Comics Coming Up

The first of (hopefully) a new regular segment for the next few months. Ken Reid (@KennethWReid) talks to Matt about his yearly ritual of watching Holiday Specials from his collection. For the inaugural episode we go over the method to his madness, what he's seen so far and talk briefly about his trip to Hollywood for the first annual RIOT: LA Comedy Festival. Recorded from The Comedy Studio (@TheComedyStudio) in Cambridge before Ken's weekly show hosting duties (every Friday in 2012, and if you're reading this in 2013 his night moved to Thursday) And if you're reading this in November 2012 Matt Kona will be opening up every show for that month at The Studio.

This week's talk from Grandma's Basement revolves around self sabotage and self doubt in the world of comedy. P.J. Brown (@PJBChairo) postpones his dinner to make his CCU debut and Matt is joined by Benny Bosh (@PoopEMcPoops) and Ted Pettingell (@TedPettingell). I would write a more full description for this episode but nobody is going to listen to it anyway and whats the fucking point!? (example of self sabotage in the description). Ted and Matt talk about not moving on at the Boston Comedy Festival, and P.J. talks about his day and more! As always please leave a review on itunes and go to a show at Grandma's Basement (including the new Oct/Nov Open Mic on Wednesdays at 7pm)

From the archives! Collin A. Bullock (@awkwardpodcast) and I sit down on my final day in Chicago. There were numerous delays on this for tiny various reasons that are not podcast description-worthy. Collin talks about his podcast ("Awkward Moments") have discussions about feeling slightly slighted in our respective comedy scenes, being passed over out of town, and attempting to change your attitude over the course of the early development period in comedy. They branch out to talking about reading about/studying up on comedy through books and podcasts, old comedy albums, etc. It's a good conversation and it's finally seen the (audible) light of day. Check out Collin's Podcast on itunes or at http://www.awkwardmomentspod.com/

Matt is joined by Shawn Carter (@ShawnCarters), Ted Pettingell (@TedPettingell), Sandy Asai and Alex Ansel aka Kool Aid (@y2koolaid) on the afternoon of the Boston Comedy Festival finals from the Davis Square Theater. They talk about Shawn's approach to a 5 minute set over the past three years of being in the BCF and how it differed. Sandy gets lured over to our table and reflects on her month of residency at the Comedy Studio when Shawn was just starting out. Ted pitches a new kind of podcast and we meet San Antonio Texas's own KOOL AID and have a talk about his journey to the fest, his week here and professional wrestling. As always please leave a review and 5 star rating on iTunes.

Benny Bosh and Al Park return to the live Wednesday show at Grandma's Basement. The topic begins with a discussion of Benny's trip to Burning Man in the Nevada desert and quickly shifts into the panel sharing tales of debauchery and intrigue from various parts of the world. Guilt, exploitation and poorly tinted windows are discussed, with some help from the studio audience. Come be a part of it every Wednesday at 9 at 1271 Boylston st Boston, MA (not counting next week 9/26 due to a Red Sox game) Follow on twitter @GrandmasComedy

After several weeks off detoxing from podcasting, life and other things Matt Kona is back and live at Grandma's Basement for episode 50. He updates everyone on the time off, lack of sleep from a controversial Boston Comedy Softball League Championship game and slips some jokes in to pander to the live audience. He's joined by Alex Chase, Steve Cronin and Ryan Shea (@RyanXShea) for tales of police, rappers, and fights in the middle of the street.

Tommy Sunshine (@SunshineTommy) , a new (old) guy in the comedy scene. Initially dismissed by Matt as loud obnoxious drunk guy disrupting him at Mottley's, he won me over with his own chat show "The Sunshine Open Mic Podcast" where he has personal conversations with his peers and people that he looks up to in the comedy scene. It was taped after I did his episode and we had a great talk. This was recorded a while ago to be grouped together for some "podcast appreciation" in the month of August. Go listen to his show at www.tommyshideout.com (and as always please leave a rating/review online)

East Infection Comedy Tour: Special Edition. Four Austin comics invade the northeast! Pat Sirois (@peezytx) Stefany Wood (@stefanywood) Michael Monsour (@monsooncomedy) and John Stringer (@monsooncomedy) sit down to podcast before their show at Grandma's Basement. We talk about the ups and downs of spending 30+ hours in a car with three other comics, what you inadvertently learn about each other along the way as well as stories of bizarre interactions with bikers in the early hours of the morning, wandering around cities meeting potential audience members, driving reality TV stars around, a writing stint for Late Night With Conan O'Brien and more! Follow Stefany's tour journal and check out future dates in New York, Pittsburgh and beyond at http://stefanywood.wordpress.com/ If you're downloading the day it's released (Monday 7/16/2012) They will be performing at Improv Boston in Central Sq. Cambridge Tuesday 7/17 at 8pm Use promo code EAST2 to save $2 on tickets http://t.co/FtuPpfpU

Live from Grandma's Basement (@GrandmasComedy) with a full house of people. TRAVEL is the theme, and one of our guests is Kit Rivers (@KitRivers) who travelled in from VT, also including CCU regulars @WillNoonan, Stephen McConnen comes on to promote a food themed comedy show (that already happened woops!) and tells a tale of wedding violence and managing a brothel. Ethan Marsh (@emarshfareal and www.ethanmarsh.net) talks about his trip to North Carolina for The Cape Fear Comedy Festival, Chris D. (@ChrisOBCT) talks about his problems travelling to Boston Comedy Softball League games and his recent trip to Chicago, hospitality in Greece. Ted Pettingell (@TedPettingell) got kicked out of a mall in Pennsylvania and speculates why Boston comics like going to Chicago and how the reverse is not true, Tom Dunlap (@TomPunlap) sleeps on a train! Wes Hazard (@WesHazard) goes international and sees the exchange rate in action. Maggie Monahan (@MakeWay4Maggie) closes it out because she brought the audience. She talks about hanging out in OTHER hotels for social reasons, a recent trip to New York and more. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Griff O'Brien. He was doing big things, just returned from the Just For Laughs Festival in Chicago and was going places. Look at his twitter and remember him for being so funny. @GriffOhBrien R.I.P.

Al Park (@AlParkHaHaHa) sits down for two sessions. One is recorded in a car, the other in an apartment. In both we talk a lot about the state of Boston comedy from the despair of late night open mics, putting together shows early on, friendship/alienation and being patient (and funny). We also sneak a few jokes in there along the lines. Short description for a great conversation. Check out Al Park AND Matt Kona with Boston comedy great Ken Rogerson at The Wholesome Cafe "Laugh Attic" in Ayer, MA on Friday July 13th. Call 978-514-5245 for advanced tickets. (and please leave a ratings/review on itunes)