The Seedy Seeds return to Let’s Get Serious and Chicago for a show on January 22, 2012 at Reggie’s Music Joint.

I interviewed The Seedy Seeds on Episode 11 almost a year ago but along with the passage of time comes change, including the introduction of a new member, drummer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Frankl. I try to unravel the mystery that is Joe and we discuss old-timey slang with banjo accompaniment courtesy of Mike Ingram.

Listen to the Seeds perform two songs live in my kitchen, “Ethel” and “Flooded”.

Let’s Get Serious with Kendall Bruns
Episode 027: The Seedy Seeds
Running time: 65 minutes

Download (60.3MB mp3): Let’s Get Serious: Episode 027

Subscribe to the Let’s Get Serious podcast through iTunes.

Are you ready for a Sunday full of comedy? This post is going up a little late so I hope you’re reading it from the lobby at Stage 773.

Here are my recommendations for today.

Sunday, January 8, 2012
3pm – Sausage (The Pro)
4pm – Acid Reflux Comedy Troupe (The Thrust)
5pm – Jack Tripper (The Cab)
6pm – Scuzznick Productions (The Pro)
7pm - Sherra: Secret of the Ooze (The Thrust)
8pm - Variety Stampede! (The Thrust)

Call 773-327-5252 or go to Stage773.com for tickets

Sausage

Many of the groups performing tonight also performed last night or last weekend.

For tonight’s 9pm slot I’m picking Heavy Wait featuring T.J. Miller (Late Night with David Letterman, Comedy Central), Brady Novak (Community, Raising Hope), Mark Raterman (Second City) and Nick Vatterott (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Conan) but last night I saw Pangea 3000 and they were one of my absolute favorites this year so I also highly recommend seeing them tonight if you missed them yesterday.

Other second chance performances I recommend include The Tim and Micah Project, The Cupid Players, Urlakis and Cusick, Stupid Time Machine and Fuct.

These are my picks for tonight.

Saturday, January 14, 2012
6pm – The Tim and Micah Project (The Box)
7pm – No Offense (The Box)
8pm – Kerpatty (The Thrust)
9pm – Heavy Wait (The Thrust)
10pm – Inside Joke Films (The Cab)
11pm – Think Tank (The Thrust)

Jon Braylock & Ramy Youssef from Inside Joke Films were featured on Episode 6 of Let’s Get Serious: Let’s Get Serious with Inside Joke Films

Call 773-327-5252 or go to Stage773.com for tickets and check back here for daily recommendations and additional coverage of the festival.

Inside Joke Films

The snow is here but Sketchfest attendees won’t let that stop them. Dress warm.

If you want to be uncomfortable and maybe even offended, see FUCT this weekend.

These are my picks for tonight.

Friday, January 13, 2012
8pm – Stupid Time Machine (The Box)
9pm – Pangea 3000 (The Pro)
10pm – FUCT (The Thrust)
11pm – Long Pork (The Thrust)

Arthur Meyer from Pangea 3000 was featured on Episode 5 of Let’s Get Serious: Let’s Get Serious with Two Fun Men

Charlie Carroll and Lee Russell of Long Pork were featured on Episode 8: Let’s Get Serious with Long Pork

Call 773-327-5252 or go to Stage773.com for tickets and check back here for daily recommendations and additional coverage of the festival.

Stupid Time Machine

Last weekend was great but can Sketchfest do it again? There’s only one way to find out.

Here are my picks for tonight.

Thursday, January 12, 2012
8pm – Geek Show (The Box)
9pm – Nose Complaint (The Box)
10pm – Ruby Weapon… Goes to Hell (The Cab)

Ruby Weapon… Goes to Hell will feature Joe Avella and Tim Racine who were interviewed on Episode 16 of my podcast: Let’s Get Serious with Teenager of the Year

Call 773-327-5252 or go to Stage773.com for tickets and check back here for daily recommendations and additional coverage of the festival.

Nose Complaint

Shows begin at 3pm today so if you get an early start you can get brunch, cram in 6 hours of comedy and still be home in time to watch some TV before bed.

