The B.O.R.E.D. Tour 2013 Acts
J. ELVIS WEINSTEIN
BIO: J. Elvis Weinstein began his stand-up career in Mpls. at age 15 and was 17 when he became one of the founding writer/performers (Tom Servo, Gypsy, Dr. Erhardt) on “Mystery Science Theater 3000” (MST3K). He has worked as a writer/producer on many network comedy series including the cult classic “Freaks and Geeks” . He was also the Head Writer on “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Later with Greg Kinnear” . In 2007, J. Elvis reunited with his MST3K co-stars in the guise of “Cinematic Titanic”, they have been touring theaters around the country (including Broadway) and producing DVDs ever since.
ROB PARAVONIAN
http://robprocks.com
BIO: Rob Paravonian is a standup comedian known the world over for his Pachelbel Rant and viral videos which have been viewed millions of times. Using music to get the laughs, Rob has opened for George Carlin and Lily Tomlin, has appeared on Comedy Central and VH1, and has toured everywhere from Alaska to Afghanistan. His intelligent material and likeable demeanor get audiences laughing at everything from classical music to themselves. With wit and charm, this “polite smart ass” mixes music and comedy as well as he mixes his Midwestern friendliness with big city edginess. A veteran comic and a solid musician, Rob Paravonian is a unique comedian who has brought laughs to people the world over.
THROWING TOASTERS
http://www.ThrowingToasters.com
BIO: “Where’s the band?!” This is a common question at Throwing Toasters shows as Throwing Toasters is billed as a band but only one guy ever shows up. Grant Baciocco swears there really is a band, but no one’s every seen them together. Oh sure, there’s been rumored sightings, but the same can be said about Bigfoot. Regardless of the existence of the rest of the band, no one can deny that a Throwing Toasters show is a hilarious event to behold. Throwing Toasters has entertained crowds in clubs and colleges all over the country and in 2003 they played a sold out show at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Bigfoot is not a member of Throwing Toasters.
RAYMOND & SCUM
http://www.RaymondandScum.com
No one in this band is named Raymond. No one is named Scum. They’ve never been on Comedy Central. They’ve never played the Tokyo Dome. No time spent on KROQ. Never met Kevin Smith. What has the comedy rock duo, Raymond & Scum, actually achieved? They’ve played every B.O.R.E.D. Tour since the show was conceived in Grant Baciocco’s fertile little mind back in the 90’s and that should be good enough for you, you arrogant, hateful, judgmental jack asses!!! (Please like us.)
HOT WAFFLES
http://www.HotWafflesMusic.com
Hot Waffles is two brothers, Chris and Tim Waffle. Often called the greatest band ever to come out of Cypress California, they were formed as an emissary of comedy rock to the world. On television, they have appeared on the Travel Channel’s America’s Worst Driver and G4’s Attack of the Show. The brothers and their song, “George Lucas Raped Our Childhood” are also featured in the new documentary film The People vs. George Lucas. You may have heard them on the radio, appearing on Kevin and Bean or Dr. Demento and recently, Kevin Smith held their microphones for them when they played. But don’t let such successes fool you. One time they played a show and were so bad, someone punched Tim in the back of the head afterwards. So really, it’s hit or miss with these guys.
HOST & M.C.: J. KEITH VAN STRATTEN
http://www.jkeith.net/
J. Keith van Straaten has been called “a local hero” by the LA Weekly. Currently J. Keith is the host of THE FIX UP SHOW, currently running in Los Angeles. He has also hosted Comedy Central’s TV game show “Beat The Geeks” and the LA landmarks The J. Keith van Straaten Show and What’s My Line? – Live On Stage. His TV appearances include slightly-memorable turns on “Gilmore Girls,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and ads for McDonald’s, Nike, Pizza Hut, Cheez-It, and many more. J. Keith has been seen as the host of Yahoo! Answers On The Street, a talking head on VH1′s Best Week Ever and on E! countdown shows like “Wildest Dating Show Moments” and “Celebrity Feuds.”
PHOEBE CARTER
http://www.phoebecarter.com
Phoebe Carter has written and recorded comedy and pop music heard on radio stations across the country, including Dr. Demento. Her songs have been featured on TV shows and performed in cabarets by other artists. She’s done stand-up comedy throughout the U.S., TV audience warm-up and entertained tens of thousands as an online host. She has released a full-length pop album and produced and directed two comedy music videos and one pop music video. She is currently performing along with 10 other women storytellers in the ongoing production of “It’s Just My Life” for which she wrote the show’s opening song. This fiery redhead will make you laugh and cry and laugh some more (especially if you feed her Mountain Dew)!
