July 15, 2022 • 42 mins
The rock and comedy connection is here,
Courtney Cronin Dold is an accomplished comedian and writer and her current project has been working with rock stars to turn their stories into comedy gold.
One of the few true Van Halen tribute artists with the band's blessing, Nerd Halen has taken the legendary songs in an entertaining direction.
Both will take the stage July 21 at the world famous Vamp'd rock club here in Las Vegas along with Hal Sparks, who is also the lead singer of Nerd Halen.
We talked to Dold about working with rock legends and Rapoport about the success of his band.
Courtney Cronin Dold is an accomplished comedian and writer and her current project has been working with rock stars to turn their stories into comedy gold.
One of the few true Van Halen tribute artists with the band's blessing, Nerd Halen has taken the legendary songs in an entertaining direction.
Both will take the stage July 21 at the world famous Vamp'd rock club here in Las Vegas along with Hal Sparks, who is also the lead singer of Nerd Halen.
We talked to Dold about working with rock legends and Rapoport about the success of his band.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
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to somewhere in Vegas. Here onspreeker dot com. I am Mark the
qim Mary host. I'm very publegedto have a very good friend of mine
that we've known each other for quitea while now, since towards the beginning
of the podcast, maybe ten toeleven years ago. This podcast is celebrating
past. It's thirteenth, so it'llbe fourteenth this year, our thirteenth anniversary,
(02:38):
so it'd be it's great to beable to have Courtney Cronan downed on
us with with us right now.How are you doing, Courtney, I'm
doing great. Congratulations on fourteen years. I mean, it's been a crazy
ride. I met so many greatpeople. It's great to have met you
as well. And first of all, I mean I think last time,
last time I saw you, youwere helping produce UM Sean's uh, you
(03:00):
know, Sean's Comb show as well. UM, have you been doing a
lot of producing us? What hit? UM? I do? I still
do a lot of producing, UM, A lot of development writing kind of
stuff. I do, like intelevision is like so behind the scenes that
a lot of the times people neverget to see it. Like development is
kind of this strange world where it'slike we work our butts off, we
(03:23):
work really hard, but only likethis much percent of what we do actually
sees the light of day. Butit's still a real job. So that's
kind of what I do as alot of development, And I guess I've
been producing live shows is what I'vebeen doing more than ever. So yeah,
now with with the pandemic kind ofkind of over right now, First
(03:44):
of all, I mean, obviouslythe comedians are back out, they're back
doing their their gigs as well.I mean, how's it been for you
to kind of get back into theget back into back into comedy and back
into um doing a lot of whatyou used to do. Well, it
was really hard getting back on thehorse because it was over a year or
so that I've been on stage,and like I'd just come from like a
(04:09):
bunch of gigs right right straight intothe pandemic. So I didn't get on
stage for like a year and threemonths I think, And then just to
get back on the horse, Idid this open mic in northern Massachusetts,
like near the beach. A friendof mine runs this open mic that was
all outdoors, and I'm like,I just got to get up there and
(04:29):
do it. And I was sonervous. It was like one of the
most nervous times I've ever been,even though it was an open mic.
And you know, there were allkinds of like new people going up doing
comedy for like the first time,and you know, maybe six months or
whatever, and I'm thinking to myself, Oh, I don't even know if
I'm as good as these guys likeyou just you you tend to believe this
craziness in your head that's not true. But every comic goes through this.
(04:51):
Everyone I've talked to went through this. And then once you get up there,
you're like, oh, yeah,this is what I do. I
forgot I feel comfortable on. Thisfeels good, so you just kind of
get get back on the horse.Yeah or yeah. Well, yet a
lot of writing done during that time. Tons. I actually did a lot
of development work. I was likepitching to networks and I worked on a
(05:14):
show with these two guys that dida bunch of MTV shows. One of
them used to be the head ofTBS, and we developed a kid's prank
show for HBO Max and it wasready to go, it was greenlit,
and then all these new rules camein for because of COVID and we couldn't
shoot any of it because it wentagainst all the rules. So I was
(05:35):
working on that, and then II was developing other shows that I was
just pitching and it was a reallybad time, but we just kept going.
We just kept going. But thatwas it. I did a lot
of writing tons, tons I'll aboutfor your act, for my act.
That's hilarious because I focus on myact the least I write for everybody else.
(05:56):
I write for so many other comedians. And I do like private coaching
and um like consulting with comedians,like right now, Like I have a
she's my friend, but she's alsoa client who's doing this big festival on
nine Tucket and I've been helping herprep for that, and so I just
worked with her yet this morning again. And so I do stuff like that
(06:16):
at home, which is nice.So I need to force myself to take
time to write my own jokes.My husband will be like, I want
to see three new jokes tonight,Get up and tell them for me because
it's I need that push. He'slike, you need to write for yourself
today. And I always go,oh my god, I gave these great
jokes to my clients and then youknow, I don't keep them. I
don't keep anything from me, soI gotta I gotta focus on my own
(06:41):
jokes. Yeah, you kind ofkind of the opposite of a lot of
a lot of comedians, where alot of comedians will keep a lot of
their material, but once in awhile there's will be that straight joke that
does not work for them, butyou can go ahead and give that to
another another comedian. So it's yeah, it's able to see that. But
yeah, right, you need toconcentrate on your act as well. You
(07:01):
know, you're you're, you know, a very talented writer. I feel
a lot of people are coming toyou, so i'd be and it's kind
of crazy, but it's, um, definitely, I mean, you know,
it's it's kind of great to beable to see some of the comedians
out. Like you said, Um, things are starting to bounced back a
lot here in Vegas. It's bouncingback, really, you know it once
once we hit the bile last year, everything's kind of bounced back pretty much,
(07:21):
with the exception of conventions, whichI think now we're starting to get
starting to get there, We're startingto get back to full capacity at the
conventions, because there's always worries aboutthat. But um, but it's been
it's been fun out here just tosee a lot of people out out and
about and running them, you know, and being able to go out to
see comedy shows and all that aswell. Um, how's it been out
(07:42):
in our way as it as itbounced back one percent? Yeah, it's
it's bounced back really well. Imean, crowds are definitely lighter. Um,
you can sense that they're a littlebit lighter, but people are really
ready to laugh. And I meanit depends on what kind of crowd you
have. If it's like a youngercrowd, they're just super tough and I
just kind of avoid that. Ijust try to do shows like that cater
(08:03):
to like you know, thirty fiveand up. You know, I try
to stay out of the gigs,you know, Like I used to do
the Comedy Juice shows, but literallywhen I turned thirty five, all of
a sudden, they just stopped bookingme for Comedy Juice. But I'm not
funny to twenty two year olds anymore, Like what do they give a shit,
you know about what I'm talking about. So that's the other thing is
(08:24):
like, there's no way I couldgive one of my jokes to anybody else
because it's only could only be toldby me, because it's about actual things
in my life. So it wouldn'treally work for anyone else, you know,
unless we both had jokes about workingon a cruise ship, then maybe
I'd be a little bit like,well, I might keep this one,
but you know, but it's beennice. I mean, I've been getting
(08:46):
up a lot here and just workingstuff out and doing some I did a
couple of cruises. I've been doingsome rock and roll cruises. I did
the Kiss Cruise in November with CraigGas and then I did the Monster of
Rock Cruise in February. UM withDon Jamison and Hal Sparks from Nerd Halen
and Um. It's a show thatI write and produce called punch Lines and
(09:09):
back Lines where we have rock starsdo comedy for the first time and I
work with them and I help thembuild a point of view set and they
have the best time. And wehad Kip Winger from the band Winger,
Um, the Monsters Cruise and ChadStewart did our second show. He's the
drummer for Faster Pussycat and Motor Chrisand they were amazing. They were amazing.
