I don’t get to near as many Ed Schrader Shows as I would like, primarily because his shows are usually performed on a weeknight and I rarely go to shows on weeknights anymore. But seeing as how The Ed Schrader show is a monthly event (sometimes bi-monthly), I should make it more of a priority. Or maybe I should make it a priority because it’s such a damn funny show?

I kind of surprised myself by going to this show this past Thursday evening at The Metro Gallery. I had planned on it, but when I learned the day of the show that the 9pm time on the flyer was for doors, I started to backpedal on going. If doors were at 9pm, I wouldn’t expect the show to start until 9:45pm (which it did), making for a later night for me (pretty much like everyone else, I have to go to work in the morning, but I’m not as young as I used to be). I’m glad I made the extra effort.

Show started at 9:45pm with a short but sweet opening Monologue from Ed, followed by a sketch parody of the comic strip “Marmaduke.” The unexpected technical difficulties of this sketch proved to be one of the finer selling points of comedy. The first guest of the evening followed, Baltimore club music legend Scottie B (see video below). It was both an informative and entertaining listen to the evolution of Baltimore club music, as well as the unintentional hilarity of many of Scottie’s answers (what kept Scottie B in Baltimore?).

Following Scottie’s spot was the return of a crowd favorite, “Look At That Cat!”, a bit where Ed shows slides of cats and the audience decides which one is the best. Not being a cat-person, I didn’t get as much enjoyment out of this sketch, though the rest of the audience didn’t have that problem. Upon selecting the night’s winner (not the one I would have chosen), the show took a smoke break-intermission for about twenty-five minutes. I’ve seen Ed Schrader shows where they’ve done it without the intermission, and I prefer it that way. Besides, the format is based on the late night talk shows on tv and you never see Conan or Dave taking a long smoke break.

Back from break, a giant white ball with yellow spots jumped on stage and started telling egg jokes. I didn’t realize who it was for a couple of minutes (I thought it was Ed), so the video (found below) doesn’t start from the beginning. Turns out, it was Adam Endres as “Egg Schrader”. Adam is hilarious! This was even funnier than the Christopher Ree-view from March, which was fantastic! Adam’s participation in these shows is definitely one of the main reasons why I keep going back. This was my favorite bit from the show.

Next followed some advertisements of sponsors, like The Depot and The Ottobar. I’m glad they’re sponsors and not hosts. I love taping at both venues, but neither is an ideal setting for The Ed Schrader Show. The Metro Gallery is perfect!

The show started to go downhill after “Egg Schrader” (to be fair, unless Chris Rock was coming up, the show had to go downhill from that masterpeice!). Cullen Stalin’s a really nice guy, a DJ and one of the main guys for putting on the fantastic Taxlo shows at Sonar and The Talking Head, but I didn’t really like the interview and thought it went on alot longer than it should have (almost 20 minutes). One of the things that bothered me was when Ed asked Cullen a question and Cullen’s response was to tell Ed to read his blog (I couldn’t find it, but now I don’t really care enough to ask). Basically, it just wasn’t all that funny, but watch for yourself below.

The next guest, Papa T, wasn’t all that funny either, but Ed managed to get some jokes in and not at the expense of Papa T (the bit on Sting is great…speaking of which, I missed hearing some David Bowie, one of Ed’s better impersonation sketches). Papa T wrapped up the show with two songs. I didn’t care for the second, but the first has a sound and style similar to Jimmy Cliff. Check the video below as well.

Overall I thought this was the best Ed Schrader Show that I’ve seen (I’m a rookie at four).

The Ed Schrader Show
The Metro Gallery
Baltimore, MD
May 22, 2008

House Band:
Connor Keizer-emcee
Benny Beoldt-keyboard, vocals
William Cashion-keyboard
Andy Abelow-sax
April Camlin-saw
Jana Hunter-percussion, vocals

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck41(hypercard)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)

CD1:
1. Intro
2. Ed’s Monologue
3. “Marmadick” (video slides)
4. Guest: Scottie B
5. “Look at That Cat” (video slides)
6. (blank space-set break)
7. “Egg Schrader”*
8. Advertisements**
9. Guest: Cullen Stalin
CD2:
1. Guest: Papa T
2. All I Wanna Do Is Just The Zoom Zoom Zang***
3. My Eyes Have Seen So Much***

Notes:
Lineup: The Ed Schrader Show w/ Scottie B, Cullen Stalin, & Papa T
*w/ Adam Endres
**w/ Connor Keizer
***w/ Papa T
SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC & COMEDY

THE AUDIO FILES FOR THIS SHOW HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

Guest: Scottie B (part 1 of 3):

Guest: Scottie B (part 2 of 3):

Guest: Scottie B (part 3 of 3):

“Egg Schrader”:

Guest: Cullen Stalin:

Guest: Papa T:

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