I have decided that I want to write and star in my own show called Lonnie?’s life in a pool. Everything would take place in the pool and I would do normal everyday jobs that I can’t do when I’m not in a pool, like UPS driver or furniture delivery man. Now in return for this treat, please help support my kickstarter project and share it, I only have 11 more days to complete my goal.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2046694635/project-truth-hurts-a-dvd-in-the-making
Lonald
Hey Kids, there is great news! I am now apart of the Stitcher network. What does this mean for you? It means you can now hear the latest episode of From The Podcast while on the go with Stitcher. Listen to my show on your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and other devices like vibrators, electric ass plugs, and mechanical rubber fingers. Find it free in your app store or at stitcher.com- **Also be sure to register with Facebook so you can comment on my episodes right on the app! I want to read your comment, get input and get you involved in all of this. I can’t wait to read what you have to say! Click Here for just one more way to listen to my podcast.
Every year there is big change when it comes to my style and my overall goals in comedy; after all, each year my life changes. So why in the hell should my act and opinions of life and comedy be any different? Now when it comes to the business, in a future post, I’ll have a lot more to say on that subject, especially local scenes but for now let us just focus on me for a second.
This year I have a lot going on. I’ll be returning to Harvey’s Comedy Club at the end of Oct as their one of two R rated comedian for the year. Some may be thinking, who cares; you’ve already headlined a special event show every year since the ban was lifted. Not true, my little cunnys. I have only done two special event shows at Harvey’s since the lift because I wanted to keep it hugely successful and attendance high. What makes this different, I am returning to headline the club for the entire week’s performances, something I have never done since the ban or even before. I can assure you, it is something which will be, not only big, but needed: A local comedian who will breathe a breath of fresh air of honesty into the club since, well, probably Doug Stanhope. I’m replacing comedian John Fox, whose act died long before his real death plus, let’s face it, John wasn’t very good at being human.
In March of 2013 I will also be recording for the first new DVD/CD since the release of Cripple xXx in 2007. This will be an amazing event but I will need your help. I am going to launch a Kickstarter Campaign in the beginning of 2013 to help fund the project. This is where you come in.
I began thinking about how important you are in the big equation of my career and I’ll be honest here; you are the root to it all. With that in mind, a rebirth of my fan base in this phase of my career is more important than any other time in my 23 years of doing comedy. I need your help, not just to help raise the money for the project but because the one thing I have realized is that you are the very reason why I have been so successful. We have always had a very close connection, a bond from the stage I stand on to the seats you sit in to watch me perform. You were the reason why I was able to return to so many clubs who feared booking me. You are the reason I have kept the ball rolling despite the fact the comedy industry has been reluctant to get behind my type of act. I am not a comedian festivals beg to have in; I am not a comedian every mainstream club wants to headline, but yet I still perform, I still draw and still win major contests. You are the factor which has helped in this.
I know now that I need to get back to the grass roots of what helped build my career. I need to build my future success from the ground up. I will never get praise from the mainstream industry. I will only get it from the people who really enjoy my style of comedy, you. The funny thing is if I can get enough of you to shout my name, the industry cannot ignore me. So 2013 and beyond is all about you. I need your feedback on what kickstarter incentives I should put into place as rewards for your donations and support. Please voice your ideas and help create an intimate dialog between the two of us so I can give you things you really want and have you actually be a part of my next DVD project. Maybe you would want an exclusive and private email, or podcast episode made to you, a credit in the DVD package, a one of a kind signed poster or a chance to rant in a segment of From The Nook Podcast, a VIP seat at the live recording, a drink and dinner with me, a phone call to a loved one or an enemy, a private performance in your living room or just a simple acknowledgement that you were a factor in my life’s work. The list is limitless but I need you to be involved voicing your ideas. It starts by you commenting here or join me on Twitter or Facebook and let’s do this together. I want to have a chance to tell all my critics they were wrong and you will be the secret weapon which allows it to happen
Lonald
So I got some bad news late last night from my old road hog, Joe Fontenot. The great John Fox lost his bout with Cancer; at least I think he did, because sadly, he couldn’t even get press on his own death. When I Googgled (can you believe that’s a verb now) John Fox dies, nothing of importance came up; that fact is depressing because Google gives us searches we were not even interested in until we typed two words together. “Does hitt” brings up “Does hitting a dog work?” I’m sure if it no longer works on women than dogs caught on too. “Will Hum” brings up “Will Humans live forever” No, and John Fox proved to us that at some point even God had seen enough of his 40 year old act and gave him the proverbial light…Time to get off stage. What would have entertained me is when I put, “Did John Fox die?” into Google; it came back with “Yes, for the last 10 years.”
Am I being insensitive? No, I am not. This is John we are talking about. He was as insensitive as they come. Any female comedian who had to share a condo with him would certainly give you their two cents about that subject. That is, if she can even talk about it pending the ongoing investigation.
R.I.P. John Fox was the facebook update Joe gave us. That stands for Rest in Peace, which is an odd thing to say about him because if his soul lives on like he did in life than I can assure you, not only will he not rest but neither will anyone left in the same area of Heaven. I hope Heaven has a bar that stays open late.
Here is the thing: It is a loss, but we lost him long before his death. He was a legend in the comedy community. His act was legendary both on and off the stage. He started doing his rated “R” act his way but unfortunately it never evolved, it just grew as tired as he did. He didn’t know many comics by name, but not because he was an ass, he just stopped caring. His stories from at the end of the bar were amazingly colorful. I personally would have loved to have heard those stories hit the stage, sadly they never got there.