(09:33):
I mean, it's it's great.It's crazy to see some of these
some of these people, um,you know, like rock and rollers,
even wrestlers, um, you know, sorry and like I produce it with
Izzie Presley. Sorry okay, um, but anyway, um, but anyway,
Um, it's kind of crazy becauseI mean in rock and Rollers now
and wrestlers and you know are gettinginto the comedy. They have the they
have the stories, but obviously theyneed someone to help craft those stories into
(09:58):
jokes and se it's been it's beenunbelievable. We've seen like people from different
different areas of these crazy stories andtry to get in there as well.
So it's interesting to see where then, you know, a lot of these
comedians are now you know, arebecoming like coaches like yourself to kind of
get that kind of organized all thatas well. So it's been interesting to
say where comedy has been. Youwould never have thought thought about this,
(10:20):
maybe what twenty thirty years ago,where you know, somebody from another entertainment
genre or you know, an athletetory or a rock star or whatever,
we'd want to go into comedy.But it's it's very interesting to see that
kind of transition over especially considering theirpopularity. Yeah, I think with the
way comedy has evolved, and becauseof social media, and because you know,
(10:43):
there's one annoying part is like everybodythinks they can do it. Not
true so um, but because ofthat, because comedy has evolved into more
of like personal sharing really you know, emptying your soul on stage. That's
what it's become, you know,for most comics, and less of observational
(11:05):
Jerry Seinfeld kind of comedy, likethey already did that, you know they
did that. But now if wesee Jerry Seinfeld, we want to hear
about him. We want to knowabout his life. And I think that's
another thing. Social media has changedas we post all our pictures and our
personal things. So when you getup on stage, people kind of already
know you, even if you're notfamous, like they know your social media,
so they want to hear about thedog that they saw or that vacation
(11:28):
they saw you go like, theywant to hear about that because that's what's
interesting. I know, that's whatI want to hear. So, like
when we do these shows, wemake sure that you know, all the
material that the stars do has todo with their life, specifically their job,
their trials and tribulations, anything theywant to share. And we found
(11:48):
that, like one of our guestshad this thing that happened in their career
that really affected him for like twentyfive years, like really affected him strongly,
where it was hard for him todiscuss and didn't want to talk about
it, and we sort of struggledwith whether or not to make the jokes,
and then all of a sudden,at the last minute, he writes
(12:09):
me back right before the show andhe's like, I want to make these
jokes. Let's do it. Andthen he got in front of it and
said, oh my god, thatfelt great. That felt so good to
be able to get in front ofit and I got the laughs, you
know, so that was a veryproud moment for me. Was like,
you know, it was cathartic forhim, so that that was awesome,
(12:33):
you know. Yeah, I meanthe whole idea of comedy being almost therapy
you know, with for a lotof these people, you know, I
mean it's that as well. Weare joined by our second guest here as
well. We were, but it'salso performing on advance July twenty first.
He is part of Nerd Halen withhal Sparks. We got Caleb Rappaport on
(12:54):
with us right now. How areyou doing, Caleb, Caleb, come
back? Do you leave us?He did? He just stepped away.
I'm not sure where. I don'tknow if you can tell by everything in
the background, but Caleb's a verygood We'll get back to him in a
second. Um but um but um. Just drop a side note, did
(13:18):
Courtney, did you ever ever getoffered did to Jericho Cruise yet? No?
I'm not really the right type forthe Jericho Cruise, but my friend
Craig does it and his friend BrianBodowin does it, and they're huge wrestling
fans. And I met Chris.He was just at the Creature's Fest where
we did my show punch Lines andback Lines in Nashville, and Chris was
(13:39):
there with his band Quarantine. AndI've actually asked him to do this show
because his tour managers, this lovelygirl named Arey Schiff and she was on
the Monsters of Rock Cruise and shewas sitting with Nita Strauss from Alice Cooper's
band, who just retired. Hejust introduced you, Caleb, and you
walked out. You weren't there,So we're that's okay, We're coming back
(14:01):
to a Chris Jericho story. Sookay, so real quick. So Nita,
after I came off stage, shelike called me over and she's like,
I want to do your show,Like I want to do this,
and I'm like, oh my god, are you kidding? I would I
would love that, Like it wouldbe so great to have her because she
would just kill it. I thinkshe'd be amazing. So so I talked
(14:22):
to Avery. She goes, I'mChris Jericho's tour manager, and he do
you ever talked to him about this? I'm like no, but I'm doing
a Creature's Fest expo with him inthe spring, and oh my god,
I'd love for him to do this. Can you talk to him? So
we tried to make it work,but he literally got there Friday night,
partied with his favorite podcast guys,my friends Tom and Zeus, who do
(14:43):
Shouted Out Loudcast. He loves Them, party with them, got up in
the morning, did like an afternoonset with his band Quarantine, which does
like all late eighties kiss, playedwith Bruce que Look it was crazy,
got on a private jet and flewto Vegas to do a pay per view?
So was that was that? Wasthat in May? Yeah? Oh
(15:05):
I was there for that pay perview, so um I was able to
we ever ab watched Chris Russell actuallybecause I was. I was there at
the pay per view, um overat the team able. So yeah,
he was there, left for twentyfour hours, had all that fun,
and then had to go to thepay per view. So that's why he
wasn't able to do our shows.That Two of my good friends did it,
um Todd Kearns and Zach Throne,who were in the in Bruce Kulis
(15:26):
band and both live in Vegas.Yeah, well, I mean that's crazy.
Now, Now I owe you justintroduced to Caleb um when you were
sorry all right, the type onediabetics stunt. I had to check his
number there, So okay, it'sall good. But how how's everything going
with you? How's been how's beenthe touring since since the pandemic? Well,
(15:52):
we don't our. Band doesn't reallytour. We just to kind of
do one offs here and there.We haven't haven't gotten a tour yet soon,
but uh, you know it's beenit's been coming back slowly but surely.
But uh, um, obviously wedid the cruise in February. That's
where I met Courtney, and uh, we had so much fun on that
(16:15):
event. It was so uh itwas beyond my wildest dreams of doing this
UM and getting the kind of respectfrom the fellow artists where we were just
a tribute band and a and agimmick tribute band at that UM. But
uh, to see guys like KipWinger and Steve Brown sort of standing down
(16:38):
below you off the stage, youknow, like going like you know,
it was surreal and h totally dugeverybody dug them. Yeah, it was.
It was great for us, andI think we're just a breath of
fresh air for just the whole rockand roll tribute scene because we don't take
ourselves seriously at all. And Halis super funny and the show is really
(17:03):
funny, but the band rocks,So it's kind of yeah, musically,
it's like up here with all theother bands and I think even above some
of the other bands on the Monster'sCruise. A lot of them have been
together for thirty five years, youknow, you guys have been together for
how long? A full of threeand a half. Yeah, so it's
(17:25):
still pretty new. But they're alreadylike booking all the major cruises and they're
at Monsters on the Mountain next month, yeah, which is huge. Yeah,
we're getting there. And I thinkit's just because we have a good
product, you know, not notbecause we're a van Halen tribute or because
Hal Sparks is in the band.I think the whole thing works really well
together and the guys are really uh, there's a good chemistry and it's fun.
