CALENDAR OF SHOWS 2009
The East Bay Express wrote that Laughter Against the Machine was "the brainiest, most literate comedy tour... it's smart, it's heady, it gets to the very edge of what's tolerable." Laughter Against The Machine (LATM) came together suddenly in the back of a comedy show during a discussion among Nato, Kamau, and Hari about seeking new audiences for their material. Having collaborated on several successful Bay Area political comedy shows including "Laugh Out The Vote" and "Laughing Liberally Local 415," they wanted to put on an issue-oriented, topical comedy show constructed of truly impassioned material to attract the thoughtful, dauntless, urban, and urbane audiences that they knew were out there but rarely see in comedy clubs. They wanted a show where the comedians and the audience would show up understanding that they were both going to be challenged, where the audience could be entertained and think at the same time, and where the comedians would promise to push themselves to places comics normally fear to tread. They also wanted it to be hilarious. Hari, Nato, and Kamau wanted a comedy show with no preconceived expectations, no party lines, and certainly no cheerleading, because these three have beef with everybody including themselves. Welcome to Laughter Against The Machine. LATM is not just a show, it is a band of comedians. It is a band that is strengthened by the diversity of the comedians' opinions, ethnicity, and upbringing. LATM has seen sold out audiences every time. Welcome to a comedy show where the comics may (among other lighthearted topics) vivisect the very notion of post-racial America, AND attack the corruption and decadence of late-imperial America, AND provide an historical context for the mess we're in, AND make jokes about it. Very, very funny jokes.
April 23 Iron Comic @ Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, Oregon w/Maria Bamford, Tig Notaro, Kyle Kinane, Morgan Murphy, & Alex Koll. Co-hosted by Nato Green & Moshe Kasher
May 20-23 SF Punchline
June 13 SF Punchline Comedy Central Showcase
June 17 Laughter Against the Machine, Curious Comedy Theater, Portland, Oregon
June 18-19 Laughter Against the Machine, Balagan Theater, Seattle, Washington
July 20-21 SF Punchline w/Maria Bamford
For a fuller schedule, check Nato's Facebook page.
