ATX Sketch Fest 2013: The Hustle Show, STAG, and a LIVE Mascot Wedding Show


One of our absolute favorite times of the year is upon us, the Austin Sketch Festival! This year, Mascot Wedding will be all over ASF with three shows including a LIVE MWS Podcast Recording. Since this is Austin Sketch Festival, we’re emphasizing the Show part of our name with a whole bunch of surprises. The ASF line-up is packed this year with headliners Superego featuring Paul F. Tompkins, plus Ennis & Kaye (with Mr. Show alum John Ennis), Your Terrific Neighbors and more groups from Austin, NYC, LA, Portland, and Chicago.

STAG! w/ There’s Waldo and Danny Palumbo
8pm Thursday May 23 at the SpiderHouse Ballroom
Get tickets.

The Mascot Wedding Show LIVE Podcast Recording
6pm Friday May 24 at the SpiderHouse Ballroom
FREE show. Save your cash for the bar.

The Hustle Show w/ Rabbit Rabbit
7pm Saturday May 25 at the SpiderHouse Ballroom
Get tickets.

You can also catch MW’s Mac Blake performing with Master Pancake Theater in a special ASF edition Thursday night.

The Hustle Show: Your Summer Safe Place


Ah summer. That glorious time of year when Texas becomes hell on earth. Your only hope for survival is an air conditioned theater. So after you’ve watched Iron Man 3, come down to The Hustle Show‘s May edition. We’ll have brand new stand-up, sketch, games and more.

This month, find sanctuary in the hilarious embrace of:
-Stand-up from Brendan K. O’Grady (Sure Thing) and Chris Tellez (Shit’s Golden).
-The dark world of American-style family restaurants
-Sudden economic collapse
-The master of jungle cats
-And more assorted mayhem

It puts the sunscreen on its skin. Thursday, May 9th, 10PM at ColdTowne Theater. Only $5. Sometimes shows sell out, sometimes they don’t. Advance tickets here ensure entry.

Also, buried down here in paragraph three, this show will Mac’s last new Hustle Show. Come watch him try not to break character and start a Lou Gehrig speech every five minutes. GEEZ! Enough!

Starring Jeff Whitaker, Curtis Luciani, Ximena Estrada, Tre Fuentes, Arian Brumby, and Carlos La Rotta
Hosted by Mac Blake and David Jara.

The Mascot Wedding Show’s Last Broadcast.

The Mascot Wedding Show is going off the air.

This decision is not what we wanted, but that’s the way it goes and we bear no ill will toward KOOP. Our last broadcast is April 27th, which means that – as of this writing – you have two more opportunities to catch us on the radio (6-7pm on 91.7 FM in Austin or streaming live at koop.org). We’re looking forward to making full use of this time and enjoying our final shows. We hope you tune in.

As for the future of the program, we’re still figuring that out. We do know we’re doing a live MWS on Friday May 24th at the Spiderhouse Ballroom as part of Austin Sketch Fest (time tbd). Beyond that, we got options and factors to consider – but we’ll let you know. We encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for any updates or news about our various night jobs and side gigs. I mean, you do know about STAG, right? Or the stuff we do at ColdTowne? Or Mac’s stand-up? Or Master Pancake? Guys, trust us. If you ever need a Mac or David fix, it won’t be hard to get.

Thank you for your support and generosity for the past five-plus years and the past 250-plus episodes. We look forward to seeing what the future holds.

PS – Folks waiting on podcasts or pledge drive premiums – no worries, they’re still coming.

MWS 258: Lucas Molandes and Bryan Gutmann

Told you.
Lucas by Bryan. Bryan by Lucas.

Episode 258: Comedians Lucas Molandes and Bryan Gutmann stop by. A lot of comedy talk, plus set lists, and Austin’s next top hobo.

Original air date 4/13/13

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


Opener: “Under the guns” by Apex Manor, from the album The Year of Magical Drinking
“Young Lions” by The Constantines, from the album Shine a Light
Closer: “Sun Medallion” by King Tuff, from the album Was Dead

Subscribe on iTunes

The Hustle Show: “Oh! Hello!” A Show of One-Person Shows

We’re mixing up our format to bring you, “Oh! Hello!” an hour of just one-person shows. A co-presentation of AUSTIN SKETCH FEST, each piece has to begin with “Oh! Hello! I didn’t see you there!” and end with some life lessons. We also recruited special hilarious guests, the amazing Lance Gilstrap and the glorious sketch team Your Terrific Neighbors.