(17:49):
I mean, who doesn't want tohave fun and we bring that.
So we're having a blast. Yeah, you're in Vegas. We are known
for our tribute bands. I'm Imean there's you know, quite I mean
several dozen um Pivvy bands here inVegas as well, So I know we're
gonna have a very receptive crowd overat vamped Um. Is this your first
(18:11):
time performing over here in Vegas?H yes, I mean I know how
how lives there pretty much full time. He's got a house here in a
house in Vegas, but he's thereall the time with his girlfriend and he
centers out of there. And uhbut when I started the band, I
wanted I did it with the expresswant of setting up shop in Vegas.
(18:36):
I think this band would be perfectto have like a regular kind of residency
at a at a venue, soto finally get into the market. And
uh here it counts vamped on.The twenty first next week will be our
very first time playing in the cityand I'm looking forward to it, looking
(18:57):
forward to a lot of people,hopefully from other venues and casinos and resorts,
coming and check it out, justto see what it's all about,
because I think there is interest.Um. I know, we've just booked
something I can't announce for January,one of the bigger resorts m and that'll
(19:18):
come, I'll we'll announce that afterthis gig. But you know, it's
coming together, and I definitely wantto be a regular thing in Vegas because
we should be. So give meone second here, guys, I'm am,
I am I here. Yeah,you're back, Okay, Um,
yeah, I think that, uh, you know, I think I really's
(19:41):
my first Time'm going to be beingover vamped vanped watching in a show.
But this is one of the bestrock venues we have here in town.
I think, just just looking atwhat we have in terms of clubs and
all that as well. So I'mvery interested to see, um I said,
some of the reactions that we gethere. I think it's gonna be
very receptive. So it'll be interestingto see as well. Um. You
know, I have I you know, I have no doubt that how can
(20:03):
be booked anywhere in the city andthe comedy club, so I'm interested to
see where you guys are heading fromthere as well. UM how long have
you how how long um, Caleb, have you been uh been uh doing
guitar? Oh? Well, uhgod, I don't want to age myself,
but uh, I've been playing guitarsfor a guitar for forty years and
(20:29):
uh so I started around the ageof uh no uh age of twelve and
a half. H So, uhyeah, I I saw the who uh
at the La Coliseum in nineteen eightytwo, uh with the Clash, and
uh I knew that I wanted toplay guitar in a rock band. And
(20:49):
then I uh six months later,I actually met Edward van Halen uh in
person backstage one day at a time, taking and I actually spent three three
plus hours with him and his brotherare just hanging out while they were doing
the show. That taping the showoutside on the other side of the sound
stage. And and I was athirteen year old kid, and it totally
(21:12):
changed my whole life. I wenthome from that experience and got an electric
guitar, and uh, I stayedin my room for eight hours a day
for the next ten years. Souh, yeah, that's right. Kind
of missed out on a lot ofthings, but uh, you know,
I had a passion to play anduh and he's directly responsible for that.
(21:36):
So you know, it took mea long time to finally come up with
this kind of thing. But itwas one of those things where I was
like, what what can I doto to that I want to do and
you know, marry my passions ofof of of Edward van Halen guitar and
and comedic you know, theatrical presentation. So uh, I came up with
(21:57):
this thing, uh four years ago. So yeah, yeah, A couple
of questions I love to ask guitarists. First of all, about how many
guitars do you own oh, uhelectric guitars. I own eleven and that's
pretty cool because uh, before nerdHalen started, I own I owned two.
(22:18):
So I've been I've been on atear and uh it's really cool.
Uh you know, I'm I'm uhthe only tribute guitarist uh that is affiliated
with the EVH brand. Uh EVHgear brand, which was Edward Van Halen's
you know company. So I'm reallyhonored and proud of that fact that that
(22:44):
uh they he uh liked the productthat we were doing. And I think
it was because it was a jokeand fun and not just a guy trying
to look like him uh and standingup there. So uh, I've gotten
five EVAH guitars in the last twoyears since the deal, and they're awesome
(23:06):
instruments and I have some amplifiers too, and uh it's it's great and I
couldn't be more blessed. So yes, eleven guitars to date. Another one's
coming. Number twelve is on theway. So okay, um, do
you have your original Do you haveyour first guitar or did you did you
get rid of that one? Ihave my original acoustic guitar. Uh,
(23:30):
it's a Yamaha nineteen eighty two.But I don't have my original electric I
wish I did, but I destroyedit. So um and and and and
and uh. The most important questionI like to ask a musician is have
you named your guitars? Not really? Uh uh. I mean I have
(23:52):
some that look a certain way thatI kind of call them what they look
like, but they don't have likehuman names or anything like that or stuff
like that. So no, Yeah, it's kind of crazy. Um yeah,
very few people ever ever named theguitars anymore, which which is kind
of crazy. But yeah, it'sit's it's interesting. It's interesting to say
the least as well. I mean, it's great to be able to see
(24:14):
that Eddie has kind of almost gaveyou his block, he gave you his
blessing, and um in terms ofthe band as well. So it's been
it's been interesting to see a lotof the tribute bands do the same thing
that you're doing in terms of,you know, taking a band and then
kind of, you know, shiftingit a little bit towards a different a
different um, a different character almostyou know, um, I know that
(24:37):
there's um um, there's a MotleyCrew tribute band that does sailor outfits.
I think they do uh um yachtmusic, versions of yacht their yachtley crew.
Yeah yeah. I don't know.Do they do versions of motley cruise
songs or they just do yacht yachtrock and I think yeah, so so
(25:00):
yeah. So it's it's been interesting. I mean, um, you know,
I think that that's that's the nextevolution of what we're saying, and
some of the tribute bands out hereand all that as well as is a
kind of seat some of the youknow, some of the things that are
going on with that as well.So what goes on there, it's definitely
like a game that a lot ofthese old cats are playing, because everyone
(25:21):
who is in these bands is justa you know, a working musician for
the last twenty thirty years, andand uh they're just trying to come up
with something that is different than justa straight tribute, which, as you
age, doesn't look as good tothe eye. So there's a ton there's
(25:45):
you know, I always say there'snine hundred and thirty seven Van Halen tribute
bands in the Cardinal United States,and uh, you know, ninety nine
point five percent of them are fiftyfive year old men trying to look like
the twenty seven year old van Halenyou know from the nineteen eighty four tour,
(26:07):
and it just doesn't work. Andand when I came up with a
van Halen tribute idea, I knewright away that you know, me in
a wig and tights stage left wouldwould look more like something like like Howard
Stern. I'm six four. Soit just so I knew I had to
do something completely different. And youknow, I am, for all intense
(26:33):
purposes a nerd, especially when itcomes to Van Halen stuff. Everyone knows
that I'm the van Halen guy inmy scene and circle, and so I
just came up with nerd Halen asa joke for myself. And then I
was like, no way, that'sthat's a band and we all got to
do the nerd thing and and addcomedy. And I was lucky to get
(26:55):
how on board because he brings somuch to it. And and he's a
tremend vocalist, not just the funnyguy. He can really sing, and
he can handle the sammy stuff anduh, and he's he's so much fun
and he keeps us all loose.I mean he's he's uh, he's a
tremendous individual and we're lucky to havehim in this and uh and it's so
(27:19):
much fun. So I'm looking forwardto next week just because we don't we
don't play all the time, anduh, I know my body starts to
change when when I feel that theshow is is uh, you know,
impending and uh on the horizon.And one week is definitely when the juices
(27:40):
start flowing. So I'm looking forwardto it. I can't wait to see
everybody in Vegas there next Thursday night. What else could you be doing on
a Thursday night? Count family,right, Yeah, And what's crazy is
that there are so many older musiciansthat are out here. Um be it
(28:00):
that they're doing a residency out here, or they're doing um, rock and
roll fantasy camps out here, veryvery very popular about here as well.
