MATT AND KIM RELEASE SURPRISE EP ‘WE WERE THE WEIRDOS’
From their mainstage set at Coachella last night, MATT AND KIM announced the release of a brand new 4-song EP WE WERE THE WEIRDOS right before blasting into one of the EP’s brand new tracks “Please No More” for the first time ever. WE WERE THE WEIRDOS is available on Spotify, iTunes and additional streaming platforms. Check it out: smarturl.it/MK_WEIRDOS
Recording WE WERE THE WEIRDOS began with Matt and Kim feeling totally inspired to write music after returning from European tour dates in early April. Charged by massive response at Coachella on weekend 1, they headed straight into Lars Stalfor’s LA studio determined to complete the songs for release during Coachella weekend 2.
The EP references a time in their youth when Matt and Kim first came into music and themselves, a time heavily rooted in punk, hardcore, rave and the then-underground Brooklyn scenes. Matt’s high school yearbook photo serves as the cover art, helping to relay the theme. WE WERE THE WEIRDOS returns to a more raw and underground version of Matt and Kim and encapsulates the band’s exciting and spontaneous nature that is immediately apparent in their live performance.
“We took three months off over the winter,” says Matt, “the longest break we’ve ever taken since we started the band. They say absences making the heart grow fonder, and when we got back on the road a few weeks ago we felt so f*ckin’ inspired! Like we were a new band! You have to ACT on inspiration or it’ll slip through your fingers, and then we were charged up even MORE from 1st weekend of Coachella. I’m so proud of how raw and real these songs are going to be, I really believe there is something special here.”
Matt and Kim have a long history with New York City-based independent record label, FADER Label. The relationship has seen celebrated releases including Billboard-charting albums Grand, which includes RIAA-certified Platinum single “Daylight,” andSidewalks, as well as the self-produced Lightning and Lightning Remixes. The band won several awards during this time including an MTV Video Music Award for “Breakthrough Video” and mtvU Woodie Awards for “Best Video” and “Best Performers.”
The band embarks on tour next month, bringing their undeniably fun, explosive live show to cities and festival stages across the country, including Hangout Festival and Governors Ball. Matt and Kim will also join Ellie Goulding’s ‘Delirium’ tour this June, performing in cities along the east coast through July (full list of tour dates below).
WE WERE THE WEIRDOS EP Track Listing:
1. Fall To Pieces
2. Let’s Run Away
3. Please No More
4. Haunting Me
Matt and Kim Live Dates
5/6 – Murcia, Spain – S.O.S 4.8 Festival
5/19 – Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Music Festival Kickoff Party
6/2 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena *
6/3 – New York, NY – Governors Ball
6/6 – Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park *
6/7 – Daniel Island, SC – Volvo Cars Stadium *
6/9 – Charlotte, NC – The Uptown Amphitheatre at NC Music Factory *
6/10 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater *
6/13 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *
6/14 – Canandaigua, NY – Constellation Brands – Marvin Performing Arts Center *
6/15 – Boston, MA – TD Garden *
6/18 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre *
6/19 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre *
6/21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden *
7/22 – Oro-Medonte, ON – Wayhome Music & Arts Festival
7/23 – Detroit, MI – Mo Pop Festival
* = w/ Ellie Goulding
W. KAMAU BELL PREMIERING TWO NEW SHOWS: “UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA” ON CNN, “SEMI-PROMINENT NEGRO” ON SHOWTIME
Socio-political comedian W. KAMAU BELL premieres two new shows this month. Kamau is the host the CNN docuseries “United Shades of America” which premieres on April 24th. His one-hour stand-up special “Semi-Prominent Negro” will premiere on Showtime on April 29th.
United Shades of America, a new CNN Original Series hosted by W Kamau Bell, follows the comedian as he explores racial subcultures and other micro-societies across the country. The eight-part docuseries takes Kamau from the far corners of Alaska to Florida’s retirement homes to America’s most dangerous prison and beyond. In the first episode, a true must-see, Kamau travels to the South to meet with members of the KKK to learn about the next generation of Klansmen looking to rebrand their message.
“United Shades of America” Hosted by W Kamau Bell
Series Premiere on CNN Sunday, April 24 at 10pm ET/PT
Watch the Trailer:
Kamau stars in his first solo stand-up special “W Kamau Bell: Semi-Prominent Negro” premiering on Showtime. Directed by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, Freakonomics) and filmed before a live audience in Brooklyn, the film features Kamau’s uniquely insightful and hilarious views on a host of social and political issues such as gentrification, marriage equality, “mixed-race” children and doing black children’s hair just to name a few. In Semi-Prominent Negro, Bell confirms his stature as one of the leading cultural critics of our time.
