If you need to see something on Facebook in order to prove it’s real (because nothing’s real if it’s not on Facebook, is it?), click here for the event page.

Your next question is probably “What will I do on Tuesday Oct 11, as I’m trying to recover from the erotic weekend?” I’m happy to report that I’ll be back at Matt Denny’s Ale House in Arcadia, performing at J.C. Hyke’s beautiful Songwriter Serenade series, still rolling on after almost a year! I’ll play a couple of songs, I’m bringing my pal Luke Walton to play a song, and about a zillion other cool artists will be there too. Free. Buy food and drink or don’t, up to you.

Where: 145 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia, 91006
When: Oct 11, 7 to 9:30
Details at jchyke.com

And finally, I’m tickled to tell you that for the first time in a couple of years, a new video has been posted on my YouTube channel, PhilWardComedy. It’s one of my appearances as a musical guest in the show Up Late With Adam Fisher, which I’m constantly nattering about here. See me as my audience-suggested alter ego Benji San Dimas, improvising the song “Shoes Untied” with the deep-fried funky house band.  For cryin’ out loud, click here immediately!

I have the honor of being the musical guest when “Up Late With Adam Fisher,” a fake late-night TV talk show that’s written as it’s being performed, moves to prime time. That’s Friday Sep 9, 10:30 pm, at the ComedySportz Theatre in Hollywood. Other guests include Paul F. Tompkins and the lads behind the “Superego” podcast. The show comes complete with a writing staff (featuring actual late-night TV writers), a house band, and comic guest bits, all improvised before your eyes. See it to believe it. More info and funny stuff: uplatewithadam.com

Then on Tuesday October 11 I return to the lovely patio at Matt Denny’s Ale House in Arcadia. The show’s from 7 to 9:30 pm and is free–spend money on food and drink, or don’t. You’ll see me play a couple songs and a whole lot of other singer/songwriters too. The quality is generally very high, even when I’m there. More info at jchyke.com.

When will this happen?  SUNDAY JUNE 5, 2011 –7:30 PM at the at the Fremont Center Theater in South Pasadena, 1000 Fremont Avenue.  All ages welcome, call Lois at (626) 969-0778 for reservations.  Tix are a mere $12 – that’s like $1.75 per act!  $1.30 if you count duos individually!

If nothing else, show up to ask Andrew Lorand why he’s using a promo picture of himself with his eyes closed.

See you there!

Phil’s playing a couple of songs in it, and so are lots of other LA artists.  The donation is $20 and you get a ton of music plus “beverages served.”  Not sure what that means, but it sounds harmless.  It’s all happening at:

Red Planet Studio
5711 Santa Monica Suite B (near Wilton),
Hollywood, 9003
6 pm to midnight

For info, call 323-363-8905 at a reasonable hour–it might be someone’s personal phone.

And on April 17, Phil’s back on the set of “Up Late With Adam Fisher,” this time sitting in as the house drummer. The musical guest, improvising what will surely be a breathtaking number based on an audience suggestion, is Phil’s own spouse Silvie Zamora.

Ooh, and look – I have a teaser!  I never had a teaser before.  Coming soon–news on how to obtain the compilation CD “War and Politics Volume 1,” produced by Folk Alliance International and featuring Phil’s song “Stupid.”

While you chew your nails in anticipation, click the picture below to see a promo for this weekend’s “Up Late” episode:

Info and tickets: comedysportzla.com/shows/specials.html See you there!

Hi everybody!  Valentine’s Day is rushing at us like a locomotive with big red lips. If you’re thinking of spending it at Disneyland, drop by the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland some time between 11 and 6, and you’ll see me being the lead Billy in the comedy bluegrass group Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. Nothing says “I love you” like holding your sweetie’s hand while, in the middle of “Rocky Top,” I fall over backwards and lose my hat. Romance and mirth!

In the mood for a less expensive Phil Ward gig? How about this one, for free: I’ll be playing a couple of songs at J.C. Hyke’s wonderful Songwriter Serenade series in Arcadia on Tuesday February 22. The show is outdoors on the very nice heated patio at Matt Denny’s Ale House, and you can buy food and drink or not, as you please. This night is an All-Star Jam, featuring 22 of the artists that have appeared in the series over the past few months, so you’ll see lots of terrific musicians. 7 to 9:30 pm; not sure when I’ll be going on. And again, it’s free!  Here’s a link for info:

http://www.jchyke.com/songwriter-serenade.html

Happy February! Don’t let Congress repeal the Health Care Act–you know somebody whose health will get worse if they do.