So I'm interested to see who allcomes out to the show and kind of
checks you guys out as well.In terms of that, um, I
mean the rock Fall. It's ahuge thing too where a lot of the
old eighties rockers are here, soit'll be interesting to see who all comes
(28:21):
out. Obviously, the Count willbe more than likely be there as well,
which will be interesting to see teamout and about and be able to
see your band hopefully as well.I can only imagine if there was some
kind of comedy rock and roll comedyfantasy camp there, Courtney, and it
might be something you can see,Sitter. You know. I actually talked
to Brent Lightning from Vixen about somethingtogether and she was talking about the camp
(28:45):
and how they did like an allfemale one and we were like, hm,
maybe we could do something with comedy. We were talking about it at
a Creature And I love that youmentioned Rating the Rock Vault because Todd and
Zach are both in Rating The RockFall, and Zach Thrown and Todd Kerns
and that's who just did our showin Nashville. Unfortunately, I think Todd's
(29:06):
going to definitely be out of townfor this. I don't know about Zach,
but m Todd's wife is coming.Monique is coming, so that'll be
nice, and we're not sure whoelse is coming. So fashion Bach was
invited, but we just noticed he'sleaving for a show, so don't know
if he'll be able to also come. But a lot of people have been
invited and we're just plenty of people. Yeah, there's plenty of people in
(29:29):
town. I mean there's a triangleof places in the United States that everyone
left Los Angeles four that's one,Las Vegas, Austin, and Nashville,
and they all went there to leaveyou know, California. So hopefully all
the the guys that went to Vegaswill we'll come on out next Thursday.
(29:52):
Yeah, yeah, it should be. It should be pretty interesting. I
said. The crowd's gonna be veryinteresting as well. And um, I
want to mention I believe this isthe first time that that that Van will
be having some comedy on stage aswell, which is which is great.
I'm glad that the count is kindof thinking, you know, outside the
box a little bit. I knoweverybody likes as a rock venue, but
but um, I hopeully he doesa lot more comedy shows there as well,
(30:14):
and maybe he does a deal withwith you, Courtney and to be
able to bring out, like youknow, some of the rockers to do
um to do comedy out there oncethey start getting their sets together. Yeah,
I think that that's what really sellsthis show. Clearly it's not me,
but like I like, clearly it'snot nerd nerdy haven't. Um No,
(30:36):
but it is though like it it'sit's because Caleb and I immediately we're
like we should do something together,like on the Monsters of Rock Crews.
We start talking about this, andthen we talked about doing a show in
Vegas and now here we are,you know, less than six months later.
Because you know, we're not alltalk. We're gonna make it happen.
I mean I'm not, You're not, like we make it happen.
So um So we knew that thiswould be a good match. Poor Hall's
(30:59):
got to run double duty because youknow, he's he's our headliner. I
mean, we can't have anybody else. I mean, he's just so amazing
and obviously he needs a little breakin between. But um but the show
is kind of a novelty and peoplejust can't believe it when they see these
rock stars get up and have greatsets. They all do really well and
(31:19):
um and and it prises people becausethey don't know about all the stuff that's
really going on behind the scenes.I try, I tell them, don't
tell anybody that we've been working,you know, like what we've been doing.
Go up there and own it,you know, like he wrote every
single joke. Yes this, thisis true. I'm a witnessed. Uh.
(31:41):
There were two back punch lines andback line show on the on the
Monsters of Rock Cruise and uh Courtneyh set all those up with Izzy and
and they had Don Jamison on thereand how uh some sets and too.
And what was really interesting was theMonster of Rock Cruise crowd, you know,
(32:07):
is hardcore rock rock and roll,hard rock metal people, you know,
with that attitude, with with thatseriousness, and these comedy shows went
over so well with all of thembecause it's almost like when people are so
hardcore and serious, they need tobe reminded that stuff can be fun too,
(32:32):
and laughing is good. And justto see all those people with that
attitude, uh, you know,shed it for a few, you know,
for an hour and really kind ofjust enjoy the moment of laughter.
Really, I thought created a bondbetween all the Cruisers in a way that
(32:54):
wasn't just music, and that kindof carried over to our steps with nerd
Halen in the same environment with thatkind of crowd, we reminded those hardcore
people that no, we're not VanHalen, but but we sound pretty good.
We sound pretty close and you're gonnalaugh and enjoy yourself and have fun.
(33:19):
And that was I think the newfeeling for those people that they sat
that they found with us, especiallywhere it kind of made us the talk
of the ship, and we kindof stole the crews from all the you
know, veterans of rock because wewere different and we brought that laughing element
(33:40):
and it's just a fun time.So I knew when I saw Courtney's show,
which is pretty much Courtney's idea andU and Baby and I knew that
we had to be a part ofthat. We had to mix nerd Halen
with that somehow future and I thinkthis thing a vamped on Thursday, the
(34:04):
twenty first of July is going tobe special in that way that people are
going to be reminded that yes,rock, hard rock, loud hard rock
is the best thing in the world, but laughing and having a good time
is the only thing that super sedesthat. So um, we're looking forward
to it for sure, and thecrowd is our age. I think that's
(34:28):
another thing that people forget is thatwhen you go on these Monsters of Rock
cruise, it's not Coachella, it'snot a bunch of twenty year olds and
thongs running around with you know,glow sticks and on ecstasy. It's people
in there that would be okay,that would be okay, nothing wrong with
that. But it's people in theirforties, fifties and sixties who still follow
these bands, and some people intheir seventies, I mean and older who
(34:52):
are going on a five day cruiseand seeing like thirty five bands and you
know what, we gotta sit down. We got just two good break you
know. Like That's what I saidat the Creatures Fest was, Hey,
everybody, we have chairs, andeveryone's like, what chairs Like? It
was like the best thing they heardand we had, like we first we
put out fifty chairs, then wehad to put out fifty more. Like
(35:14):
we had to keep adding chairs becausepeople kept coming in. And I said
to the crowd, I'm like,I love that more of you were here
for the chairs than the comedy.But the crowd was hot. They were
great. Todd Kerns and Zach Throneboth killed it. It was really fun.
But the same thing everybody says tome at the Rock and Pod,
at the Monsters of Rock Crews andat this was what a nice little breather.
(35:35):
You know, we're having such agood time here in our favorite bands,
and we're just awesome. We're havinga good time. But I'm fifty
and I'm gonna sit down. I'mgonna have a couple of laughs. And
I really enjoyed myself because it's stillthe same rock stars that I paid to
see. But here they are doingsomething different, but it's still the same
people that I paid to see.So I think that that is another reason
(35:57):
why the show works. I mean, right after we were done with our
second show on Monsters, we gotbooked immediately for the next cruise the next
year. They're like, you're onnext year. It's done, We're doing
it, so you know that's stillwe're still waiting. But yes, well
it's a testament. You know,they'd never done comedy before on the ship
that actually like worked. They'd hada show, but they ran out of
(36:20):
time, so all the guys onlyhad time to do one joke each.
