Tallahassee FL#
02/25/09 - Spanish Moon - Baton Rouge LA#
02/27/09 - Emos Alternative Lounge - Austin TX#
02/28/09 - Palladium Loft - Dallas TX#
03/02/09 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix AZ#
03/03/09 - Echoplex - Los Angeles CA%
03/05/09 - The Independent - San Francisco CA%
03/06/09 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland OR%
03/07/09 - Neumos - Seattle WA%

#w/Fujiya & Miyagi
%w/ Fujiya & Miyagi and Pop Levi

Taylor Mac is Reminding Audiences of Their Humanity. An interview with Taylor Mac about arts & the economy by Greg Walloch

Does the flailing economy have you down? Can you no longer afford your morning cup of joe? Don't be sad. The lovely and talented performance artist Taylor Mac has some words of wisdom to fill your cup.

(Excerpts from this interview originally appeared in Jan/Feb 2009 Volume 3 Issue 3 of Artillery Magazine.)

Fact or fiction: Do hard times fuel the creative process and produce more meaningful and innovative work?
Depends on the hard times. Having your entire family shot to pieces and loosing all your limbs may just traumatize you to the point where you can't be creative anymore. Still being able to buy your brand name coffee in the morning while you complain about how bad the economy is -- I don't see that as a hard time. I'm not trying to suggest that everyone is in the same position as most of the New Yorkers I see but let's keep our notion of what a hard time is in perspective. Good and bad times inspire work. Living life inspires work. If you can't find anything to inspire your work in good and bad times than you're not really paying attention.

What is your artist's survival tip for weathering bad financial times?
I was living under the poverty line before the the economy started to dive and now I have more money than I've ever had and feel pretty great about my financial situation. The kicker is I'm still considered under the poverty line. It's ridiculous. People need to get rid of their shit. I live a fantastic life doing nothing but making my art partly because I have no debt and very little crap.

The stock market crashes, captains of industry fall, but does the economy at large actually affect your creative life and livelihood in a meaningful way?
When people stop being multi-millionaires they tend to go to cheaper theater. I make the $20 ticket kind of theater so my audiences tend to get bigger in "hard times". But I believe money is often the excuse but never really the reason. What I'm seeing right now in America is a lot of excuse making: "I can't do that because of the economy". If I let money tell me how to live my life I'd still be making no money cleaning toilets at the Drama Bookshop.

Is necessity the mother of invention? How do you use what you have? How does that inform your work?
I've always created work based on what I have and my love for theatricality. If I want a helicopter to fly on stage but I don't have the money for a helicopter than I get some popsicle sticks and make little helicopter and call it theatrical. It's way more fun to work that way and expresses our humanity as opposed to technology.

Would money change everything? If money was no object, how would your work change?
Not much. I would still want to strip theater down to it's bare essentials: people in a room reminding audiences of their humanity.

Tell me about an upcoming project you are working on that you'd like folks to know about.
My epic extravaganza "The Lily's Revenge" is the exact opposite of the kind of play that should be going on during "hard times". And yet we're doing it. It opens in October '09 in New York City, has a cast of over 40 people, and last five-hours. It's all about a flower that goes on a quest to destroy Nostalgia.