Here’s what we got:
“An Uncertain Evening with Werner Heisenberg, The Science Guy” by Curtis Luciani
“Cloven: The Seventh Circle Cycle.” By Braden Walker
“People: What a Mess!” by Courtney Hopkin
“Groove is in the Heart” by Sam Malcolm
“Body Slamming Your Demons with Sting (the wrestler)” by Mac Blake
“Brutal Danial’s Scream For Me” by Tre Fuentes
“Video Will” by Jeff Whitaker
“The Black Angel Weeps” by Lance Gilstrap
“Hangin’ with D.B. Cooper” by David Jara
And possibly more!

You’ll be trapped in a comedy theater of emotion! Thursday, April 11th, 10PM at ColdTowne Theater. Only $5. Sometimes shows sell out. Advance tickets here ensure entry.

MWS 257: Ashley Moreno

Episode 257: Mac is out of town, but David is joined by writer Ashley Moreno. Movie talk, Caitlin falls down, SXSW, and more

Original air date 4/06/13

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


Opener: “Land of the Freaks” by King Khan and the Shrines, from the album What Is?
“So Good at Being in Trouble” by Unknown Mortal Orchestra, from the album II
Closer: “Everyone’s Born to Die” by The Orwells, from the album Remember When

Subscribe on iTunes

MWS 256: Andy Haynes and Chris Tellez

Andy Haynes and Chris Tellez
Andy Haynes and Chris Tellez

Episode 256: Mac and David are joined by comedians Andy Haynes (LA) and Chris Tellez (ATX). Talk of babe reporters, Stoker, Chuck E. Cheese, Andy’s gang life, sink holes and more. Super fun show. Mac should try talking less though.

Original air date 3/30/13

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


Opener: “Prisoners” by J Mascis and Sharon Van Etten, from the album The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver
“Young Lions” by The Constantines, from the album Shine a Light
Closer: “Everyone’s Born to Die” by E.L.O., from the album On the Third Day

Subscribe on iTunes

MWS 254: Post-Toronto

Episode 254: Mac and David went to Toronto and now have ANECDOTES! Count it. Customs, preconceived notions, DJ apprentice Caitlin, foodstuffs, piracy, and the Veronica Mars Kickstarter.

Original air date 3/16/13

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


Opener: “I’ll Remember You” by White Wires, from the album WWIII
“Varsity” by Smith Westerns, from the album Soft Will
Closer: “You Will Always Bring Me Flowers” by Shannon and the Clams, from the album Sleep Talk

Subscribe on iTunes

MWS 253: Spring MD Part 2

Episode 253: It’s our second episode of KOOP’s Spring 2K13 Membership Drive. Mac and David are joined by special guests comedian Duncan Carson (Sure Thing) and KOOP’s Khotan Shahbazi-Harmon (The Idea Lounge). Talk of Milwuakee, KOOP’s eventual fast food takeover, sad clerks, and more.

BTW: I trimmed some of the Membership drive pitching from the podcast so if a transition sounds a little off, forgive-a-ness prease.

Original air date 3/2/13

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


Opener: “Let’s Pogo B4 U Gogo” by Mean Jeans, from the album Are You Serious?
“Ashes to Ashes” by David Bowie, from the Best of Bowie compilation
Closer: “King Arthur the Red” by Guided by Voices, from the album The Bears for Lunch

Subscribe on iTunes

MWS 255: Regular Chimbler

Episode 255: Mac and David were exhausted working on a STAG show but they still broadcasted so we all get this rambly mess. Parky’s disease, DJ Apprentice Caitlin, and a stranded SXSW-er DJ Skillz Munny talks about a mega-bus crash.
Original air date 3/23/13

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


Opener: “Nobody’s Child” by E.L.O., from the album Eldorado
“My Shadow” by Jay Reatard, from the album Blood Visions
Closer: “The Bottle” by Spiderbags, from the album Celebration of Hunger

Subscribe on iTunes