That's what ended up happening. Solike this time, we actually, you
know, we found a way tomake it work for this crowd. And
that's what's different about the show.You're going to see good comedy for this
genre. We all share this incommon. We're music fans. So we're
going to talk about the fans andthe bands and make references that this particular
(36:43):
crowd is going to get and know, you know, and and then we're
going to have an awesome rock starwho you don't expect to be funny,
get up and tell jokes and befunny and be real. And Chris Kale
is our guest for this show.And he's the bass player for five Finger
Death Punch. He's a local guy. He's been in Vegas for like a
(37:05):
really long time, I think liketwenty years, and he's been with five
feet Finger for like over twelve orthirteen or yeah. And he's a good
freest good friends with the Count aswell. Yes, yeah, he's buddies
with the Count. And and we'llopen the Count jumps up with us for
a song or two. It I'dbe really fun too, because I think
he knows the words. So I'mpretty sure he knows the words. Yeah,
(37:28):
you know, you know, Ithink that you know, these heavy
metal guys um and these rock fansdon't have a sense of humor, but
they do. They want to laugh, so I absolutely do. Sometimes sometimes
you know, you don't realize thatthese guys have a sense of humor.
They have sometimes the dark sense ofhumor, but they do have a sense
of humor. So, um,it's great to be able to that is.
(37:49):
And and to your point about youknow the older you know, the
older fans wanting to see rock androll. I mean, if the rock
Ball is any indication of that,yeah, they always you know, they're
all ways getting a lot of ticketssold for their show, and I'm pretty
sure that's a little bit older audience. So I think that there is a
there is a niche for that.So it's interesting to see how everything is.
So we got this kind of arock comedy connection going on right now,
(38:13):
So um, this will be itwill be interesting to see it that
with that as as well, UM, I want to mention, Um,
Courtney is going to be on PrettyFunny Women, I believe next month's right,
Yes, August fourth, I'm headliningthe Pretty Funny Women show at Flappers
and Burbank, And you have acouple of things going out east New New
(38:34):
Jersey, right Um, And thenAugust twenty seventh, we're doing punch Lines
and back Lines in New Jersey withPJ Farley from Fozzy Nice and Trixter Yeah,
Trixter from Love Bozzy, I LoveBosse. Uh, we didn't mention
Jericho earlier on in the earlier earlierYeah anyway, um um Caleb, any
(39:00):
other shows coming up for for Deerand Halen. Yes, funny you should
ask. Uh, we have thisone on the twenty one? Did I
say it was the twenty first?Yeah, Thursday, Uh, it would
be this Thursday when this runs,Uh, the twenty first of July at
Counts famed Um and then our nextschedule is uh August nineteenth at Monsters on
(39:23):
the Mountain in Gatlernberg, Tennessee,which we're playing with that night, we're
playing with Tom Keefer Band, ExtremeInvade, Richie cottson Quiet Riots. It's
gonna be an amazing day for us. And then we wake up the next
(39:45):
day and get on a plane andfly into Dallas and play in Plano at
the Embassy Hall on August twentieth,and that'll be a fun show. That'll
be a long set. First timein Texas. Um, and Uh,
the gallin Burg show is our firsttime in Tennessee, which is great and
uh and then we'll fly home andthen the following Friday, on the August
(40:07):
twenty sixth, my wife's birthday.I know that because I had to get
her agreed for me to play ashow on a birthday in another city.
Uh. We're playing at the Bottomof the Hill in San Francisco, which
is a pretty classic venue that I'vealways wanted to play. Oh yeah,
and that's really cool because Enough EnoughChips Enough wanted us specifically to open for
(40:32):
him in that show and had hismanager to reach out to us. And
they're really taking care of us,getting us up there, putting us up
and actually giving us a little moneyjust to open. So that for me
is pretty special and our first SanFrancisco gig. So and then and then
we do a wedding on October firstin Austin, Texas. And then the
(40:53):
next night, I haven't even mentionedthis anywhere, but we're we're playing downtown
Austin at the Speakeasy. Uh.It's going to be a show in Austin,
Texas, So we'll be going backto Texas and Uh yeah, that's
all we have scheduled. And somethingcoming up in January in Vegas. That
all on out soon, uh atanother resort. And uh, but hopefully
(41:16):
we're going to fill in a bunchin between here and there and maybe who
knows, pick up a tour openfor you know, some huge band play
stadiums. Why not just putting itout there. Yeah, I believe,
if I believe, I'm not mistaken, I think the Peppers are playing that
Saturday after you guys are there,So they're playing Allegiance. So um,
(41:37):
yeah, we have to see whathappens. There. Always a pleasure Courtney
to have you on the show.Um and um, and thanks Killer for
coming on the show. Definitely ifwhen that January date, uh, slam
Spy, we need to do uh, we'll do it. We'll do another,
We'll do another. Uh, We'lldo another interview with you because I've
got a million of questions for youin terms of of Nerd Halen and your
(42:01):
kind of your your background as well. But of course I'll see both of
you at VAMPED on the twenty first. I'm really looking forward to being able
to see the venue and of courseseeing Courtney again in person again and meeting
you Caleb as well. And bestof luck to you guys, and we'll
see you next week. Thanks somuch, awesome. Thanks Mark,
Hey, what's up. This isSeth Green and you're listening to Somewhere in
Vegas with Mark and I am sohot. I would desperately like a glass
of water. Please please give mesome water. This is Cindy Preston and
I'm with Mark. I'm Somemre inVegas. Hi. This is Melissa Peterman
from CMPs to Singing d and thetelevision show FREEBA and I have to tell
(00:23):
you, I just have to getit off my chest. I love Somewhere
in Vegas with Mark. Hi.Yeah, this is Save Glasgow and Jim
wall Hospital. You're listening in Mark, I'm somewhere in Vegas and you better
watch out. You know how tofind you. I'm listening. Hi.
This is Sandon Egan from Whip Itand I Love Somewhere in Vegas. It's
Mark. Hey, this is LeeAllen Vegas. It's somewhere in Vegas talking
(00:46):
with Mark with a que. Thisis Courtney Cronin here listening to Somewhere in
Vegas with your host Mark, andI would make sure to listen every week
because he's a shirt. Betas isthe money man. Any money about two
tickets of Paradise and its you know, what somewhere in Vegas? What happens
in Vegas? Space Vegas? Hi, this is Crystal Kale and I love
Somewhere in Vegas with Mark. Hi. This is Cherry Nunn from Berlin and
(01:08):
you're listening to Mark somewhere in Vegas. Hi. This is Mirka Laurie from
Josh Veden Stallhouse. There are threeflowers in a vase and I'm listening to
somewhere in Vegas with Mark. Hi. This is Aaron Hill and you.
I'm listening to Mark on blog talkradio and somewhere in Vegas. Mark is
a great guy. Hi, thisis Pelaski. I'm still trying to figure
(01:30):
out Mark Pico's sexuality. But Iknow you're listening because somewhere live in Vegas.
Did you go, Mark, I'msorry, I thought you were.
I'm sorry yet attending to get outof you. Hey, this is Lance
and Anna from Free Radio and Anna, and you're listening to somewhere in Vegas.
(01:51):
Yeah, say you know, that'sthat's usually what happens with me.
I go to Vegas and I getlost, and so I end up somewhere
in Vegas, somewhere in Vegas,but I just don't know where it is,
but quite sure. Yeah, weget ready. It's gonna be hot.
