Aspen LOL's

Hippie man Kills in Aspen. Click 4 pix.Aspen loves stand-up comedy.  Back in the olden days Aspen hosted HBO's Comedy Arts Festival, a world famous stand-up event.  Huge stars used to come to Aspen to battle the altitude and show off their comedy stylings.

The Aspen Laff Festival, in it's 2nd year is filling the void left behind by HBO's departure.  Aspen Laff Fest presents 4 nights of first-class comedy at The Wheeler Opera House.  2 nights down, 2 nights to go and   it's been a blast so far.  The laughs have been fast and furious. 

ASPEN LAFF FESTIVAL. (click 4 pix).

COMEDY is DANGEROUS BIZ (Click 4 pix).

The opening night "snack pack", a FREE SHOW showcasing some of the new faces of comedy was hilarious. Then HippieMan returned to the Wheeler stage, where last year he was the triumphant winner of the New Face of Comedy Award.  This guy's unusual comic delivery was a BIG hit again in Aspen.  Just looking at Hippieman gave the rowdy, almost capacity crowd the munchies.  Opening night headliner Bobcat Goldthwait did not fare quite as well.  Bobcat..., most recently a TV director and star of such 80's cinematic classics as Police Academy 2,3,and 4 as well as Shakes the Clown did not quite deliver.  He tried...and he said some funny stuff...but he could not sustain the laughs.  He "almost got there" commented one disappointed audience member.  Bobcat got some courtesy laughs from the good natured Aspen crowd but his show was considered a bomb.

Comics on Money. click 4 pix.The second night opened with a bunch of comics, on stage discussing money and Wall Street.  Bobcat, whose flight was canceled ( which had nothing to do with his previous performance) actually chimed in with some good laughs and Phil Palisoul added some gut busting one-liners.  The panel discussion format led to some great ad-lib style comedy and allowed the comics to bash each other and the entire financial system of the United States of America. Hippieman admitted to being "off money for years".  As pointed out by a friendly 1% heckler...not one of the comics had ever taken an economics class.  Funny sets from Keith Alberstadt (Saturday Night Live) and Sarah Tiana kept the laughs coming.   Sarah...a demure Southern Belle surprised the 7pm audience with her blue material.  "C'mon people...we're talking about f#*king here".  "Parliaments and a 5 hour energy...it's what's for dinner".  Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show closed off the second night with tales of her Ob-Gyn and his decision to attend Clown School. 

Days 3  of the Aspen Laff Fest were jam packed with laughs.  The Wheeler was filled with people lookin' for levity.  Costaki Economopoulos and Phil Palisoul cracked up the audience with their brand of stand-up. Palisoul was "hilarious" according to a hot chick who wanted  her pic on AspenSpin. Day 3  headliner Ben Bailey, "The Cash Cab Guy" had it going on.  Bailey had to fend off some good natured heckling from the peanut gallery...but he handled it well.  His interaction with the audience was some of his best stuff.  Quick zings about retards, 1% ers and Aspen locals allowed him to dominate.

Oh Sh*t. Late night freestyle comedyDay 4 kicked off with the NEW FACES of Comedy.  Hosted by last year's winner Hippieman, 4 relative newcomers took the Wheeler stage.  Deacon Gray, Nora Lynch, Troy Walker and April Richardson battled for laughs.  Troy Walker of Denver came out on top to win the New Faces audience award.  Jimmy Pardo and Danny Bevins, both comedy pros revealed their best stuff and the crowd responded...by laughing.  The Laff Fest closed out with comedy legend David Brenner throwing it down for an hour and 45 minutes.  Brenner who holds the record for most Tonight Show guest spots of 158 first graced Johnny Carson's stage in 1969.  Generally credited for inventing "topical humor" Brenner gave it everything he had.  He assured everyone that he doesn't really have a huge nose..."I have a small face". 

In closing out Aspen Laff Fest., Brenner thanked producers Gram Slaton and Tom Simmons for keeping comedy alive in Aspen.  He stressed that  "Aspen can't lose the laughter".  If the 2012 Aspen Laff Festival is an indicator...Aspen will keep laughing forever.

David Brenner at The 2012 Aspen Laff Festival. "Never lose the laughter".

Bobcat Goldthwait : Sorry to say...he bombed at Aspen Laff Fest. click 4 pix.Sarah Tiana (still single) has a whole list of deal breakers. Click 4 pix.Bart the Dog, managing the Wheeler box office at The Aspen Laff Fest. Click 4 pix.

Aspen Laff Festival 2012

The 2nd Annual Aspen Laff Fest is upon us. Feb 22-25 at The Wheeler.  Aspen Laff Festival is one of the best events of the season.  Let's face it, every event at The Wheeler Opera House is great.  How often do you get to party in an legitimate historic structure ...built in1889.   In fact ASPEN SPIN guarantees that you will laugh out loud at Aspen Laff Fest. ....if not...the first 12 Pack of PBR is on us. *restrictions apply.