He had an impact on us though; at least he had one on me. He wanted to do it his way and he couldn’t give two shits about what the industry thought he should be doing. He had his big moments mostly in the 80’s and certainly gave us a performance at every show.
Audiences loved him. From stage, John was that character at the end of the bar named Red with a gravelly voice, a drink in hand, and pocket full of standards “jokes” that everyone in the room could enjoy. You would laugh hard because he was simple that way. There was no complex style and depth that sometimes ruins comedy, he was just a longshoreman telling us a joke that maybe we had listened to a thousand times before, or maybe we had never heard it before at all, but it never mattered. It never mattered because he had mastered the way to tell it to us. Some people have a knack for that, usually it is that guy at the end of the bar but in Fox’s case, he just took it one step farther; into the showroom and from behind the mic.
In my honest opinion John went on stage to hear laughter, he didn’t want to be an artist, he didn’t view his act as artistic, he just wanted it to keep it simple… make them all laugh and in the end, that in and of itself is an art.
A toast to you John Fox for the all the laughter you brought to the people. “Two firemen are butt fucking in a Smoked filled Room…” Indeed, Mr. Fox, “How do you think it all got started in the first place.”
A message from John Fox in his last months. It is original, honest and heartfelt. In the end he wrote something new and hopefully it has impact
Lonald
After my mom almost died last month and then had a 180 degree turn around; it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was being slapped yet again with a harsh reminder- life is to be taken a hold of and lived to its fullest. You must work hard to accomplish what seems to be the un-accomplishable. What a disturbing cliche, I know, but so is waking up out of bed and realizing that you’ve grown lazy again and comedy is now laughing back at me.
My parents gave up a lot to see me through my dream, and I’m not about to let them down. I’m not giving this shit up after all our hard work! If I have to hit every dive bar across America because shit bookers with empty promises are worried to give me a mic than so be it. I’ll reach my audience some how. I’m 40 fucking years old and I want to be noticed. My show isn’t over and the fat lady can sing all she wants because I’ll probably book her to follow my act. My audience loves a great singing fat lady.
It aint over till the fat lady dies
A lot around me is reminding me as of late that life for my age bracket has some sad realities. Mom and Dads are getting old and tired. Judge Judy and The Price is Right isn’t enough anymore to sell them on the idea of sticking around. So some just slip away and sometimes it isn’t pretty to see. It gives someone like me pause and perspective on my own fatality. The road I am traveling on, where it is leading me? When a comedian takes a moment to look at our surrounding, we do what we do best, we observe it, then write it down.
My new tour and CD/DVD project is doing that. It takes a look at my life at age 40, my kids life and their childish obstacles and big dreams. It dives into my own childhood growing up, my relationships with my parents, family, friends and lovers. It will leave me naked to those listening and watching. It will be me as of old but it will NOT be me busting down walls to prove a point but instead I’ll use “their” rules against them that kept me from playing “their” rooms to prove that I can say what I want and people do listen. People do listen because it isn’t just a set up and punchline, it is my story and “It’s Personal”
Lonald
While at a gay friendly bar— and I am pretty sure it was but it is hard to tell when living in Portland, OR. Although I had a hunch by the bartender’s mustache. The thing about Portland bars is its hard to tell which ones are gay friendly and which ones are just friendly. I don’t care either way but knowing might help me figure out the type of game I’ll need to play to get the free drink.
Anyway like I said, while at what I think may have been a gay friendly bar, I wrote out the new set list I’m working on for my new DVD/CD. “It’s Personal” At present it is roughly 55 min long and that is timed without including the new stuff not yet flushed out. That means there still might be material dropped from the set and new bits added you have never heard. I hate to say the word, “bit” because I don’t do bits, I tell stories, but I hope you get the point or your fucking stupid.
I should mention though, the first 12 min of material is brand new to almost all of you that haven’t seen my set in the last month. Followers, lovers, haters and broken souls who unfortunately fell into this site; I haven’t worked this hard on a new act since I dropped my old squeaky clean act from the beginning days of my career in the late 90′s to the provocative, edgy one you all are familiar with now. You should know that this new project is not about being dirty but being honest and personal. It isn’t about trying to shock you but rather doing what I do best, leading you all down a rabbit hole and getting you all out safely. It is about my personal challenges in life, my sons, my my rapidly ageing body and my middle aged adventures and those who I love coming to the end of their adventures. It is personal, and I’m still not sure what the end result will be, but it will NOT be Lonnie of old, it is a brand new transition and my forever evolving act.
Here is my question though, and please respond by commenting: What do people really want, DVD or a CD that is easily played in cars, duplicated for friends easily or a web based act downloaded from the website or Itunes? What media format is best for you?
Don’t count me out of the game yet, cause the race has really just begun.
Lonald
In this episode I discuss the following:
The word out on the town is that the job market has crashed and there is nothing out there for the common worker. I bring to light the many employment options awaiting you across the country, how to make a legitimate easy income without implementing some fast make it rich scam. I also discuss opportunities for the elderly to feel like they are contributing to our society instead of dieing home alone.
Also an important mention about a great story tellers comic benefit for legendary comedian Ron Shock who is battling cancer. It is this Sat night on March 31st in Portland, OR at the Star Theater.
Lonald
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:12 — 44.3MB)