It's in Vegas. Checkout part bethere or be square. Welcome everybuddy
(02:15):
to somewhere in Vegas. Here onspreeker dot com. I am Mark the
qim Mary host. I'm very publegedto have a very good friend of mine
that we've known each other for quitea while now, since towards the beginning
of the podcast, maybe ten toeleven years ago. This podcast is celebrating
past. It's thirteenth, so it'llbe fourteenth this year, our thirteenth anniversary,
(02:38):
so it'd be it's great to beable to have Courtney Cronan downed on
us with with us right now.How are you doing, Courtney, I'm
doing great. Congratulations on fourteen years. I mean, it's been a crazy
ride. I met so many greatpeople. It's great to have met you
as well. And first of all, I mean I think last time,
last time I saw you, youwere helping produce UM Sean's uh, you
(03:00):
know, Sean's Comb show as well. UM, have you been doing a
lot of producing us? What hit? UM? I do? I still
do a lot of producing, UM, A lot of development writing kind of
stuff. I do, like intelevision is like so behind the scenes that
a lot of the times people neverget to see it. Like development is
kind of this strange world where it'slike we work our butts off, we
(03:23):
work really hard, but only likethis much percent of what we do actually
sees the light of day. Butit's still a real job. So that's
kind of what I do as alot of development, And I guess I've
been producing live shows is what I'vebeen doing more than ever. So yeah,
now with with the pandemic kind ofkind of over right now, First
(03:44):
of all, I mean, obviouslythe comedians are back out, they're back
doing their their gigs as well.I mean, how's it been for you
to kind of get back into theget back into back into comedy and back
into um doing a lot of whatyou used to do. Well, it
was really hard getting back on thehorse because it was over a year or
so that I've been on stage,and like I'd just come from like a
(04:09):
bunch of gigs right right straight intothe pandemic. So I didn't get on
stage for like a year and threemonths I think, And then just to
get back on the horse, Idid this open mic in northern Massachusetts,
like near the beach. A friendof mine runs this open mic that was
all outdoors, and I'm like,I just got to get up there and
(04:29):
do it. And I was sonervous. It was like one of the
most nervous times I've ever been,even though it was an open mic.
And you know, there were allkinds of like new people going up doing
comedy for like the first time,and you know, maybe six months or
whatever, and I'm thinking to myself, Oh, I don't even know if
I'm as good as these guys likeyou just you you tend to believe this
craziness in your head that's not true. But every comic goes through this.
(04:51):
Everyone I've talked to went through this. And then once you get up there,
you're like, oh, yeah,this is what I do. I
forgot I feel comfortable on. Thisfeels good, so you just kind of
get get back on the horse.Yeah or yeah. Well, yet a
lot of writing done during that time. Tons. I actually did a lot
of development work. I was likepitching to networks and I worked on a
(05:14):
show with these two guys that dida bunch of MTV shows. One of
them used to be the head ofTBS, and we developed a kid's prank
show for HBO Max and it wasready to go, it was greenlit,
and then all these new rules camein for because of COVID and we couldn't
shoot any of it because it wentagainst all the rules. So I was
(05:35):
working on that, and then II was developing other shows that I was
just pitching and it was a reallybad time, but we just kept going.
We just kept going. But thatwas it. I did a lot
of writing tons, tons I'll aboutfor your act, for my act.
That's hilarious because I focus on myact the least I write for everybody else.
(05:56):
I write for so many other comedians. And I do like private coaching
and um like consulting with comedians,like right now, Like I have a
she's my friend, but she's alsoa client who's doing this big festival on
nine Tucket and I've been helping herprep for that, and so I just
worked with her yet this morning again. And so I do stuff like that
(06:16):
at home, which is nice.So I need to force myself to take
time to write my own jokes.My husband will be like, I want
to see three new jokes tonight,Get up and tell them for me because
it's I need that push. He'slike, you need to write for yourself
today. And I always go,oh my god, I gave these great
jokes to my clients and then youknow, I don't keep them. I
don't keep anything from me, soI gotta I gotta focus on my own
(06:41):
jokes. Yeah, you kind ofkind of the opposite of a lot of
a lot of comedians, where alot of comedians will keep a lot of
their material, but once in awhile there's will be that straight joke that
does not work for them, butyou can go ahead and give that to
another another comedian. So it's yeah, it's able to see that. But
yeah, right, you need toconcentrate on your act as well. You
(07:01):
know, you're you're, you know, a very talented writer. I feel
a lot of people are coming toyou, so i'd be and it's kind
of crazy, but it's, um, definitely, I mean, you know,
it's it's kind of great to beable to see some of the comedians
out. Like you said, Um, things are starting to bounced back a
lot here in Vegas. It's bouncingback, really, you know it once
once we hit the bile last year, everything's kind of bounced back pretty much,
(07:21):
with the exception of conventions, whichI think now we're starting to get
starting to get there, We're startingto get back to full capacity at the
conventions, because there's always worries aboutthat. But um, but it's been
it's been fun out here just tosee a lot of people out out and
about and running them, you know, and being able to go out to
see comedy shows and all that aswell. Um, how's it been out
(07:42):
in our way as it as itbounced back one percent? Yeah, it's
it's bounced back really well. Imean, crowds are definitely lighter. Um,
you can sense that they're a littlebit lighter, but people are really
ready to laugh. And I meanit depends on what kind of crowd you
have. If it's like a youngercrowd, they're just super tough and I
just kind of avoid that. Ijust try to do shows like that cater
(08:03):
to like you know, thirty fiveand up. You know, I try
to stay out of the gigs,you know, Like I used to do
the Comedy Juice shows, but literallywhen I turned thirty five, all of
a sudden, they just stopped bookingme for Comedy Juice. But I'm not
funny to twenty two year olds anymore, Like what do they give a shit,
you know about what I'm talking about. So that's the other thing is
(08:24):
like, there's no way I couldgive one of my jokes to anybody else
because it's only could only be toldby me, because it's about actual things
in my life. So it wouldn'treally work for anyone else, you know,
unless we both had jokes about workingon a cruise ship, then maybe
I'd be a little bit like,well, I might keep this one,
but you know, but it's beennice. I mean, I've been getting
(08:46):
up a lot here and just workingstuff out and doing some I did a
couple of cruises. I've been doingsome rock and roll cruises. I did
the Kiss Cruise in November with CraigGas and then I did the Monster of
Rock Cruise in February. UM withDon Jamison and Hal Sparks from Nerd Halen
and Um. It's a show thatI write and produce called punch Lines and
(09:09):
back Lines where we have rock starsdo comedy for the first time and I
work with them and I help thembuild a point of view set and they
have the best time. And wehad Kip Winger from the band Winger,
Um, the Monsters Cruise and ChadStewart did our second show. He's the
drummer for Faster Pussycat and Motor Chrisand they were amazing. They were amazing.
(09:33):
I mean, it's it's great.It's crazy to see some of these
some of these people, um,you know, like rock and rollers,
even wrestlers, um, you know, sorry and like I produce it with
Izzie Presley. Sorry okay, um, but anyway, um, but anyway,
Um, it's kind of crazy becauseI mean in rock and Rollers now
and wrestlers and you know are gettinginto the comedy. They have the they
have the stories, but obviously theyneed someone to help craft those stories into
(09:58):
jokes and se it's been it's beenunbelievable. We've seen like people from different
different areas of these crazy stories andtry to get in there as well.
