There is a ton of live comedy going on this weekend…too much to list…so much that I need to do start my list on Wednesday night in case I forget anybody…which I’m sure I will. At some point, I’ll design the calendar system to keep track of all the comedy…but I’m not going to make it open source because I refuse to send you to bad shows. Here’s the run down:

Thursday//June 26//Katt Williams//Gibson Amphitheater (I’ll be there…say hi)

Friday//June 27//Suli McCullough

Friday//June 27//Shang//Downtown Comedy Club

Friday//June 27//Comedy Meltdown

Saturday//June 28//Joe Rogan + Duncan Trussell//Improv – 8pm and 10pm
Rogan is doing an hour set

Shang is coming to Los Angeles this week for a four day stretch of stand-up comedy shows that I highly recommend seeing.  If you have not seen Shang live – his comedy is a great time.  I saw him for the first time at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge in March and he killed.

I’m most impressed with Shang’s ability to build his own personal brand – much like Dane Cook, Joe Rogan, and Jim Gaffigan have done. He’s a promoter. He could just wait around and hope that TV deals and movie deals hit him…but instead he’s out hustling. The video below is just one example:

I highly recommend checking out Shang at one of these shows this week:

Thursday, June 26, 2008
9:30
THE M BAR

Friday, June 27, 2008
9:00P
THE DOWNTOWN COMEDY CLUB

Saturday, June 28, 2008
7:30P
HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO-W/JON B

Sunday, June 29, 2008
8:00P
SPOKEN FUNK AT THE M BAR

Family, Friends, Live Comedy, and College Basketball…that’s what life is all about…well, at least in my world. And during the month of March…barring death…College Basketball rules all…so bare with me on the slow updates on the world of live comedy in Los Angeles. Nothing in sports…and very few things in life…beat Davidson knocking off Georgetown or San Diego taking down UConn. It’s not just about basketball…it’s about setting a goal, believing in yourself, and fighting against all odds to come out on top. Ask a stand-up comedian…they might be able to tell you what it feels like ; ).

I wanted to wrap-up a few loose ends from last week. I went to Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge at Red Rock on Tuesday to see Shang perform for the first time. I can’t lie…I had preconceived notions about Shang (I’m human). I saw the headshots…the big time pub…and I thought…”Who the heck is this guy?” Here’ is the truth – Shang is the man. Very cool, down to earth comedian…so comfortable on stage. He wasted no time in letting the jokes fly. I am not sure how long he has been doing stand-up…but I would venture to say it’s forever because the stage looks like it’s home. He reminds me of Joe Rogan…I have a feeling these guys would get along. Just doesn’t give a shit…and tells it like it is. So great to see him do his thing in an intimate setting like Ballgame’s.

The rest of the line-up was good. I think Brian Keith Etheridge went on too long about sucking dick. His material is too good to be talking about sucking dick for 7 minutes. It’s uncomfortable. It’s not Gaffigan talking about bacon…you get a different vibe. Saw Ed Galvez for the second time in the last week…I’d like to see Ed do improv or sketch…I think he would kill in that environment. Josh Wolf was stellar…his jokes about his kids are unreal. He tells a joke about wrestling his teenage son and using “old man strength” that had me screaming. Bryan Erwin is always good. And Ballgame had Jay Montepere in the house for the first time. He was solid. Looking forward to seeing him again.

Calendar updates coming soon. Let me know if you saw Attell last week.

Yeah…looks like L.A. has a comedy festival. This is the second time they have done this within the year. I didn’t make it last time…and I’m not so much into the musical comedy stuff…but there are a bunch of stand-up comedy shows to check out for like $12. Looks like a couple of the folks from Last Comic Standing will be there…Dante and Debra DiGiovanni. Plus Shang…who gets a lot of pub…but I haven’t seen him.

I have seen Sarah Colonna and I really like her…she performs on the 23rd and the 26th. The great thing about a festival like this is that you might discover the next great comedian.

Anyway…check out all the details at L.A. Comedy Fest.