Mountain Xpress Forums

Stand-Up Comedy

2009-03-10T12:44:00Z

So who do you like? Did anyone catch the Bert Kreischer show at the Diana Wortham last Saturday?

Asheville burlesque stuff

2010-02-05T16:51:10Z

I’ll handily admit that I really liked The Rebelles back in the day. They had a very subversive show, and while it was certainly titillating, it also had some greater point to it. The whole idea was the use of sexuality as a means of empowerment, and actual talent seemed far more important to the group than just taking off clothes and wearing pasties. The shows were professional, well-rehearsed, actually funny and reasonably well written for what they were.

In fact, a lot of the Rebelles’ segments weren’t even about stripping. Some were just musical numbers, with performers like The Mad Tea Party’s Ami Worthen coming on stage in lingerie and acting a little “naughty” in dancing around, otherwise nothing more erotic than you’d see on a prime-time beer ad.

Towards the end, the Rebelles sort of became something else, and since they disbanded a whole host of burlesque groups have popped up in and around Asheville. Because I write weekly YouTube roundups for the Xpress, I regularly see videos of some of these groups. And they’re all kind of underwhelming.

I don’t mean erotically, I mean artistically. There’s no greater point to these performances other that watching a woman slowly disrobe down to panties and pasties. That’s fine, but it’s a rather shallow kind of entertainment, isn’t it?

Here’s an example from this week. Obviously, it’s not work safe.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFWYgwKnwKA[/youtube]

Is this new burlesque movement just a long-lived fad? Are there good local burlesque acts that echo the better parts of the Rebelles?

Techno Contra Dance: The Epic Megathread

2009-08-22T12:36:01Z

I don’t know if this is just an Asheville thing or a national trend. The idea is to combine contra dancing—it’s kinda like square dancing, I guess—with techno music and black lights and other rave crap. Here, just take a look ...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHCflEc534o[/youtube]

Personally, this holds no appeal for me. At least at a rave you’re not worried about paying attention to a highly formal dance structure and instantly responding to the commands of some dance caller.

Tomato Tuesdays: Local Stand-Up Comedy

2010-02-20T14:17:11Z

The New French Bar hosts this weekly stand-up open-mic thing. They’ve been posting videos for a few weeks now—maybe even a few months—but the video quality is pretty bad due to poor lighting. This week’s is a little better, but mostly you’ll need to listen rather than watch.

I do think it’s awesome that there’s a stand-up comedy scene taking root in Asheville. For years and years, it was basically something that happened randomly at open mics. There was a small collection of people who would do short comedy sets at Beanstreets, but that was about it. But now, it seems like there’s a bit more support for the idea.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Q9MZYo8o8[/youtube]

And here’s another ...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK1CxCDk2fo[/youtube]

Does anyone here actually go out and dance?

2009-12-14T22:30:27Z

Surprise, surprise, but I don’t like dancing. I’m sure some of you do, though. Let’s have a discussion about it.

Comedy Organization Forming

2010-01-27T18:05:52Z

Forgive me if this is the wrong place for this, but I already submitted a press release to Mountain Xpress, so I suppose it counts as local news.

Below is a little info about a comedy non-profit I’m trying to put together. The feedback I’ve received has led me to believe that I’m not the only one who thinks this is sorely needed. Let me know what you think. Or, better yet, come by the meeting and help us start up with the right foot forward.

An association is forming to promote comedy, to connect comedians to each other and to projects, and to educate comedians still finding their way. The prospective non-profit group plans to hold events relating to stand up comedy, improv, theatrical , and film comedy.

The yet unnamed organization will not be exclusive to professionals, and encourages local hobbyist comedians and generally funny people to attend the the first meeting which will be held at World Coffee Cafe, 18 Battery Park Avenue, Asheville on Wednesday, February 3rd at 6:00pm.

Who loves musicial theater?

2009-03-24T10:07:56Z

Over the weekend, I went to see a production of Fiddler on the Roof here in Spartanburg. While amateur theater—and amateur musical theater in particular—can often try one’s patience, I actually had a pretty good time.

The thing is, I generally loathe musicals. Singing, dancing, facile story lines ... I just can’t get into them. But a lot of people love the things. And even I have a soft spot for a few movie musicals—Moulin Rouge, for instance—that keeps me from seeing the subject in terms of black and white.

So what do you think? Musicals: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

Thriller as prison rehab

2010-01-11T14:03:15Z

“1,500 plus CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines at practice!” What are they practicing during their repayment of their debt to society? Dance routines from Michael Jackson’s “Thiller” video, of course!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o[/youtube]

I guess it beats being shivved over a pack a smokes.

Lindy Hop, you don’t stop

2010-01-09T12:50:29Z

Is Asheville a Lindy Hop mecca, and I just didn’t realize it? We’ve already got aerialists, fire dancers, hula-hoopers, techno-contra dancing, clogging and bellydance. Surely there’s room for one more, isn’t there?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A3g9pZsxlU[/youtube]

The Dancing Chicken in the Parade

2009-11-19T20:27:20Z

Courtesy of yours truly
and
Picnics Restaurant, of course!

Let’s dance, Boarders. At least I will be! I’m thinking a nice SBD of Phish’s 3rd set from 11-1-09 will do the trick…..