Early in the “Radio Happy Hour” Saturday afternoon, a live variety show not actually being produced for radio, I could feel the audience relax as one and roll with it. How early? Ten minutes into an excellent opening stand up performance, a pretty blond comedienne’s riff on TLC (“They realised Americans don’t like learning…”) had us laughing hard. Though it wasn’t till the shows multi-danger host, creator, master of all things “Radio Happy Hour”, Sam Osterhout, introduced said blonde dolly as Arden Myrin, so good on the late lamented Mad-TV, I figured out, er, maybe this wasn’t amateur hour. How didn’t I know?
I get tons of email from PR firms and one from “Radio Happy Hour” caught my eye because I am a huge Cursive fan and Tim Kasher of Cursive was a featured guest. I figured it was worth a trip to the village to hear him.
And it was.
But it was worth it for the funny, charming, really really sweet natured “Radio Happy Hour” variety show as well. This is what Osterhout does. He gets an alt rocker, a comedian, an actor or so, a handful of regulars, and an audience and he gives them the room to have fun within a safe structure. There is a three part written for the radio murder mystery, several songs performed by the musical guest (guests plural on Saturday) and a freewheeling and funny interview section.
This is all a blast of light hearted, easily enjoyed and very, very well written entertainment that has convinced every one from Norah Jones to Andrew W.K to come out and play.
That’s what Sam does stated even clearer, he lets talented people play. And in an enormously cruel world, this extreme good nature is a simple yet complete pleasure. And Sam records the show and you can get them as Itunes Podcasts and on happyradiohour.com.
The murder mystery on Saturday was funny and awful, awful silly with Brooklyn indie band Suckers drummer, Brian Aiken, a revelation in self mockery and fun.
The interviews were fun as well, especially a round robin steal of the Mary Magpie question: the one album you listen to you’re ashamed of?
Joe Mande (he wrote Hipster’s Handbook as well as -hey don’t blame me I just report this stuff, being on the “100 Jews to Watch” list) chose Bob Seger’s Greatest Hits but only if played at 78 rpm (whoops: archaic reference, Joe said fast forward).
Brian of Suckers chose Madonna’s The Immaculate Collection for the “funky bass” and Tim of Cursive chose Primus for, ahem, the same reason.
Arden chose Yaz(oos) Upstairs At Erics -a terrific album she shoulda been proud to reference.
Two songs by Sucker were very good. One song by Tim was very good and one, the highlight of his current solo album The Game Of Monogomy, “The Prodigal Husband”, was excellent -especially the horn.
And that’s it till February 14th when “Happy Radio Hour” is back at Le Poisson Rouge for a Valentine’s Day special featuring (band not actor) Abe Vigoda. Take your lady, she’ll love it and think better of you for keeping company with Sam and his band of gifted comedians. All for $10. But hurry, it does sell out.