The Aspen Laff Festival kicks off with a FREE show tonight at 6 pm.

See the line-up and BUY TICKETS HERE:   ASPEN LAFF

Aspen Laff Festival 2012 at The Wheeler Opera House. Click 4 info and tickets.

Panic in Aspen.

Widespread Panic invades Aspen for 3 Sold Out Shows.There's a panic in Aspen this weekend.  It's not from the lack of POW (skiing has been pretty decent). It's not the surge in demand for 7000 sq ft penthouses in the core, it's not even the high school coach sex scandal.  It's WIDESPREAD PANIC, the popular Southern Jam Band.  Widespread Panic is playing 3 nights at Aspen's Belly Up Tavern at a general admission price of $350 (per night).   Tickets for the 3-night stand sold out in like 30 seconds...so it's clear that demand is high. 

AspenSpin has never experienced a WideSpread Panic show, and we won't this time either because at $350 per ticket (scalpers are asking much higher) we're gonna take a pass.  We won't be the only one's in Aspen who reflect for a moment to remember and honor our fallen friend, Adam Dennis.  Adam was one of the most fervent Widespread Panic fans around...travelling to shows all over the place. Adam is no longer with us, but he'll be looking down on Aspen this weekend and busting a RAD move, because it feels good to see a BIG man dance.

Other entertainment options exist.

The Wheeler Opera House presents folk singer and social activist Judy Collins tonight ( Feb 17).   Judy Collins is an iconic songstress who also happens to be a graduate of  The University of Colorado.  Her 1969 classic anthem BIG YELLOW TAXI is still relevant and rings very true today.  "Don't it always seem to go.  That you don't know what you've got til it's gone.  They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

Click 4 tickets. JUDY COLLINS at the Wheeler.

The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB) brings their eclectic dance stylings to the District Theatre at Aspen School Campus for two nights (Feb 17 & 18).  The world famous ASFB dance troupe will perform a triple bill of dances from three separate choreographers.  OVER GLOW, LEFT UNSAID and SQUARE NONE will mix classic, contemporary and improvisational styles in an evening that is sure to please.

Click 4 tickets.  ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET at The District Theatre.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet at The district Theatre. Photo Sharon Bradfort / Courtesy AFSB

Christmas in Aspen.

Merry Christmas from Aspen, Colorado.The Christmas rush is on.  Aspen is going full throttle into the Holidays.  Everyone is here. 

The mood is festive, the sky is blue and the slopes are hard packed.  We haven't had any real snow to speak of in a while.  There has only been one 6 inch day so far this year and it's getting frustrating for those of us who thrive on POW.

Who doesn't like to speed ski  straight down a steep, icy-hard Aspen Mountain going waaaaaaaaaaaay too fast---- just hoping to stay upright.  Turn?? Naaaah, we've been doing figure 11's for weeks now.  Avoiding those tourists texting in the middle of Spar Gulch or the slow skiing snow snakes (led by a red-jacket) going sideways across the fall line has become a necessity.

The Christmas Holidays are PRIME TIME in ASPEN (click 4 pix). 

Hopefully you saw the Front Page of the Aspen Daily News and the SKI BUM PROFILE.  It's a great piece...thanks to Carolyn Sackerisian and Chris Council for making me look good.

Coming Up in Aspen.

Trombone Shorty at THE WHEELER     Tue 12/27

Dennis Basso FreeStyle for AAM          Wed. 12/28

AVSC AJAX CUP Celebrity Ski Race       Friday 12/30

NEW YEARS EVE (it will be sick)

* Snow Leopard Party, Beautiful People Partying (CALL 4 Tickets) 970 390-3131

* LOCAL's NYE,  (David Bromberg, Fireworks and open bar at The Wheeler $50)  

* Caribou Club   (Call for Reservations)  970-925-2929

Early Season / Locals Only

Early December n Aspen is a good, good time.  The tourists have not checked in on foursquare yet. Early season conditions do not deter the locals from getting after it.   Everyone wants to win the party.

Click the Pix...you know you want to.

BARTENDER APPRECIATION NIGHT @ THE WHEELER OPERA HOUSE

ASPEN HISTORY 101 with Aspen Historical Society

LOCALS ONLY   Sky/Red Onion/ Belly Schtupp

A BIG Wednesday at Sky / Red Onion / Belly Schtupp CLICK 4 PIXBartender Appreciation Night at The Wheeler Opera House. Click 4 pix.Slts Cabbage, Tony V. and the Aspen Historical Soceity presented Aspen History 101. click 4 pix.