Cody Marley’s “Comedy Night In America” videos survey Nashville’s comedy scene

Cody Marley

Cody Marley
Cody Marley
Comedian and writer Cody Marley has been making people laugh — and occasionally, back away slowly — for two decades. A joke-writer for, among others, Jay Leno, Cody’s comedy has been featured in The New York Times, Time magazine and USA Today, prime-time and late night TV and has been broadcast in every major radio market in America.

As a stand-up, Cody is a favorite on the underground and alternative scene, mixing topical takes with bizarre observations that combine the pose of a hipster with the work ethic of a ranch hand — because Cody has been both. Long a “comic’s comic”, Cody has performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival (or “that hippie thing,” as your grandmother calls it), and has worked with Mitch Hedberg, Brian Regan and Larry the Cable Guy, among many others.

If you caught a local comedy show in Nashville the week of March 4-10, 2012, you may have seen Cody on stage telling jokes and in the back of the room laughing and filming some video. Over the course of that week, he attempted to go to every comedy night in Nashville. He produced a series of corresponding shorts documenting the shows he visited and posted them online. NashvilleStandUp asked Mr. Marley why and this is what he said:

“I’m doing this because it’s fun. I started doing comedy in Nashville years ago and its growth interests me. I think it mirrors the city’s expansion and what’s going on in most other towns. Nashville has 10-12 comedy nights a week and, I’m guessing, a few hundred comics. I enjoy checking out the talent and the scene and staying connected. I travel a lot so I’ll probably do this in other towns. It’s not just in LA, Chicago or NYC anymore. With the Internet, like it has in music, I think you’re going to see a lot of garage band-like comics emerge, develop a following and make a solid living. Nashville? I expect somebody to bust out big here in the next 2 years. Who will it be? Let’s watch.”

Here are Cody’s videos:

March 4th: SmartyPants NerdCore Stand-Up Comedy Show at Steve’s (every Sunday)
“The first stop was tonight at Steve’s in East Nashville. Funny cats. Big fun.”
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=295031497230660

March 6th: Spanky’s & Bongo Java
“Tonight I hit Spanky’s (Antioch) and Bongo Java (Belmont). I went up
first at Spanky’s (8:30) and last at Bonjo Java (10:15). Both, a lot
of fun and both had about 15 comics apiece. Oh, except for me, all
different comics. They didn’t shuttle back and forth.”

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=296337377100072

March 7th: La Hacienda & Springwater
“Tonight I hit La Hacienda (Old Hickory) and the venerable Springwater
(Centennial Park). I went up first at La Hacienda (8:30) and at 10:40
at The Springwater. La Hacienda had about 8 comics and The
Springwater, a ton. Quite a hoot.”

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=297005157033294

March 8th: The Basement
“Tonight I hit The Basement and saw 2 music/comedy acts The Wolf
Sisters, The Gay Republicans and the comics of Corporate Juggernaut
(3).”

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=297670043633472

March 9th: Kimbros
“Tonight I hit Kimbros in Franklin. 8-10 comics bringing the jest.”
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=298322100234933

March 10th: The Pond
“Tonight, I hit The Pond in Franklin. Watch and enjoy the magic.”
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=298974523503024

Visit Cody Marley online:
Twitter.com/CodyMarley
Cody Marley @ Facebook

Friends and Friends at Bongo 3/29

Friends and Friends 3/29 at Bongo Java

Friends and Friends 3/29 at Bongo Java

Friends & Friends: America!

Avast, pilgrims! Here comes Plymouth Rock, and the St. Louis Arch and McDonalds and the mall and Abraham Lincoln! Wait–it’s just Friends & Friends, Nashville’s ONLY comedy show, in another manic-delirious evening of stand-up and unexpected comedy weirdness. Join host James Austin Johnson and a wily band of manky schnooks on a pilgrimage to find the Fountain of Youth and give everybody who was already here smallpox. Who knows, we may even invent a couple religions along the way (wink Mormons wink; nah man I’m just jerkin, you guys are doing great)! Featuring local talent, touring acts, probably some country music, and some visitors from astral planes that only your dying grandfather has peered upon, Corporate Juggernaut’s F&F is the whackest, mackest and–that’s right, ONLY–comedy show in Nashville. So Ameri-come on out to the show that will make you Ameri-come.

The jokes at the show are better. PROMISE.

March 29th

9 pm/$6

Bongo Java After Hours Theater, 2007 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212-4405

(Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/337806312937878/)

Mary Mack in Nashville March 19, 2012 @ Bongo Java

NEWER UPDATE: Listen to Marc Maron interview Mary Mack on today’s episode of WTF!

Here’s the teaser video:

Listen to the whole episode here: WTFpod.com

UPDATE: Tuesday 3/20 show has been cancelled. Buy tickets for the 3/19 show here.

Come spend an early, sensible, yet hilarious March evening with Mary Mack, the musical Minnesotan comedian and former clarinetist in one of Nashville’s worst polka bands!

Nashville alt comedy providers, Corporate Juggernaut will present nationally touring comedian and former Sumner County & W.O. Smith music teacher, Mary Mack, for an early evening of comedy at Bongo Java After Hours Theater, March 19 & 20th. Mack, who started comedy about 10 years ago in Nashville with her roommate Jennie Donaldson and their polka band, says the show is more of an abridged hour version of her life than it is a regular comedy show. She is touring this month putting the final touches on what she calls her “Anti One-Woman Show,” subtitled “Sh*t Makes Flowers Grow.”

Mack and her mandolin sing alongs have been featured on the Bob and Tom Radio Show, NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and Comedy Central. She is a cast member on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Big River Radio Wave,” and can be heard on the XM/Sirius Network. As iconic comedian Louie Anderson describes her: “She’s an original character from the Midwest that rings true. She’ll be telling you a joke about one thing, and then she’ll break off into a song about minnows.”

Expect a quirky evening of pleasant surprises situated in an intimate space with a famed performance history: Bongo After Hours Theater (upstairs at the Belmont Bongo Java, 2007 Belmont Blvd, Nashville). Tickets are available online at bongoafterhours.com for $10 or $15 at the door. See Corporatejuggernaut.com or marymackcomedy.com for more info.

Mon & Tues, March 19 & 20, 2012—7pm

Bongo Java After Hours Theater, 2007 Belmont Blvd, Nashville
(You may have seen Steve Earle perform there among other really great shows.)

Cost: $10 in advance @ www.bongoafterhours.com or $15 @ door
Industry and Clergymen get in free, because Mary needs help in both areas.

Comedy + Poetry = Cometry @ Listening Room 3/9

Featuring Renard Hirsch, Karma Eve, Nova Supreme, De’Mun Oakley, and hosted by Kay Jay.

It’s that time! Get some of your peeps together and start your weekend off with a Bang Bang Boom! Friday March 9th…It’s gonna be the best POETS and COMEDIANS the mic! Cash Bar and Drink Specials! Show starts at 830pm!

Cometry
8:30pm Friday, March 9, 2012
Listening Room Cafe
209 10th Ave South (Cummins Station)
Nashville, TN
615-573-3314