Have you ever wanted to laugh while nerding out on a topic you have limited information on? Enter: LabX’s “Wrong Answers Only,” the comedy show hosted by Chris Duffy that entertains a deep-dive topic with one expert and three comedians.
“Wrong Answers Only” has hilariously introduced truths on topics like cybersecurity and bees. On June 17th, they will cover the fan-favorite topic of ICE CREAM. (I mean, who doesn’t love ice cream?) Chris will be joined in his ice cream, adventure by Expert Dr. Maya Warren and comedians Lily Du, Alyssa Limperis, and Aparna Nancherla at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 17th.
National Ice Cream Month kicks off in July, so it’s time to get your knowledge on. We got to ask Chris Duffy a few questions while he preps for a night of sweet, sweet comedy and entertainment.
___
WRONG ANSWERS ONLY is a real treat for people like me who like to fully understand topics. Have you had a favorite deep-dive yet? What would be a future topic you’d want to talk to a scientist about?
Honestly, so much of the fun of doing a show where comedians interview scientists is that every topic ends up being surprising and hilarious. That being said, I think one of the most mind blowing topics was when we interviewed Dr. Moogega Cooper who works on making sure Earth’s spaceships don’t accidentally send out a bacteria or organism that could wreak havoc across the galaxy.
As for a dream topic, I always think scientists who study animals are fascinating and hilarious so I’d love to talk to a rat expert. I bet there’s a lot of comedy there. But actually, now that I’m thinking about it, I’d probably have to look at a lot of photos of rats, which is disgusting and terrifying. So let’s say a guinea pig expert instead. They’re like the friendly cousins of rats.
Where was the show topic of ice cream born from for this upcoming Dynasty Typewriter event?
The idea to do a comedy show about ice cream came from: 1) how good it is to eat ice cream 2) us hearing about a scientist who studies ice cream 3) me realizing this would mean I’d get to eat ice cream for work and 4) us realizing we could give the audience ice cream during the show and have them love us forever.
Can’t argue any of that! Dr. Maya Warren is going to be your guest for this ice cream deep dive. What qualifies her as an ice cream expert, and how did you get into contact?
Well, if you go to her website, it says in giant letters “Ice Cream Scientist™” so that’s definitely a clue that you might be dealing with an ice cream expert. But also, she’s got a PhD in Food Science and has traveled the world studying and creating new flavors of ice cream. One of the amazing parts of doing a comedy show for LabX (a program of the National Academy of Sciences) is that they just know people like this. They’re the only people I could ever meet in my life who would go “Oh, we actually met this ice cream scientist the other night, do you think that might be a fun topic for the show?” The answer, of course, was yes.
Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to bringing up with Dr. Warren and the comedians?
I am most looking forward to ice cream. But also to hearing about Dr. Warren’s work helping create new flavors for Snoop Dogg’s ice cream company, her research studying the “behavioral properties of frozen aerated desserts,” and asking her what the scientifically best and worst ice cream flavors are.
Do you have any pre-show rituals when you’re performing in front of an audience, or even just in general?
My pre-show ritual is to panic, sweat through my shirt, rethink all of my life choices, and then go out onto the stage.
What is your idea of the perfect night out at Dynasty Typewriter, in particular?
I love Dynasty Typewriter! It’s my favorite comedy venue in Los Angeles. It’s also right next to Wi Spa, so you could always catch the show and then immediately soak in several different tubs and get a full body scrub. That’s a really bold combination for a night out, but it is technically possible! A tad less unhinged would be to grab a drink and some food at The Prince**, one of the most fun and classically LA spots in the city. I love the ambience and also the addition of mozzarella to almost any food you order there. The HMS Bounty is another classic LA spot that’s close by and has surprisingly good food. Plus, I don’t think this is true, but I always tell people I bring there that it’s made from an actual ship. Don’t fact check that.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Frankly, I think it’s hard to beat a good vanilla with hot fudge on top. But when I go to Handel’s in Los Feliz (my current favorite ice cream shop), I love to get their taro flavor.
Where do you draw inspiration from in your work?
I am largely inspired by typos on signs.
Incredible. Anything else you’d like to share with your sweet toothed crowd?
Please come to this show, it’s on Tuesday, June 17th at 7:30 p.m. at Dynasty Typewriter and I will personally guarantee you get ice cream during the show. PROVE YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH BY COMING AND BRINGING ALL YOUR FRIENDS!!!!
(Much of the way I promote my comedy veers between aggressive yelling and begging for people to attend. It’s kind of my signature.)