W Kamau Bell: Semi-Prominent Negro
Premiere on Showtime Friday April 29 at 10pm
Watch the Trailer: https://youtu.be/tzKldU5jEsI
Kamau also continues to host his radio show “Kamau Right Now!” on KALW in the Bay Area and co-hosts the podcast Denzel Washington is The Greatest Actor of All Time Period on Earwolf.
COMEDIAN EUGENE MIRMAN & LEGENDARY MUSICIAN ROBYN HITCHCOCK ANNOUNCE CO-HEADLINING TOUR
Comedian EUGENE MIRMAN (Bob’s Burgers) and legendary musician ROBYN HITCHCOCK announce a co-headlining tour through the South this month. Each night will feature full sets from both Eugene and Robyn for a night of outstanding comedy and music. Don’t miss out!
EUGENE MIRMAN & ROBIN HITCHCOCK ON TOUR
4/16 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
4/18 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theater
4/19 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
4/20 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
4/21 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
4/22 – DC @ Black Cat
TICKETS AT: http://www.eugenemirman.com/live-shows/
Eugene Mirman is a comedian and actor who famously voices “Gene” on Fox’s Emmy Award winning animated series Bob’s Burgers and can also be seen or heard on TV on Archer, Inside Amy Schumer, Conan, Flight of the Conchords, Adult Swim’s Delocated, @midnight, Late Night with Seth Myers and more. A hugely popular stand up, Eugene was named Best New York City Comedian (Village Voice), one of “50 Funniest” (Time Out New York) and one of the 10 best comedians of the last decade (Paste Magazine). Eugene’s latest comedy special is available on Netflix and his fifth comedy album ’I’m Sorry (You’re Welcome)’, 9 volume 7-LP masterpiece, is now available on Sub Pop Records.
Robyn Hitchcock is one of England’s most enduring contemporary singer/songwriters and live performers. A surrealist poet, talented guitarist, cult artist and musician’s musician, Hitchcock is among alternative rock’s father figures and is the closest thing the genre has to a Bob Dylan (not coincidentally his biggest musical inspiration). Blending folk and psychedelia with a wry British nihilism, Robyn describes his songs as ‘paintings you can listen to’. Since founding the art-rock band The Soft Boys in 1976, Robyn has recorded more than 20 albums as well as starred in ‘Storefront Hitchcock’ an in concert film recorded in New York and directed by Jonathan Demme.
YOU’RE THE EXPERT WITH CHRIS DUFFY, HARI KONDABOLU, MAEVE HIGGINS, APARNA NANCHERLA LIVE IN PHILLY 4/28
You’re The Expert Live comes to Philadelphia for two shows on Thursday, April 28. Hosted by Chris Duffy, You’re the Expert is a hilarious live show, podcast and public radio program coming to Franklin Institute, Fels Planetarium for the Philadelphia Science Festival. Guest comedians Maeve Higgins (Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer), Aparna Nancherla (NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers) and Hari Kondabolu (Conan) try to guess what a leading expert studies.
Through games, sketches, and hilariously misguided guesses, our three comedians will try to figure out the guest expert’s field of expertise. The show ends with a reveal of the expert’s studies and an interview where you’ll hear about the expert’s latest findings and why their field is important. You’re the Expert is funny, it’s interactive and you end up actually learning something!
Recommended by PBS NOVA, the Boston Globe, Washington Post and Time Out New York,You’re The Expert comes to the The Franklin Institute, Fels Planestarium for the Philadelphia Science Festival. Don’t miss your chance to see this live taping which will be recorded for later airing on WBUR, Boston’s NPR station!
YOU’RE THE EXPERT LIVE AT THE PHILADELPHIA SCIENCE FESTIVAL
THURSDAY APRIL 28
THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, FELS PLANETARIUM
Show Times: 6:30pm and 9:00pm
Ticket Link: http://philasciencefestival.ticketleap.com/youre-the-expert-2016/
YOU’RE THE EXPERT > PRAISE
“A hilariously unique venture into worlds of mathematics, physicists, biologists and the like.” – BostInno.com
“You’re the Expert makes learning fun. Like, actually fun; this isn’t like what you tell kids when you make a so-called game out of homework. (Nice try though, Mom.)” – Weekly Dig
“You’re the Expert “makes celebrities of good-natured scholars who trade barbs with comedians and engage in games and sketches to explain what they do, and how.” – The Times Higher Education
“Duffy is the glue that holds the show together, waiting for a lull between the comedians’ retorts before asking [the expert] more serious questions to help the audience understand what she does and why, and getting at the heart of what drives her as a scientist.” – PBS NOVA
For more information, please visit: http://www.theexpertshow.com
THE UNION OF THE STATE: Biography Chronicles Comedy Legends from NYU to MTV and Beyond
Out May 3, Pre-orders Now Available
“The Union of The State” by author Corey Stulce is the untold, uncensored story of the most influential and prolific comedy troupe of the last twenty-five years — and a unique tale in the history of show business. It will be released in print, Kindle, and ebook formats on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Pre-orders now available.
