Month: January 2019

Thanks for the Spontaneous Fun, Spontaneanation: The 10 Best Spontaneanation Episodes.

January 22, 2019 — Leave a comment

Today, one of my favorite podcasts released it’s final episode.  With episode number 200, Spontaneanation from comedian host Paul F Tompkins (PFT) comes to a close.  

For the past four years (since 2015), this show has been a regular “must listen” for me after their release each Monday. In the catalogue of Earwolf shows, Spontaneanation stood alone in format and content. Spontaneation is a podcast that normally involves an opening monologue from host Paul F Tompkins, introduction of musical accompaniment Eban Schletter, an interview of a special guest, followed by an improvised scene using elements of the monologue and interview segment by a collective of improvisers, and the show is closed out by plugs and promotions by everyone involved.

The following are my top ten favorite episodes of this amazing podcast.  When I was deciding on this list, I thought about “which episodes were the essential episodes?”.  Some episodes featured incredible interviews (listen to any of the appearances of Nathan Lee Graham) or had amazing improv segments (Summer Theater Camp), but what it came down to was which episodes were the total package of great interview along with great scene.  Without discounting how amazing the other episodes were, here are my top ten episodes of Spontaneation:

10.) (TIE) Episode 63: “A Coffee Plantation in Bali” – Special Guest: Kulap Vilaysack – 6/6/2016 and Episode 164: “The Price is Right” – Special Guest Allen Maldonado – 5/14/18

9.) Episode 37: “Saltwater Tuffy Shoppe” – Special Guest: Andy Daly – 12/7/2015
Look this episode up on YouTube.  This live episode was filmed in it’s entirety, and features not only a great show, but also PFT falling off the stage and Andy Daly’s memorable reaction.

8.) Episode 121: “Karaoke Night at a Small Logging Town Tavern” – Special Guest: Scott Aukermann – 7/17/2017

7.) Episode 6: “Dracula’s Bedroom” – Special Guest: Maria Thayer – 5/4/2015

6.) Episode 75: “Aquarium” – Special Guests: Sean Clements and Hayes Davenport – 8/29/2016

5.) Episode 4: “Savannah, Georgia” – Special Guest: Melanie Lynskey – 4/20/2015
This early episode set the tone for the episodes that followed.  The first ten episodes are some of the best of the whole series, but this one in particular stands out as the best of that first batch.  Not only was the interview charming, but the improv that followed provided the inspiration for a character that would be carried over to the Comedy Bang Bang podcast in the years to follow.

4.) Episode 36: “A Dinner Theater” – Special Guest: Ben Garant – 11/30/2015
Ben Garant gave the ideal Spontaneanation interview.  It was insightful, you learned new things about the guest, he had fascinating stories, and elements of the interview provided a great framework for the improv that followed.  The improv that followed was also notable as it had some of the most improvised music in a single episode.

3.) Episode 30: “Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum” – Special Guest: Laraine Newman – 10/19/2015
Not only was a Laraine Newman a great interview guest, but this had to be one of the funniest improv narratives I’ve ever heard.  Jeremy Carter and Marc Evan Jackson provide some of the most memorable single lines in the podcast’s history, and Maria Balssucci’s absent minded young character provided awesome opportunities for improv for the rest of the group.  Easily the best improv segment of the series.

2.) Episode 99: “Ice Cream Parlor” – Special Guest: Craig Cackowski – 2/13/2017
Craig Cackowski pulls double duty in this episode as both the interview guest as well as the one man improv cast (alongside PFT).  As a podcast regular and friend of PFT, the chemistry between Cackowski and PFT is palpable.  The interview was fun, and the improv about a retired baseball player at the ice cream parlor was wildly entertaining.

1.) Episode 18: “A Theme Park Break Room” – Special Guest: Raphael Bob-Waksberg – 7/27/2015
If there was any must hear episode of the Spontaneanation podcast, this is the one.  Raphael Bob-Waksberg is a great interviewee whose stories are perfect for this show. The improv that ensues is hilarious.  Who knew the idea of a break room for costume characters and ride operators at a theme park could provide such a perfect back drop for an improv scene?

Spontaneanation has to be one the greatest improvised podcasts in the past 5 years.  The interviews provided were memorable and also framed guests in ways we would probably never hear otherwise.  For a show where spontaneity reigned, PFT provided an atmosphere where performers interacted as friends.  Whether you were Lavar Burton, Karthik Nemani, or Nicole Parker, the show was eclectic and had a feeling of normalcy within it’s randomness.  In the end, I think the only thing that can sum up the 200 episodes of this amazing show is the show’s central catchphrase, “Semper en Presente”.

Thank you, Paul F Tompkins.

10 Photos That Remind me How Cool 2018 Was.

January 1, 2019 — Leave a comment

In 2018, I attended 80+ shows and events. I saw well over 300 different acts and got to spend a lot of time meeting and mingling with dozens of people in the local music scene.