EVAN WECKSELL
Comedian and Singer-Songwriter Evan Wecksell is one of the funniest and most energetic performers to emerge from New York’s comedy clubs and musical venues. Often compared to comedic superstars Adam Sandler and Stephen Lynch, Evan’s act is a blend of comedy and music that celebrates the college experience, makes fun of bad music, and brilliantly engages every audience. Most recognized from his appearances on such shows as VH1’s “I Love the 80s,” E! Television’s “30 Most Outrageous Celebrity Feuds” and “America’s Got Talent,” Evan is also heard on SiriusXM and Dr. Demento due to his comedy opus LOL.
SCOUT DURWOOD
http://www.scoutdurwood.com
Scout Durwood aka Lady Scoutington is a Los Angeles based chanteuse and comedienne as well as a founding member of Mighty Little Productions. She is an acclaimed stand-up and cabaret performer, and was recently named one of The Huffington Post’s “20 Burlesque Stars to Know.” Her one woman musical, “Hi, How Can I Help You?” debuted in August 2010 at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was developed thanks to a grant from Brooklyn Arts Exchange. She is a Moth Story Slam Champion, and her work has been featured on MTV, The Howard Stern Show, CBS Radio, The Miss America Pageant, Comix Comedy Club, Gotham, Joe’s Pub, La Mama, Duane Park, Galapagos Art Space among others. She currently resides in Los Angeles and is the host of The Whimsy! Show at The Hollywood Improv.
*lineup subject to change*
PAST PERFORMERS
Three of The Four Postmen
http://www.FourPostmen.com
The band has been performing together since 1992 and features electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, drums, bass, and an emphasis on three-part vocal harmony. Their live show is highly energetic and theatrical, complete with comic banter between songs. Sometimes compared to Barenaked Ladies, GQ Magazine called them, “The Seinfeldesque Monkees.” The band has performed on NBC’s “Friday Night Videos,” and composed original music for NBC’s Thrillogy Series. They have 5 albums: “U.S. Male” (1993), “Looking For Grandpa” (1997), “Hit Record” (2001), “What The Hell Happened?” (2004) and “5-Pack, Volume 1” (2007) and continue to perform regularly in several hip LA-area venues. Please note: Only 3 of the 5 Four Postmen will be performing at B.O.R.E.D. XI. Not necessarily the best 3, but the original 3.
Eric Schwartz
http://www.ericschwartz.com
There are perils and perks to growing up listening to Dr. Demento and Dr. Ruth every Sunday night in high school. Eric Schwartz’s razor sharp, adults-mostly, on-the-spot wit combined with his exceptional musicality have made him a stand-out performer when appearing on the Comedy Central Stage (in Sit’n Spin); with comedy masters like Jim Norton, Rich Vos, Bobby Slayton and Jim Florentine on “The Bad Boys of Comedy;” at clubs (The Improv, The Comedy Store, The Ice House), on the radio (Howard Stern 100, NPR’s All Things Considered, Doctor Demento, and Air America), and on the web, where his edgy, political YouTube videos chalk up millions of hits and garner him illicit proposals from all corners of the globe. Since arriving recently in Los Angeles from NYC, Eric’s talents as a first-rate composer / lyricist have quickly been noticed and employed. He composed the theme song for Harrison On The Edge, a liberal radio talk show in Los Angeles, wrote and performed the theme song, “Alcohol,” for the inaugural episode of “A Pretty Good Show” at the Vanguard in Los Angeles, hosted by Mitch Hurwitz (Arrested Development, Golden Girls), and wrote for Eliza Jane Schneider (South Park, Beakman’s World). Eric’s song “Clinton Got A Blowjob” recently won first prize in the Comedy / Novelty Category in the 2009 International Songwriting Competition.
MIKE PHIRMAN
http://www.mikephirman.com/
Mike Phirman is incredibly uncomfortable writing about himself in the third person, so he is going to write his bio in the second person. You attended UCLA where you received a degree in Philosophy. While at college, you met Chris Hardwick, a fellow stand-up comedy enthusiast with whom you began performing under the name “Hard ‘n Phirm”. Together, you’ve made a record, performed at comedy clubs and colleges, drove past a lot of corn, and taped a Comedy Central Presents special that you feel went not-too-badly. In May you released a solo album called “The Very Last Songs I Will Ever Record (Part 1)”. You lost your mind when “Weird Al” Yankovic showed up to perform on one of the tracks. Most recently, you googled the words “comedian bio what to write”—you found nothing helpful. (photo by Joel Telling 2010)
Christy Murphy
http://www.christymurphy.com
Pop Rock Comedian Christy Murphy combines smart, quirky stand-up with funny, catchy pop songs. Think Sarah Silverman, but replace the shocking hilarity with a deeply funny sincerity. The LA Times called her comedy show “a kindler, gentler, more thoughtful comedy night,” and she has been named both LA Weekly’s “Pick of the Week” and “Best of LA.” As a comedian, she has been on numerous television and radio shows including CNN’s Showbiz Today, Australia’s Seven News, CBS News, and NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Her writing has appeared in award-winning newspapers and national magazines such as Cat Fancy, the Miami Herald, Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, and Pulp Magazine. Her debut, studio album, “Feeling Good Looking Good” is available on iTunes and CD Baby.