The book, “The Union of The State,” is an oral history of the acclaimed troupe’s creation, dissolution, reinvention and reunion, told by all members of the group:
- Kevin Allison
- Michael Ian Black
- Robert Ben Garant
- Todd Holoubek
- Michael Patrick Jann
- Kerri Kenney-Silver
- Thomas Lennon
- Joe Lo Truglio
- Ken Marino
- Michael Showalter
- David Wain
“There are so many surprising and hilarious memories packed in here. Every member of the group and the people who helped us make it happen chime in. I’ll open to any page and think, ‘Oh wow, yeah, that is where that idea came from!’ or, ‘Whoa, is that what happened when we were off working on separate bits?’ It’s the whole emotional roller coaster ride of this creative family. The good, the ridiculous and the ugly,” said State member, Kevin Allison.
▪ Paul Rudd
▪ Keegan-Michael Key
▪ Chris Meloni
▪ Janeane Garofalo
▪ Mo Willems, best-selling children’s book author
▪ Rob Corddry, creator of “Children’s Hospital”
▪ A.D. Miles, Head Writer for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”
▪ Doug Herzog, President of Viacom
▪ James Dixon, agent for Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel
▪ Cast and crew from “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Reno 911!” and more
The book follows the members of The State from their time as classmates at New York University in the late 1980s to their quick ascent to fame via their three-season, sketch-comedy TV series on MTV and through their post-MTV projects. It also includes histories of the movie-turned-Netflix-series, “Wet Hot American Summer;” the Comedy Central hit, “Reno 911!;” and cult favorite comedy show/series, Stella.
“If you’re a diehard State fan, I imagine you’ll enjoy this very much. If you’ve kind of heard of us, you might say ‘Oh right, but who cares?’, and if you have no idea who we are, heads up, this book has nothing to do with politics, the Civil War, history, or Duran Duran,” said Joe Lo Truglio, State member and co-star on Fox’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
The projects the members of The State have written, directed or performed in leave no degree of separation between them and nearly everyone working in comedy today, such as Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Amy Poehler and Natasha Leggero. The book features rare photos and illustrations from the troupe’s long history.
(photo credit: amy rachlin)
“The Union of The State” appeals not only to The State’s extensive fan base but also to comedy aficionados, showbiz biography fans and those who love an underdog success tale.
Andy Samberg said, “The State was the first time I’d ever seen ‘sarcastic sarcasm.’ They are the all-time champions of bum-out humor. They embodied the lameness of the lamest people and celebrated them for our enjoyment. Every time a comic does an intentionally lame joke and it makes you go, ‘Ewww,’ with delight, you have them to thank.”
“The members of The State are my heroes, my peers and my friends. Individually and collectively they are responsible for an impressively large percentage of everything funny that currently exists in the world. For comedy nerds like me, it’s essential reading.” – “Weird Al” Yankovic
“I have to tip my cap to “The State” because when I was in graduate school, they were what I watched. They were the thing.” – Keegan-Michael Key
The book is now available for pre-order:
- Hardcover: http://www.coreystulce.com/
- Softcover: http://bit.ly/uofssof
- Kindle: http://bit.ly/uofskindle
Upcoming book events:
- An Evening with The State, 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, UCB Sunset, 5419 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA: http://bit.ly/ucbuofs
- RISK! The State Book Release Show with Kerri Kenney-Silver, Janeane Garofalo, Kevin Allison and more, 9 p.m. on Friday, May 20, The Bell House, 149 7th St., Brooklyn, NY: http://bit.ly/risktix
- Book signing with Kevin Allison and Corey Stulce, 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, Planet Score Records, 7421 Manchester Road, Maplewood, MO: http://bit.ly/planetscore
Author Corey Stulce has been interviewing and writing about comedians for more than twenty years. Follow him at @coreyshame