• Saturday November 20, 8:30 pm, $5
Up Late with Adam Fisher
The ComedySportz Theatre, 733 N Seward, Hollywood, 90038
This show is a trip. It’s a late-night-TV-style talk show complete with a monologue, desk humor, guest interviews and a live band…and the staff writers are writing the show as it happens. Try seeing that on a major network! I’m the musical guest this Saturday night, and presumably will be inventing something very quickly on the spot. Let’s see if I can do it!
45-60 minutes of music and laughs, possibly for mature audiences. Limited seating, so buy tix in advance by calling the box office at 323-871-1183.
The ComedySportz site, with show info, ticket sales and directions:
ComedySportzLA.com

• Tuesday November 23, 7-9:30 pm, free
Songwriter Serenade
Matt Denny’s Ale House, 145 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia, 91006
J. C. Hyke’s new acoustic music series, on a delightful (and presumably heated) patio outside a groovy restaurant in Arcadia. Enjoy a bunch of musicians; food and drink are available, but you can also just sit there. I’ll be playing five songs on Tuesday, and you’ll also see J. C. Hyke, Lorin Hart, Rick Shea and Tom Corbett.
J. C.’s site, with show info and directions:
jchyke.com

• Saturday November 27, 3 pm, $15 suggested donation (but come and pay whatever you can)
House Concert + dinner
A beautiful back yard, 2031 Berkshire Ave, South Pasadena, 91030
I get to share the bill with Dave Morrison, fellow Trough Records artist and one of my favorite dudes. He’ll play a bunch of songs, I’ll play a bunch of songs, then there’s a delicious dinner and a song circle that you can be a part of. House concerts are the best. I love ‘em. It’s like we’re all hanging out at someone’s house together.
More info: 213-219-2449

• Monday December 6, 8-10 pm, $20/$40
Extreme Benefit for Overtone Industries
Bootleg Theatre, 2220 Beverly Blvd (2 blocks W of Alvarado), LA, 90057
Overtone Industries is one of LA’s most astonishing theatre companies; my wife Silvie was in their last production, an epic, operatic, immersive piece that was staged in an enormous hollowed-out car dealership. This benefit features singing and dancing from Silvie and other members of the cast, plus comedy from Two Headed Dog and me. Should be very cool.
Tickets, info and map:
Brown Paper Tickets

Thank you for wading through all that. Come to a show and I’ll make it worth your while–I’ll sing every song while staring intently/romantically/curiously (you choose) at your face. This claim is not necessarily true.

Cagily,
Phil Ward

Saturday October 9, 8:30 pm, $5
Up Late with Adam Fisher
The ComedySportz Theatre, 733 N Seward, Hollywood, 90038

This show is a trip. It’s a late-night-TV-style talk show complete with a monologue, desk humor, guest interviews and a live band…and the staff writers are writing the show as it happens. Try seeing that on a major network! I’m the musical guest this Saturday night, and presumably will be inventing something very quickly on the spot. Let’s see if I can do it!

45-60 minutes of music and laughs, possibly for mature audiences. Limited seating, so buy tix in advance by calling the box office at 323-871-1183.

The ComedySportz site, with show info and directions: ComedySportzLA.com

And if you happen to be in the Bay Area later this month and you’re free…

October 21-24 in San Jose
The Annual FAR-West Conference

Acoustic music heaven. You can’t come to this without registering for the conference, which you can walk up and do on the spot if you’ve got nerves of steel. I’m doing a bunch of intimate showcases, as are a zillion other extremely worthy acts. Let me know if you’re coming!

The Folk Alliance Region – West site, with all the info:  FAR-West.org

A couple items worth repeating…

Phil’s newest song, available for online listening

“Ethel of the AFM” is all about a crucial, historic, and completely-made-up-by-me milestone in the history of the American labor movement. Here’s the link – members.unionsongcontest.org/entries#82925 – if it doesn’t take you right to my song, use the menu on the right to scroll down and find it…

And!

Click the picture to the left and help save ComedySportz–family entertainment in LA (and my place of employment) for 22 years, now threatened by the economy.

Thank you! Stay warm. Drink cocoa. Snuggle.