As a quick side note, your podcast “How to Be a Better Human” is incredibly sincere and eye-opening. Is there a singular episode or anecdote you have in your memory bank that really solidifies your commitment to the self-help genre?
My memory bank is experiencing a dramatic run on the reserves and it is not FDIC insured. It’s a very unreliable bank. That being said, I loved the episode we did this season with Clint Smith III about history and memory.
**The Prince is absolutely worth it if you want to feel like you’re on set. You may recognize it from several of your favorite productions, including as Nick Miller’s bar in New Girl. Right across the street sits Los Angeles High School of The Arts, which is also a big piece of history and a filming location.
If you have yet to hear of Jensen McRae, then you are in for a treat. You have been missing out on one of the most brilliant new talents to grace the clubs and venues of her home of Southern California. The 25-year-old pop singer-songwriter had the opportunity of a lifetime to open for an international touring sensation. McRae was hand-picked by Dermot Kennedy and his team to be added to Kennedy’s regular lineup for their stop in Los Angeles. (A show that normally consists of the Irish crooner and musician Kevin Garrett.) The Youtube Theater was in for quite the treat.
As the first line of lyrics came through McRae’s lips, an actual gasp went out across the Theater. The audience was spellbound by her warm vocals and the depth of emotion in her voice. We were particularly big fans of the goth feel of her collared, striped, and moody ensemble. Check out our (unedited) selects below.
Andrew Hozier-Byrne, better known across the globe simply as Hozier, has been an active participant in the live-stream concert trend that is sweeping the globe. The music industry enigma’s most recent endeavor took place on Friday via Billboard Live’s facebook page in an effort to raise money for the Downtown Women’s Center in LA, which focuses on serving and empowering women experiencing homelessness and formerly homeless women. While in his previous livestreams Hozier has been accompanied by bandmate Alex Ryan, he buckled down in his bedroom by himself for this one due to intensification of the lockdown, joined only by his acoustic guitar. After talking a little about the Women’s Center, Hozier jumped into material from his massively successful 2014 self-titled debut, which birthed chart-toppers like “Take Me to Church” and launched him into wide-spread fame.
The Irish musician started off with an acoustic rendition of “To Be Alone”, a bluesy rock number off of his first album. Even without the driving electric guitar and hard-hitting percussion of the original track, Hozier kept all of his power with his soulful vocals and guitar-playing. He then invited fans to send in requests, humbly stating that he could “try and God knows that’s the best I can do” (Yeah, okay Hozier *insert eye-roll here*) before moving into a soft-spoken version of fan-favorite “From Eden”. The beautiful number was accompanied by bright slide-guitar and whispered falsetto brushed across the tops of the airy track’s high notes. “Cool.” Hozier breezily said before diving into some questions from the stream’s viewers.
“What are you some of the ways you’ve been keeping busy during these times?” He read aloud from the comments and questions streaming in at real time. Hozier took the moment to speak of the effect that the pandemic has had on the live event industry and of his own plans for the year. “I’m very very fortunate that I didn’t have touring plans this year. So a lot of musicians and in particular independent musicians, freelancers, anybody involved in event management or gigging….” He trailed off in thought before coming back, restating “I’ve been very very fortunate”. Hozier shared that his plans have not been heavily affected by the pandemic, a fact not all that surprising for a man who’s infamous among fans for backing out of the spotlight for years at a time when he’s not touring to work on his music without the constant pressure typically forced on artists by labels and the public. He did share what he’s been up to though: reading, writing, and walking “at safe distances from other people”.
Hozier spoke a little more about the Women’s Center and encouraged viewers to donate if they could before cutting off his own thoughts. “And- Yeah. What are we doing? I suppose I’ll sing a song” he said with a grin. “That’s what I do”. He spoke on as he tweaked his guitar. “Today was a sad day, sadder than normal. Bill Withers passed away, who I’m sure you’re familiar with, and it’s an absolute tragedy”. He then spoke of Withers influence on him personally before paying tribute to him with a haunting cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine”, one of Withers’ classics. Not surprisingly, he did the soulful track justice, effortlessly building the intensity with his impassioned playing and singing before pulling back to let the last section breathe. “Isn’t that a beautiful song?” He mused.
Hozier followed the heartfelt cover with “Cherry Wine”, one of the most beautiful and patient songs from his debut. Seeing that the album version is a live recording with just acoustic guitar as well, his livestream edition sounded eerily similar and was charged with nostalgia for longtime fans. The world stood still for a couple moments as the musician’s remarkable ability to make everything feel alright washed over like a wave of cool and calm, serving as a personal reminder that if Hozier told me to jump into a volcano he’d probably ask in such a way that I’d not only oblige but think it was a fantastic idea. Remarkable.
