Category: Comedy
DoT Podcast EP23: The One-Year Anniversary “Best Of” Episode
One year ago today, I launched the Department of Tangents Blog & Podcast, a place where I could write about my love of...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP22: Birds of Chicago on Touring and Love In Wartime, Plus New Comedy from Jenny Zigrino
This week on the Department of Tangents Podcast, a conversation with Allison Russell and JT Nero of Birds of Chicago, plus a preview...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP21: Twenty Years of “The State of the Industry” with Andy Kindler, Music from Birds of Chicago
For twenty years, Andy Kindler has been making hamburger of sacred cows with his State of the Industry Address at the Just For...... Read More
Netflix and Joel Hodgson Announce Mystery Science Theater 3000 Return Date
The die-hard MSTies have no doubt heard this by now, but if you haven’t, Mystery Science Theater 3000 has a release date! The...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP 20: Comedian Nick Vatterott on Being Strange, New Music from the Chandler Travis Philharmonic
Nick Vatterott doesn’t like being strange for the sake of being strange. He won the Andy Kaufman Award in 2011, but he’s uncomfortable...... Read More
Spotify Playlist of Department of Tangents Podcast Guests!
If you’re a Spotify person, I have created a playlist made up of musicians and comedians who have appeared on the Department of...... Read More
Jeff Abraham’s Favorite Professor Irwin Corey Clip
On February 6, Professor Irwin Corey, otherwise known as The World’s Foremost Authority, died in New York City. Corey was 102, and had...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Mortal Comedy from Joe DeRosa, Chandler Travis’s Strange Pop, Beach Slang’s Energetic Nostalgia
COMEDY 1. Joe DeRosa – You Let Me Down The funniest, most startling bit on Joe DeRosa’s new album, You Let Me Down,...... Read More
DoT Podcast Ep19: All the Hyphens with Singer/Songwriter/Storyteller/Humorist Don White
I heard Don White on the radio long before I met him. He would tell these wonderful stories about his family, often followed...... Read More
And You Films Releases Bubba the Redneck Werewolf on DVD, In Post-Production on Gotta Kill ‘Em All
In October, I spoke with director Brendan Rogers about Bubba the Redneck Werewolf, the film adaptation of the comic book series, for the...... Read More
New Release Round-up: The Flaming Lips, The Molochs, and The Wood Brothers and comedy from Kelly MacFarland and Lachlan Patterson
MUSIC 1. The Flaming Lips – Oczy Mlody The way Wayne Coyne described the idea behind “Oczy Mlody,” it sounds like the concept...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: The Dean Ween Group’s Happy-Inducing Deaner Album
The Dean Ween Group – The Deaner Album Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Comedian Dan Crohn’s It’s Enough Already
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
A Note on Insignificance for the New Year
This time of year has a way of making you feel a bit small. Looking back on things you didn’t get done, trying...... Read More
Minicast: Interview Flashback – Nick Kroll and John Mulaney on “Oh, Hello”
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney are about to finish off their run on Broadway with Oh, Hello, on January 22. Since there are...... Read More
Chris Fleming’s New Holiday Tradition – Gigi the Christmas Snake
Have you been chill this Christmas season? Or have you been rank? If it’s rank, I hope you have a guest room and...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP18 – Miles Hyman Celebrates Shirley Jackson’s Centennial
One hundred years ago today, horror and humor writer Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco, California. To celebrate this centennial, I spoke...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP17 – Sam Phillips Talks New Music, New “La Las” for Gilmore Girls
Sam Phillips fans have reason to celebrate this fall. She has a new mini-album out, called Human Contact Is Never Easy, which includes...... Read More
Department of Tangents Minicast: Colin Quinn on Unconstitutional and the National Divide
Colin Quinn has just released two new one-man shows — Unconstitutional on CD, and The New York Story on Netflix. We could use...... Read More
Record Store Day Highlights – Black Friday 2016
The throngs will be out in force for Black Friday sales today, along with some brave record nuts looking for some vinyl candy...... Read More
Happy Thanksgiving To-Do List of Tangents
Happy Thanksgiving from the Department of Tangents. Enjoy your friends and family. Watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Make mashed potatoes with Paul McCartney....... Read More
The Nutcracker for Novices
I don’t have the proper capacity to appreciate dance. Most public movement makes me self-conscious, and when I have been drunk enough to...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP15: Dana Gould talks Stan Against Evil, an “Apocalypse Fetish” from Lou Barlow
Tonight, fans of horror and comedy get a Halloween treat when the pilot episode of Stan Against Evil from Dana Gould makes its...... Read More
New Release Roundup – Drive-By Truckers, Bob Weir, Luke Winslow-King, The Wytches, Mike DeStefano
MUSIC 1. Drive-By Truckers – American Band The Drive-By Truckers may be the definitive American band. Others may have a rootsy sound, or...... Read More
New Release Roundup – Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn, Frank Zappa, and beccs
COMEDY 1. Maria Bamford – 20% At the beginning of Maria Bamford’s set on 20%, she gives the audience a warning. Most people...... Read More
DoT Minicast: An Interview Flashback with George Carlin
In last Friday’s New Release Roundup, I reviewed the new George Carlin Album, I Kinda Like It When A Lotta People Die, archived...... Read More
New Release Roundup: George Carlin’s I Kinda Like It When A Lotta People Die
George Carlin I Kinda Like It When A Lotta People Die There are a few ways you can approach the new George Carlin...... Read More
Department of Tangents Podcast Ep13 – Comedian, Musician, and Author Dave Hill, New Music from Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys
Happy to present to you my conversation with author, comedian, and musician Dave Hill. Hill is a busy guy these days. He just...... Read More
New Release Roundup – Music from The Beatles, Dex Romweber, The Zomba Prison Project, and Nots
MUSIC 1. The Beatles – Live at the Hollywood Bowl The Beatles: Live at the Hollywood Bowl occupies a special place in Beatles...... Read More