Known primarily for his work in the early 90’s sitcom The State and later for his comedic efforts in VH1’s I Love the *insert decade here*, Michael Ian Black is composed of dry wit, dark comedic timing, and a sinister smile. Apparently after finishing up work on a new movie he wrote, (Run, Fat Boy, Run) he has decided to work on his stand-up again.

So, anyone who is interested in a guy who looks like a nerdy uncle with a bad mouth will want, no need, to see him. He’s performing this Friday, Nov 30, at the TLA on South Street in Philadelphia — 9PM $95.00.

Check out the Listings for more local shows/concerts in Philadelphia

There’s a student nonfiction reading at Stockton on Dec 4th at 4:15pm in the TRLC. Judy Copeland is organizing the event. She’s Stockton’s go to nonfiction professor and a really excellent travel writer. She always tells these casual stories about her travels as if they are no big deal while her audience sits there flabbergasted,”so, then the bear took out a pipe and a book of Frost poems, but I didn’t panic — I called the stewardess.”

Some of her students will be reading their work and it’s always a lot of fun to hear creative versions of true stories. Check it out.

(image Flickred by Orin Optiglot)

Cake, the band known for their lack of vocal prowess and joyful antics, is playing at the Commerce Bank Arts Centre in Sewell, NJ on Dec 8th. Tickets are $35.

I can’t remember the last time Cake came to South Jersey, so all the SJ Cake fans holed up indoors, waiting for Cake to set the sun shining with their Unlimited Sunshine Festival, should be pleased. Ticketmaster is advertising “special guests” for the show, but knowing Cake that could mean anything from Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppets playing xylophones, to what’s left of Jim Morrison’s corpse working the spoons.

Cake just released B-sides and Rarities, and their last CD, Pressure Chief, is really worth checking out.

Check out some song samples of decent length on their site.

www.cakemusic.com

Being an esteemed member of the Pandora community, I was included in the ultra-exclusive email sending that just went out for this Pandora Budweiser bash in Philadelphia.

No one is more surprised than me; I stopped using Pandora because apparently I can’t hodgepodge together a music type that doesn’t make me want to skip every other song, a practice Pandora frowns upon and only allows every once in a while. I was always stuck listening to some horrible blend because I carelessly input “counting crows” and “death” into their Music Genome (which I’m told has nothing to do with “gnomes”, but I don’t buy it).

The interesting part of the little ad is, “Budweiser is also providing hors d’oeuvre and Budweiser Select beer (other beverages will be available for purchase).” This leads me to believe that the hors d’oeuvre and Select will be free. But Pandora was also supposed to be the answer to my music problems forever, so I’m wary. They probably make you drink a bunch of different drinks at the door and then puke in a bucket so a Budweiser representative can taste it and figure out your exact malt. Then that’s free.

Might be worth checking out, though.

www.pandora.com

The New Media Club, Brian Kim Stefans, and I (B to the S H A R P) are hosting a media event this Thursday night. I plan to talk about The Fhiz a bit, Richard Stockton OVERDRIVE, and The New Media Club. BKS is tossing out some info about independent video games and showing off some student projects from his classes. We also have a couple student presenters lined up to show off their work. It’ll be fun.

There’ll be pizza. You should come. Blow the poster up for all its majesty.

Thursday Nov 29th 4:30 - 6pm F-111

…bring a hot date.