Tony Goldmark
Somewhere hidden deep within Tony Goldmark’s treacherously unkempt hippie hair is the mind behind such Dr. Demento request favorites as “Teeth Clenched,” “Sirius Black” and 2010’s #6 most requested song of the year, “The Guy On TV Is Not Happy”! Tony’s currently working on his next album, and he’ll be performing a couple songs from it for the first time EVER at The B.O.R.E.D. Tour XI – 2011, so come on down and see him forget the lyrics LIVE! In the meantime, you can download his previous albums, “Flying Like Wilma: Learning To Read Made Me Cool!!” and “Rage Against The Mundane” on iTunes, follow Tony’s occasionally-coherent rantings on twitter.com/tonygoldmark (he doesn’t have a website; his grandfather was killed in the war by a website and he don’t cotton to their type), and check out his brand new web series, “Some Jerk With A Camera,” at somejerkwithacamera.blip.tv!
Phil Johnson
http://www.PhilJohnsonComedy.com
Being human is a constant struggle between defining ourselves as individuals and trying to fit in with “the group”… Phil Johnson, who has appeared at the Sundance Film Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, uses comedy and music to dissect that dilemma in both his own life and others. Like everyone else, Phil sometimes gets it and sometimes wonders what the heck people are thinking. On stage his playful humor and likeable, endearing manner allow him to shake things up without antagonizing the audience. In the end we can only be who we are, try to understand others, and hope they understand us.
Dino-Mike
http://www.dino-mike.com/
For over a decade, Dino-Mike has been recording and performing his unique brand of music all over the Southern California area as well as select venues around the country. Mike currently has three full length albums under his belt and his new album “Chimericana” has already gained some notable airplay across the country, including the nationally syndicated “Dr. Demento Show”. In 2010, his song Speed Racer Wannabe was featured on the Speed Racer: The SoundTRACK. You will also find Mike’s hilarious music videos on his YouTube channel where his fan base is beginning to snowball (www.youtube.com/dinomike13). Mike has performed his over-the-top live shows at such famous venues as “The Hollywood Knitting Factory”, “The Cat Club”, “The Historic Colony Theatre”, “The Improv”, “San Diego Comic-Con” and now… “Flappers Comedy Club”!
MYSTERY ACT
http://www.???.com
BIO: Each year the B.O.R.E.D. Tour surprises the audience with a huge name in comedy music as a special surprise guest! In past years; Mystery Acts have included: Carla Ulbrich, Tony Goldmark, Henry Phillips and Eric Schwartz! Who will it be this year? The only way to know is to either be there in person or hear about it afterwards! BE THERE
MEGHAN HOUNSHELL http://meghanhounshell.tripod.com/
Meghan Hounshell’s first comedic performance involved smearing her head with pudding and making loud gurgling noises. While this is a great bit when you are a baby, Meghan soon realized that she might need to move beyond her niche audience. Now, 27 years later as a full-time comic from Seattle, she has traveled all over the country with her trusty guitar, busting out ironic and sublime lyrics to songs like “Punk Rock Baby Farm” and “I’m Not a Lesbian,” and placed in the Top 10 at last years Seattle International Comedy Competition. Meghan has a sordid past, which involves a penchant for church camp outings and a major in Communications (with a minor in International Mime). One of her first songs was the quirky and slightly disturbing “I heart Tom Brokaw.” Now she lives the good life, smoking cigarettes and throwing back shots of whiskey with other comics.
MYSTERY ACT
http://www.???.com
BIO: Each year the B.O.R.E.D. Tour surprises the audience with a huge name in comedy music as a special surprise guest! In past years; Mystery Acts have included: Carla Ulbrich, Tony Goldmark, Henry Phillips, Eric Schwartz and TV’s Kyle! Who will it be this year? The only way to know is to either be there in person or hear about it afterwards! BE THERE!