When looking back on the year as a whole and reviewing photos I took throughout, I kept having moments of revelation.  I saw so many interesting acts this year that as I see some of these images, it hits me, “Oh yeah! You were there for that.”  Below are 10 photos that remind me how cool my 2018 was:

20180811_180934View from the Beer Garden – Sub Pop 30th Anniversary – Alki – 8/11/18
As much as I thought Sub Pop 30 was a cool event and definitely an anniversary party fitting a record company that had such a positive impact on the community, at a certain point in the afternoon it just got crowded.  A combination of recognizable names, no admission fee, and the sun coming out, really caused the crowd to balloon. I took this picture on the way to see Shabazz Palaces.  The sky just looked so cool.

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Kailee Morgue – Neumos – 11/30/18
This photo is a personal favorite of mine.  It’s just a great visual representation of how it feels to go to a smaller live concert “today”.  It also features one of my favorite out of town performers.  I first saw Kailee Morgue live at Bumbershoot, and I instantly fell in love with her sound.  Of the young acts I saw this year, I believe Kailee will be one to keep an eye on in the years to come.

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A Tribe Called Red – Neumos – 3/14/18
This picture is just visually amazing.  The lighting kind of cast a purple light on the room, but the amount of colors coming off of the Native costume worn by this dancer during this set was incredible. A Tribe Called Red put on a show that was as visually pleasing as it was to hear.

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Monsterwatch – Mercer + Summit Block Party – the corner of Mercer and Summit – 8/18/18
If I had to pick a favorite top to bottom event, I would have to say this year’s “Mercer and Summit Block Party” was something special. Other festivals like Upstream, Bumbershoot, and Linda’s Fest had great things to offer and had moments that were memorable, but from beginning to end, I felt like every act at this year’s “Mercer and Summit Block Party” really brought it and the crowd seemed to really accentuate a good vibe throughout the day. I snapped this photo at the end of Monsterwatch’s set. Of all the acts, I felt like Monsterwatch really had a breakout performance at this festival.

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The Regrettes – Bumbershoot: KEXP Stage – Seattle Center – 9/1/18
Bumbershoot for me is a “reset”. Everyone has to have something, that brings you back to “earth” and makes you feel like you’re ready to approach the world after letting out some steam. An act that stood out at this year’s Bumbershoot mainly because of how absurd their set was, were The Regrettes.  Their set this year was at KEXP and they (in short) motivated the crowd to mosh, crowd surf, and even have a wall of death in the KEXP public space.  (haha!) I love this shot because all the members are featured. They’re the most prominent focal points of this photo.

20180920_131047The Pink Slips – Bumbershoot: Main Stage – Seattle Center – 9/2/18
The main stage at Bumbershoot is huge.  I feel like it would be hard for groups to make use of the whole stage unless they were highly seasoned or had elaborate set pieces and visuals.  The Pink Slips made great use of the stage, and created opportunities for photographers to snag some great shots of their set.  I like this shot because of the activity in it.  The bass player’s hair and the lead singer’s facial expression are just small examples of how this photo captured the activity of this set.

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Tres Leches – Upstream Music Festival and Summit – Pioneer Square – 6/3/18
Tres Leches had a pretty big year this year.  I saw their name on multiple lists, they released an album, and I feel like I saw them perform at multiple events and concerts. This photo is interesting to me because you can’t see any of their eyes.  I think it was just timing and position, but it makes a fascinating photo.  This photo is also special for me because it was the first time my oldest cousin came with me to the front of a crowd for a local show.

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The Requisite – Chop Suey – 12/8/18
I first saw The Requisite at this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party.  When I saw them take the stage I thought, “Oh cool. I have no idea what this act is, but they look like a bunch of metalheads.”  When I heard them perform, it wasn’t metal, but I was impressed by the punk rock that I heard.  They had a great sense of humor about themselves, and they were an act I wanted to see again.  I took this photo at a show they headlined at Chop Suey.

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Taylor Swift – Reputation Tour – Century Link Field – 5/21/18
Taylor Swift’s Seattle stop of her Reputation Tour was the only stadium sized concert I attended this year.  Being at a show this massive was impressive.  I was in a crowd where everyone seemed to know the lyrics and had the urge to dance.  It’s just humbling seeing the size and scope of this event.

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My desk at my day job – 10/25/18
The last photo in this set is one of my desk, at my day job. I decorated at first for Halloween, but I kept it up and just kept adding to it. I made the doorway a glam rock explosion with lanterns and streamers weaved overhead.  It was just so much fun having that stuff up.

2018 for me was fun, but I look forward to what 2019 has in store.  I think I’ll take this blogging thing a little more seriously (haha).  Have fun everyone!