PRATT SHOW AND PROJECT LUMENS RADIO SHOW APPEARANCE 5-19-03
Busy with deadlines this week, but I made time for one day in the city. On Wednesday I hit Manhattan for some exhibits/ a radio show/ more exhibits/ and some comedy.
First I went to the PRATT student show at the Manhattan Center. It was the day open only to professionals. Professional what's I don't know. I was invited by Sly, or Sly's professor. Sly is the student who came out to Long Island and interviewed me for his final paper. Met some cool up- and-coming artists like Graduating Sr. Dan James of GHOSTSHRIMP.NET, and saw a lot of great work. I also managed to pack a pretty good mid-afternoon buzz on with the open wine bar.
Next I shot uptown to meet up with rapper SHICE (I did the artwork for his new single). We were invited down to the last session of WBAR'ship hop radio show PROJECT LUMENS. We got there and the place was packed with MC's. All of which were from the Bronx. We spun SHICE's album, hung out, I drew on their walls with a sharpie. SHICE and a few of the other MC's started doing some freestying on the air (think 8-Mile). I got to talk a little on the mic, plugged the website, plugged the Soul Series. We took some pictures and then it was off to meet up with some of my homies from highschool down at Penn Station, Shice and Ricardo (ELEVATION SUITE) gave me a ride.
I met up in front of MSG with INK and this other dude Jay (two poets/ professional writers I had planned to hang with this afternoon, never met Jay before, while Ink is my friend from Highschool) whom have already been chillin' in the city and wanting to get their drink on. We wandered back to the Pratt show and started pounding wine. After showing them my favorite of the student work, and watching about an hour of student films in their mock theater, the wine ran out ,so we started heading for our final destination, the UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE THEATER (UCB Theatre). By this time, I'm buzzed and carrying my DJ bag, a bag which since I met up with SHICE-has 30 of his albums weighing it down. We still had some time before the next show started at UCB, so we stumbled into a random gallery opening in Chelsea on the way.
After a few mixed vodka drinks and met the artists we are good to head the rest of the way to the Theater. Jay is quoted at saying "So it's free here too?" To which I replied: "Yes Jay, that's usually how openings work." to which he responded: " The City is so cool, everywhere we go people are handing out free booze." - Jay is from Jersey ladies and gentlemen.
The Upright Citizens shows never cease to amaze. It is usually free form improve skit comedy, but this night it was one man shows, and stand up acts. I was surprised to see ANDY MILONAKIS performing in one of the shows. One of the TV shows I used to watch religiously was JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE. Andy is a manchild comedian who makes these fucked up videos and puts them on his website. Kimmel discovered him and has played his videos on the air, and has used him as a reporter ever since. He's really funny in an annoying way and is often confused with THE MAN SHOW BOY. Good to meet you Andy.
This also backs up my theory about being in New York for a day and seeing celebrities. You can't beat the Uprights theater, and if you aren't familiar with this type of comedy, it's like a long form version of that TV show "Who's line is it anyway", but funnier, and it's only 5 bucks. Amy Pohler and Horatio Sans from Saturday night live have been regular cast members and stop in to keep up their chops from time to time. Stayed there for the late show called "Hump night" which is free on Wednesdays, this is when new comics, or seasoned comics come to work on new material. I saw one of the funniest bits ever with this comedian called "MC Record Deal" played by Jon Daly. He's Jamie Kennedy's arch rival. Some of the funniest shit ever, and I've never heard of him before, and finally found a website on them, I highly recommend seeing their show CRACKED-OUT.
Got home in the middle of the night, and started working--it never ends.
Just another day in the life of an Art Juggernaut.
-Cojo