There seems to be a tendency among musicians who had a giant breakout hit like Hozier did with “Take Me to Church” to avoid playing these hits when they don’t have to, so I was a bit surprised when he busted out the song that launched him into mainstream popularity back in 2014 to close the set. But Hozier, ever a man of the people (even if he hides from them in the woods for years at a time) brought back the hit for his last song of the night.
“I have not played this song on guitar for um, many moon now, for years I would say”. Hozier teased with a coy smile as he tuned his guitar. “There was a time when I’d play it 3 times a day. So hopefully that will sustain in this first time I’ve played it in years”. Hozier thanked his viewers and Billboard before reminding everyone to donate to the Women’s center one final time.
Not shockingly, he followed that intro with a perfect rendition of the dark and soulful tune, reminding everyone of why we fell in love with his music in the first place.
“Or something to that effect” Hozier said before signing off and returning to his preferred state of anonymity, presumably “In the Woods Somewhere” (Hah, Hozier puns) where he belongs.
“And wash them hands,” Hozier said as he waved his way off the air. Your wish is my command, Hozier.
Los Angeles-based alt-pop duo Rainne – comprised of Annie Dingwall and
Justin Klunk – recently released their dark and brooding new track “Psycho Killer”, which will make anyone feel like they have an edge. Not only are the instrumentals heavy – a tinny sound layered in to make it all the more eery – but the practiced vocals add a feeling of insanity to it all. One thing is for sure: Annie’s vocal range is off the charts.
Explains Annie of the track, “‘Psycho Killer’ is based on our passion for psychological thrillers and true crime. The song’s story is set during a passionate moment between two lovers, when one realizes that the desire that’s taking over may be too intense to handle.”
A few weeks ago, we had the distinct pleasure of sitting down to chat with Talker while she was revving up for the release of her debut EP Horror Films. We also got to speak about energy healing, life in Los Angeles, growing up in the same metropolitan area, and other fun thoughts! Since then, Horror Films has made its debut as well, so you’ll want to check that out. (But only after you listen to our podcast.)
1:03 – Joshua Tree
3:47 – Sacramento
8:34 – conception story
12:13 – writing process
13:33 – new music video
18:00 – new EP
20:28 – Frenship
22:44 – things to do in LA
25:36 – energy healing and crystals
28:43 – sloth
37:17 – The Great British Bake Off
On Sunday, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Los Angeles, hundreds gathered to witness the incomparable James Blake.
When he got to the stage, he was humble, and friendly—even his attire was casual (a red and white soccer jersey). His demeanor was reminiscent of a friend that was asking you to listen to their new music as you both sat casually in a makeshift studio.
Once he began to play, it was clear that James Blake performing in a place of worship was all too perfect. The crowd became deafeningly silent, and like a tsunami, Blake was still and suddenly commanding, prominent—like a pastor in the middle of a passionate sermon. Heads bowed and swayed in sync, as if in trance.
His set list included the beloved, “Limit to Your Love,” “Retrograde,” and “Love Me In Whatever Way,” “Wilhelm Scream,” and other ethereal tracks. A new song he gifted the audience with was “Asking for a Friend.”
By the end of the show, it was clear that while it wasn’t his intention, Blake became the leader of a new religion: a group of people mesmerized by his (incomparable) vocal abilities, modesty and genuine connectivity.
If you get the opportunity, it would serve you well to see James Blake live in concert, it may not save your soul, but you can feel like it for a couple of hours.
Los Angeles-based rock quintet We’re No Gentlemen – comprised of Amanda Gabel (vocals), Rikki Juarez (rhythm guitarist), Daniele Boneddu (bass), Vince Gudino (drums), and Dan Schiz (lead guitar) – debuted the official music video for their track “Night” just today. This song wraps you up in intricate guitars while Gabel’s vocals claim a Kelly Clarkson-meets-Amy Lee sound to them, dragging us into this rock ballad with its ferocity and beauty.
The video is no different, directed by Henry Arres and shot with a dim and intense feel to the visuals, as we follow each member of the band through times of stress and turmoil. Between visually stunning shots of each individual’s distraught facial expressions, we get a look into the band’s live performance chops as frames of them playing the song together in a dark room almost hold each story together like a thread of escape from this twisted world and the issues we face.
We’re No Gentlemen is out now. Keep up with We’re No Gentlemen here.