So it's interesting to see where then, you know, a lot of these
comedians are now you know, arebecoming like coaches like yourself to kind of
get that kind of organized all thatas well. So it's been interesting to
say where comedy has been. Youwould never have thought thought about this,
(10:20):
maybe what twenty thirty years ago,where you know, somebody from another entertainment
genre or you know, an athletetory or a rock star or whatever,
we'd want to go into comedy.But it's it's very interesting to see that
kind of transition over especially considering theirpopularity. Yeah, I think with the
way comedy has evolved, and becauseof social media, and because you know,
(10:43):
there's one annoying part is like everybodythinks they can do it. Not
true so um, but because ofthat, because comedy has evolved into more
of like personal sharing really you know, emptying your soul on stage. That's
what it's become, you know,for most comics, and less of observational
(11:05):
Jerry Seinfeld kind of comedy, likethey already did that, you know they
did that. But now if wesee Jerry Seinfeld, we want to hear
about him. We want to knowabout his life. And I think that's
another thing. Social media has changedas we post all our pictures and our
personal things. So when you getup on stage, people kind of already
know you, even if you're notfamous, like they know your social media,
so they want to hear about thedog that they saw or that vacation
(11:28):
they saw you go like, theywant to hear about that because that's what's
interesting. I know, that's whatI want to hear. So, like
when we do these shows, wemake sure that you know, all the
material that the stars do has todo with their life, specifically their job,
their trials and tribulations, anything theywant to share. And we found
(11:48):
that, like one of our guestshad this thing that happened in their career
that really affected him for like twentyfive years, like really affected him strongly,
where it was hard for him todiscuss and didn't want to talk about
it, and we sort of struggledwith whether or not to make the jokes,
and then all of a sudden,at the last minute, he writes
(12:09):
me back right before the show andhe's like, I want to make these
jokes. Let's do it. Andthen he got in front of it and
said, oh my god, thatfelt great. That felt so good to
be able to get in front ofit and I got the laughs, you
know, so that was a veryproud moment for me. Was like,
you know, it was cathartic forhim, so that that was awesome,
(12:33):
you know. Yeah, I meanthe whole idea of comedy being almost therapy
you know, with for a lotof these people, you know, I
mean it's that as well. Weare joined by our second guest here as
well. We were, but it'salso performing on advance July twenty first.
He is part of Nerd Halen withhal Sparks. We got Caleb Rappaport on
(12:54):
with us right now. How areyou doing, Caleb, Caleb, come
back? Do you leave us?He did? He just stepped away.
I'm not sure where. I don'tknow if you can tell by everything in
the background, but Caleb's a verygood We'll get back to him in a
second. Um but um but um. Just drop a side note, did
(13:18):
Courtney, did you ever ever getoffered did to Jericho Cruise yet? No?
I'm not really the right type forthe Jericho Cruise, but my friend
Craig does it and his friend BrianBodowin does it, and they're huge wrestling
fans. And I met Chris.He was just at the Creature's Fest where
we did my show punch Lines andback Lines in Nashville, and Chris was
(13:39):
there with his band Quarantine. AndI've actually asked him to do this show
because his tour managers, this lovelygirl named Arey Schiff and she was on
the Monsters of Rock Cruise and shewas sitting with Nita Strauss from Alice Cooper's
band, who just retired. Hejust introduced you, Caleb, and you
walked out. You weren't there,So we're that's okay, We're coming back
(14:01):
to a Chris Jericho story. Sookay, so real quick. So Nita,
after I came off stage, shelike called me over and she's like,
I want to do your show,Like I want to do this,
and I'm like, oh my god, are you kidding? I would I
would love that, Like it wouldbe so great to have her because she
would just kill it. I thinkshe'd be amazing. So so I talked
(14:22):
to Avery. She goes, I'mChris Jericho's tour manager, and he do
you ever talked to him about this? I'm like no, but I'm doing
a Creature's Fest expo with him inthe spring, and oh my god,
I'd love for him to do this. Can you talk to him? So
we tried to make it work,but he literally got there Friday night,
partied with his favorite podcast guys,my friends Tom and Zeus, who do
(14:43):
Shouted Out Loudcast. He loves Them, party with them, got up in
the morning, did like an afternoonset with his band Quarantine, which does
like all late eighties kiss, playedwith Bruce que Look it was crazy,
got on a private jet and flewto Vegas to do a pay per view?
So was that was that? Wasthat in May? Yeah? Oh
(15:05):
I was there for that pay perview, so um I was able to
we ever ab watched Chris Russell actuallybecause I was. I was there at
the pay per view, um overat the team able. So yeah,
he was there, left for twentyfour hours, had all that fun,
and then had to go to thepay per view. So that's why he
wasn't able to do our shows.That Two of my good friends did it,
um Todd Kearns and Zach Throne,who were in the in Bruce Kulis
(15:26):
band and both live in Vegas.Yeah, well, I mean that's crazy.
Now, Now I owe you justintroduced to Caleb um when you were
sorry all right, the type onediabetics stunt. I had to check his
number there, So okay, it'sall good. But how how's everything going
with you? How's been how's beenthe touring since since the pandemic? Well,
(15:52):
we don't our. Band doesn't reallytour. We just to kind of
do one offs here and there.We haven't haven't gotten a tour yet soon,
but uh, you know it's beenit's been coming back slowly but surely.
But uh, um, obviously wedid the cruise in February. That's
where I met Courtney, and uh, we had so much fun on that
(16:15):
event. It was so uh itwas beyond my wildest dreams of doing this
UM and getting the kind of respectfrom the fellow artists where we were just
a tribute band and a and agimmick tribute band at that UM. But
uh, to see guys like KipWinger and Steve Brown sort of standing down
(16:38):
below you off the stage, youknow, like going like you know,
it was surreal and h totally dugeverybody dug them. Yeah, it was.
It was great for us, andI think we're just a breath of
fresh air for just the whole rockand roll tribute scene because we don't take
ourselves seriously at all. And Halis super funny and the show is really
(17:03):
funny, but the band rocks,So it's kind of yeah, musically,
it's like up here with all theother bands and I think even above some
of the other bands on the Monster'sCruise. A lot of them have been
together for thirty five years, youknow, you guys have been together for
how long? A full of threeand a half. Yeah, so it's
(17:25):
still pretty new. But they're alreadylike booking all the major cruises and they're
at Monsters on the Mountain next month, yeah, which is huge. Yeah,
we're getting there. And I thinkit's just because we have a good
product, you know, not notbecause we're a van Halen tribute or because
Hal Sparks is in the band.I think the whole thing works really well
together and the guys are really uh, there's a good chemistry and it's fun.
(17:49):
I mean, who doesn't want tohave fun and we bring that.
So we're having a blast. Yeah, you're in Vegas. We are known
for our tribute bands. I'm Imean there's you know, quite I mean
several dozen um Pivvy bands here inVegas as well, So I know we're
gonna have a very receptive crowd overat vamped Um. Is this your first
(18:11):
time performing over here in Vegas?H yes, I mean I know how
how lives there pretty much full time. He's got a house here in a
house in Vegas, but he's thereall the time with his girlfriend and he
centers out of there. And uhbut when I started the band, I
wanted I did it with the expresswant of setting up shop in Vegas.
