Hello Psychos,
I hope everybody is holdin’ tight and shinin’ bright in this crazy world. “Holdin’ tight and shinin’ bright” - I think I invented that turn of phrase. It’s pretty good, right? No? Whatever. I’m trying my best. Have YOU ever come up with a turn of phrase?! It’s not, like, super easy to do lol.
But, seriously, I do hope everybody is holdin’ tight and shinin’ bright. Things are cool on my end. The reason you haven’t received a new writing excerpt about Ireland 2003 in a little while is because I have been focusing on writing and workshopping my new one-man-show about being manic in Ireland in 2008. Yeah, I was manic in Ireland MULTIPLE times. WTF?! But new excerpts about 2003 will be coming soon. And I’ll actually be performing the one-man-show in Ann Arbor, MI on October 27th. The working title is, “I’m on Lithium: A Comedic Journey about Bipolar Disorder.” Below is the awesome poster that my Cousin Christopher made. You can click it to get tickets, if you live in the area. And if you know anybody in Ann Arbor, please spread the word.
I did a run through of “I’m on Lithium” for the first time this past Sunday at the low key monthly show I help run in my neighborhood called Comedy at Sundown. There were about 15 people in the audience. We all had a lot of fun. And I got some really encouraging feedback about the performance. To be honest, it really felt wonderful. I am psyched about continuing to develop this show! At the bottom of this newsletter, I’ve included an excerpt from the show about how I met Henry Rollins at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival when I was completely out of my mind. You might find it to be humorous. But first, some more promotional material lol. I have a couple of headlining stand up shows coming up.
This show is going to be in Arlingon, VA, right outside of DC. The lineup is full of very funny people, and I’ll be closing out the show with a long set. This awesome comic and sweet guy, Joey Coon, produces this show monthly. He does a great job with it, and I’m thrilled to be on. The show is October 20th, and I would so love and appreciate if anyone in the area could make it out. Click the poster to get tickets.
And here is the headlining stand up show that I’m so excited to be doing in Michigan. It’s going to be at this rad music venue called Ziggy’s in Ypsilanti. It’s the night before my one-man-show in Ann Arbor. The towns are right next to each other, and they’re both places that I really love. Ypsi has such a cool independent and unique feel to it. I actually lived there right after college nearby one of dearest friends, Shelly. I remember that time in my life quite fondly. We laughed a lot. And Shelly setup both of these Michigan shows for me. We’ve been friends for over 20 years, and we’re still putting on shows together. How cool is that?! I would be psyched if folks in Ypsi could make it out. Click the poster for tickets.
“…But the festival’s not a complete disaster. I did get to meet Henry Rollins. You guys all know Henry Rollins, right? The former lead singer of Black Flag and prolific spoken word artist, amongst many other things. Yeah, he was at the festival. He was performing a storytelling show, and I managed to get in there to watch it. The show was about how right after 9/11 when the George W. Bush administration announced the ‘Axis of Evil’ countries that Americans were told not to go to - It was Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Cuba and North Korea - Henry Rollins decided to immediately go to all of the countries! To see what was really going on. Pretty badass lol.
So I’m in there watching the show, and even though my mind is spinning and my thoughts are racing a million miles a minute, I somehow manage not to be disruptive. Thanks God.
But I do corner Henry after the show, and THAT is disruptive. I catch him as he’s walking out of the venue. I say, ‘Henry, hello, I’m John F. O’Donnell. I’m friends the New York City sketch comedy group, the Whitest Kids U’ Know. Their TV show is on IFC, the Independent Film Channel, right before your TV show. (Which was true by the way) He says, “Okay.” Then I say, “Are you familiar with the Friedrich Nietzsche book ‘They Gay Science?' There’s a quote in there where he says, “As evolving beings, our newest attribute is consciousness and because it’s news, it’s still imperfect, thus, it can still hurt us.” And Henry says, Okay.” Then I say, “Nietzsche also says that maybe one day laughter and wisdom can come together to heighten consciousness. That means as a comedian, at my best, I’m an agent of evolution of consciousness…Do you want to come to an afterparty with me?” He says, “No.” I say, “Come on, the comedians would love to hangout with you.” Then he goes, “I SAID NO!!!” And he walks away lol. I totally weirded out Henry Rollins. Pretty sweet.”
Love,
JFOD
P.S. I’m still laughing in the free world any given Friday that I’m in town at Live From Outer Space at Cobra Club in Bushwick. We’ve been doing the show for 10 years! Roll through!
GETTIN' TIPSY IN YPSI BAYBAY.
You know what I love about that story other than it being funny and strangely relatable (though I've never met Henry Rollins), is that you invited him to the after party. You don't know unless you ask! I think it's Nietzsche's fault he didn't go. Probably reminded him of siphilis.