Last week, "Live Wire! Radio" host Courtenay Hameister asked me to attend a taping of her OPB variety show and do one of my "live comics adaptations" -- where I hastily sketch the show while I'm watching it, like I've been doing for the Portland Opera.
And so on Friday, April 29, I showed up at the Alberta Rose Theatre in northeast Portland -- where "Live Wire!" taped two episodes in front of a wildly enthusiastic audience. I sat in the front row and tried to draw what I saw as it was happening. All 25 speed-sketches are after the jump. Click on any picture to enlarge.
1. DUDE THE ALBERTA ROSE THEATRE SELLS PIES (sweet and savory)
2. "Haiku Hotties" handed audience members their pre-show poetry homework, cigarette-girl style. At the end of the show, an audience member was chosen to read their winning haiku onstage.
3. Tyler Hughs warms up the crowd before the taping
4. While Tyler does this, "Live Wire!" host Courtenay Hameister paces around in little circles below the stage
5. THE CROWD IS IN THE BAG
6. Courtenay tries to record a radio promo in front of the audience (the live show is actually quite interesting for its occasional screw-ups and retakes and unedited strong talk)
7. The "Faces For Radio" Players take the stage: (l-r) Pat Janowski, Tricia Ferguson, Sean McGrath, Tyler Hughs
8. Courtenay is troubled by writing advice she heard from impending guest Mike Sacks
9. And hey it's a performance by Celilo
10. HOLY CRAP GUYS CELILO'S DRUMMER IS LIKE THE GHOST OF THE NOT-YET-DEAD MICK FLEETWOOD
11. "Live Wire!" Musical Director Ralph Huntley has certain Wolverine-esque qualities
12. The show's "Siren of Sound" Pat Janowski makes the audience do her bidding
13. Screenwriter/storyteller Beth Lisick sort of screwed the '90s "slam poetry" craze to the wall during her segment
14. "Faces For Radio" players Tricia Ferguson and Tyler Hughs perform a sketch
15. For his segment, humorist (and Vanity Fair staffer) Mike Sacks (seated) had comedian Dax Jordan read Sacks' piece about the rantings of an insane radio DJ
16. A "Live Wire!" musician listens from the sidelines as Mike Sacks talks w/ Courtenay
17. "Live Wire!" "House Poet" Scott Poole performed a poem about the show that he wrote DURING the show. This impressed me greatly
18. David Bazan performed a very fine song called "Strange Negotiations"
19. For his segment, Matthew Dickman read a poem about ...
20. I enjoyed Matthew Dickman's poetry readings so much, I drew him twice
21. "Live Wire!" "Foley Fox" Pat Janowski makes sounds effects, Part 1
22. "Live Wire!" "Foley Fox" Pat Janowski makes sounds effects, Part 2
23. Author Susie Bright talks about sex during her segment
24. Musical multiasking by the "Live Wire!" band
25. STOP LAUGHING ALREADY COURTENAY HAMEISTER DAVID BAZAN IS TRYING TO PLAY A SERIOUS SONG AFTER TRIPPING ONSTAGE
Loved this! felt like I was there. I'll be back to "read along" when I download the show!
Posted by: Adam from vancouver | May 01, 2011 at 04:30 PM