-Phil

Hi, everybody! You can be among the first to hear, absolutely free, my brand new song “Ethel of the AFM.” It’s all about a crucial, historic, and completely-invented-by-me milestone in the history of the American labor movement. It’s also full of fresh, grade-A goofiness, just as you’ve come to expect from me.

It’s one of many union-centric songs you’ll find on the Union Plus web site. You can go there and hear “Ethel of the AFM” and 44 other songs, some of which are pretty cool. (For example, the genuinely famous John McCutcheon posted one–he rocks!)

Here’s the link that should take you right to my song (if it doesn’t, use the menu on the right side to scroll around till you find it)…

http://members.unionsongcontest.org/entries#82925

I’m sure you’ll notice that yes, these songs are all entered in a contest. If you’re the kind of person who likes to spend your time registering on web sites so you can vote for things, you can do that while you’re there by clicking the “Login” button. I’m not urging you to vote any particular way; please vote your conscience. That’s my advice in most elections.

In sadder (and factual) news…goodbye to ComedySportz

Many of you have visited the ComedySportz Theatre in Hollywood to see improv shows and/or hear me play. Heck, it’s where I recorded my latest album. Sadly, CSz is a victim of the economy and is scheduled to close its doors at the end of October, ending a 22-year run.

We’re trying to keep it going a while longer by selling tickets like crazy. I don’t want anybody to give CSz a handout (unless you’re rich, in which case yes I do want you to give CSz a handout); I just hope you’ll consider buying tix to CSz in the next few weeks. We do shows THU thru SUN, a whole variety of ‘em, not just the team-vs-team format. And most of ‘em are rated G, so you can bring whomever you like. We’re selling tix at a bargain rate right now, so if you’re wondering what to give your comedy-loving pal for her/his birthday, buy some tix and give ‘em away as presents. They’re good thru at least October.

To explore the bargain Ticket Packs we’re selling, click the picture and check out this site:

If you just want to casually attend a show or two, click here’s our schedule:

http://www.ComedySportzLA.com/shows/show-schedule.html

Let me know when you’re going and I’ll try to be there too so we can hang out.

Thanks to those of you who came to my last few gigs! I’ll have more coming up in the fall. We’ll talk then.

Your favorite spurious historian,
Phil Ward

First, my own gigs:

Thursday August 19: Disneyland
If you’ve got an annual pass or a lot of money at your disposal, come see me at Disneyland as the lead goofball with Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in the Golden Horseshoe (Frontierland). Genuine bluegrass music mixed with genuine comic idiocy. I’m only doing the last three shows of the day (I think they’re at 3:15, 4:30 and 5:30). Bonus! My wife and parents will be attending some of those shows, so you may get to meet ‘em. If you attend, have a server bring a note to me backstage saying I should come out and say hi after the show.

Saturday August 28: Benefit garden party supporting Ivory Coast children impacted by HIV/AIDS
2061 Edgewood Dr, South Pasadena, 91030 (corner of Edgewood and Wayne)
Can’t get more worthwhile than this. Show up any time from 5 to 9 pm, make a donation, have some food and catch some music. There’s me, my Trough Records labelmates Tim Tedrow & Terry Vreeland, event organizer/hero Greg Carlsson, keyboard prodigy Justin Lange, African music, Latin jazz and klezmer! If you know you’re coming, RSVP to Greg at gclmft@gmail.com or 626-399-1966.

Now, some other things that might tickle your fancy, or fancy your tickle:

Sundays August 15 & 22: Acoustic music at ComedySportz (ticket discount because you know me!)
733 N Seward, Hollywood, 90038 (just N of Melrose, 4 blocks W of Cahuenga)
At 6 pm on the next two Sundays, ComedySportz is presenting Singer-Songwriters On The Patio. That means you can bring food, wine, whatever (no wild animals, please) and enjoy 60-90 minutes of acoustic bliss. Normally $8/$10, but call the box office (323-871-1183) or show up and say Phil Ward offered you $5 tix. You’re welcome. I’ll see you there on the 15th. Click here for info, directions and jolliness.

Friday September 3: Sarah Hickman in Pasadena
The Neighborhood Church, 301 North Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena, 91103 @ 210 Fwy
7:30 pm | $20 | Reservations 213-219-2449
Sarah is not only famous and the 2010 Official State Musician of Texas, but I kinda know her! Her opening act is my labelmate Dave Morrison–worth your admission price right there.

Thanks, you guys! Hope you’re keeping cool and keeping your chin up. See you at one of these concerts, if I’m lucky!

-Phil