Sunday, January 8, 2012
3pm - Existential Crises (The Thrust)
4pm – Gretchen and Regina (The Cab)
5pm – Jeffrey-Jeffreis (The Pro)
6pm – The Davenports (The Thrust)
7pm – Exquisite Corpse (The Box)
8pm – The Late Live Show (The Pro)

The Late Live Show used to be a midnight show every Saturday at Second City’s de Maat Theater but it’s currently on hiatus so tonight’s performance is a special treat.

Gretchen and Regina

Call 773-327-5252 or go to Stage773.com for tickets and check back here for daily recommendations and additional coverage of the festival.

Shows start at 6pm. That’s a lot of comedy.

There are lots of good choices tonight. Many of my picks feature members that I’ve interviewed on the Let’s Get Serious podcast—links below.

Saturday, January 7, 2012
6pm – Team Submarine
7pm – The Tim & Micah Project
8pm - Urlakis and Cusick
9pm – The Feeko Brothers
10pm – The Cool Table
11pm – Off Off Broadzway

Tim Sosko from The Tim & Micah Project was featured on Episode 12: Let’s Get Serious with Tim Soszko

Dave Urlakis from Urlakis & Cusick was featured on Episode 10: Let’s Get Serious with Batterymouth

Joey Christopoulos & Dan Sanders-Joyce of The Cool Table were featured on Episode 9: Let’s Get Serious with The Cool Table

Kelly Bolton from Off Off Broadzway was featured on Episode 2: Let’s Get Serious with Kelly Bolton

Liz McArthur from Off Off Broadzway was featured on Episode 4: Let’s Get Serious with Liz McArthur

Mandy Whitenack from Off Off Broadzway was featured on Episode 18: Let’s Get Serious with Mandy Whitenack

Call 773-327-5252 or go to Stage773.com for tickets and check back here for daily recommendations and additional coverage of the festival.

If last night was any indication this Sketchfest will be as packed as ever before. Prepare for crowds and occasionally spilling out onto the sidewalk for some fresh air. At least it’s not crazy cold this year.

These are my picks for tonight.

Friday, January 6, 2012
8pm – Hey Pearl (The Cab)
9pm – Upset Triangle (The Box)
10pm – Camp Woods (The Pro)
11pm – Feminine Gentlemen (The Cab)

Another solid choice at 8pm on Friday is Barretta featuring Carisa Barreca & Kevin Sciretta, who were featured on Episode 20 of Let’s Get Serious: Let’s Get Serious with Carisa & Kevin

Feminine Gentlemen features Liz McArthur and Jill Valentine. Liz was the guest on Episode 4 of Let’s Get Serious: Let’s Get Serious with Liz McArthur

Feminine Gentlemen

Call 773-327-5252 or go to Stage773.com for tickets and check back here for daily recommendations and additional coverage of the festival.

Sketchfest is a great way to see the best sketch comedy groups from Chicago and beyond over the course of two exciting weekends. Shows sell out. Get tickets early.

There are 76 performances this weekend so there are many choices and it can be a little overwhelming but I’ve done my homework and can help. Here are my picks for each time slot tonight:

Thursday, January 5, 2012
8pm - Barry Hite: So Very Important (The Pro)
9pm – RAM Chicago (The Box)
10pm – WILDCARD (The Pro)

Call 773-327-5252 or go to Stage773.com for tickets and check back here for daily recommendations and additional coverage of the festival.

For a Chicago Sketchfest blast from the past see:
Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival

Barry Hite: So Very Important

This cover of “Blue Christmas” features Alan Metoskie as Bald Elvis.

“Blue Christmas” was written in 1948 by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson. It’s been covered 1 million times, most famously by Elvis Presley.

When he’s not Bald Elvis, Alan can be seen performing at Comedy Sportz here in Chicago.

You can also view this video on Vimeo: Blue Christmas (Ft. Bald Elvis)

There’s a FREE download of the song here: Kendall Bruns on Bandcamp

Original song by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson
Arrangement by Kendall Bruns
Performed by Kendall Bruns with Alan Metoskie as Bald Elvis
Directed & Edited by Kendall Bruns
Made with Animoog and a Moog Prodigy

If you’re feeling extra Christmas-y, reminisce with these offerings of Christmas past:

A Pizza Infinity Christmas Special

Christmas in Cincinnati