(18:36):
I think this band would be perfectto have like a regular kind of residency
at a at a venue, soto finally get into the market. And
uh here it counts vamped on.The twenty first next week will be our
very first time playing in the cityand I'm looking forward to it, looking
(18:57):
forward to a lot of people,hopefully from other venues and casinos and resorts,
coming and check it out, justto see what it's all about,
because I think there is interest.Um. I know, we've just booked
something I can't announce for January,one of the bigger resorts m and that'll
(19:18):
come, I'll we'll announce that afterthis gig. But you know, it's
coming together, and I definitely wantto be a regular thing in Vegas because
we should be. So give meone second here, guys, I'm am,
I am I here. Yeah,you're back, Okay, Um,
yeah, I think that, uh, you know, I think I really's
(19:41):
my first Time'm going to be beingover vamped vanped watching in a show.
But this is one of the bestrock venues we have here in town.
I think, just just looking atwhat we have in terms of clubs and
all that as well. So I'mvery interested to see, um I said,
some of the reactions that we gethere. I think it's gonna be
very receptive. So it'll be interestingto see as well. Um. You
know, I have I you know, I have no doubt that how can
(20:03):
be booked anywhere in the city andthe comedy club, so I'm interested to
see where you guys are heading fromthere as well. UM how long have
you how how long um, Caleb, have you been uh been uh doing
guitar? Oh? Well, uhgod, I don't want to age myself,
but uh, I've been playing guitarsfor a guitar for forty years and
(20:29):
uh so I started around the ageof uh no uh age of twelve and
a half. H So, uhyeah, I I saw the who uh
at the La Coliseum in nineteen eightytwo, uh with the Clash, and
uh I knew that I wanted toplay guitar in a rock band. And
(20:49):
then I uh six months later,I actually met Edward van Halen uh in
person backstage one day at a time, taking and I actually spent three three
plus hours with him and his brotherare just hanging out while they were doing
the show. That taping the showoutside on the other side of the sound
stage. And and I was athirteen year old kid, and it totally
(21:12):
changed my whole life. I wenthome from that experience and got an electric
guitar, and uh, I stayedin my room for eight hours a day
for the next ten years. Souh, yeah, that's right. Kind
of missed out on a lot ofthings, but uh, you know,
I had a passion to play anduh and he's directly responsible for that.
(21:36):
So you know, it took mea long time to finally come up with
this kind of thing. But itwas one of those things where I was
like, what what can I doto to that I want to do and
you know, marry my passions ofof of of Edward van Halen guitar and
and comedic you know, theatrical presentation. So uh, I came up with
(21:57):
this thing, uh four years ago. So yeah, yeah, A couple
of questions I love to ask guitarists. First of all, about how many
guitars do you own oh, uhelectric guitars. I own eleven and that's
pretty cool because uh, before nerdHalen started, I own I owned two.
(22:18):
So I've been I've been on atear and uh it's really cool.
Uh you know, I'm I'm uhthe only tribute guitarist uh that is affiliated
with the EVH brand. Uh EVHgear brand, which was Edward Van Halen's
you know company. So I'm reallyhonored and proud of that fact that that
(22:44):
uh they he uh liked the productthat we were doing. And I think
it was because it was a jokeand fun and not just a guy trying
to look like him uh and standingup there. So uh, I've gotten
five EVAH guitars in the last twoyears since the deal, and they're awesome
(23:06):
instruments and I have some amplifiers too, and uh it's it's great and I
couldn't be more blessed. So yes, eleven guitars to date. Another one's
coming. Number twelve is on theway. So okay, um, do
you have your original Do you haveyour first guitar or did you did you
get rid of that one? Ihave my original acoustic guitar. Uh,
(23:30):
it's a Yamaha nineteen eighty two.But I don't have my original electric I
wish I did, but I destroyedit. So um and and and and
and uh. The most important questionI like to ask a musician is have
you named your guitars? Not really? Uh uh. I mean I have
(23:52):
some that look a certain way thatI kind of call them what they look
like, but they don't have likehuman names or anything like that or stuff
like that. So no, Yeah, it's kind of crazy. Um yeah,
very few people ever ever named theguitars anymore, which which is kind
of crazy. But yeah, it'sit's it's interesting. It's interesting to say
the least as well. I mean, it's great to be able to see
(24:14):
that Eddie has kind of almost gaveyou his block, he gave you his
blessing, and um in terms ofthe band as well. So it's been
it's been interesting to see a lotof the tribute bands do the same thing
that you're doing in terms of,you know, taking a band and then
kind of, you know, shiftingit a little bit towards a different a
different um, a different character almostyou know, um, I know that
(24:37):
there's um um, there's a MotleyCrew tribute band that does sailor outfits.
I think they do uh um yachtmusic, versions of yacht their yachtley crew.
Yeah yeah. I don't know.Do they do versions of motley cruise
songs or they just do yacht yachtrock and I think yeah, so so
(25:00):
yeah. So it's it's been interesting. I mean, um, you know,
I think that that's that's the nextevolution of what we're saying, and
some of the tribute bands out hereand all that as well as is a
kind of seat some of the youknow, some of the things that are
going on with that as well.So what goes on there, it's definitely
like a game that a lot ofthese old cats are playing, because everyone
(25:21):
who is in these bands is justa you know, a working musician for
the last twenty thirty years, andand uh they're just trying to come up
with something that is different than justa straight tribute, which, as you
age, doesn't look as good tothe eye. So there's a ton there's
(25:45):
you know, I always say there'snine hundred and thirty seven Van Halen tribute
bands in the Cardinal United States,and uh, you know, ninety nine
point five percent of them are fiftyfive year old men trying to look like
the twenty seven year old van Halenyou know from the nineteen eighty four tour,
(26:07):
and it just doesn't work. Andand when I came up with a
van Halen tribute idea, I knewright away that you know, me in
a wig and tights stage left wouldwould look more like something like like Howard
Stern. I'm six four. Soit just so I knew I had to
do something completely different. And youknow, I am, for all intense
(26:33):
purposes a nerd, especially when itcomes to Van Halen stuff. Everyone knows
that I'm the van Halen guy inmy scene and circle, and so I
just came up with nerd Halen asa joke for myself. And then I
was like, no way, that'sthat's a band and we all got to
do the nerd thing and and addcomedy. And I was lucky to get
(26:55):
how on board because he brings somuch to it. And and he's a
tremend vocalist, not just the funnyguy. He can really sing, and
he can handle the sammy stuff anduh, and he's he's so much fun
and he keeps us all loose.I mean he's he's uh, he's a
tremendous individual and we're lucky to havehim in this and uh and it's so
(27:19):
much fun. So I'm looking forwardto next week just because we don't we
don't play all the time, anduh, I know my body starts to
change when when I feel that theshow is is uh, you know,
impending and uh on the horizon.And one week is definitely when the juices
(27:40):
start flowing. So I'm looking forwardto it. I can't wait to see
everybody in Vegas there next Thursday night. What else could you be doing on
a Thursday night? Count family,right, Yeah, And what's crazy is
that there are so many older musiciansthat are out here. Um be it
(28:00):
that they're doing a residency out here, or they're doing um, rock and
roll fantasy camps out here, veryvery very popular about here as well.
So I'm interested to see who allcomes out to the show and kind of
checks you guys out as well.In terms of that, um, I
mean the rock Fall. It's ahuge thing too where a lot of the
old eighties rockers are here, soit'll be interesting to see who all comes
(28:21):
out. Obviously, the Count willbe more than likely be there as well,
which will be interesting to see teamout and about and be able to
see your band hopefully as well.I can only imagine if there was some
kind of comedy rock and roll comedyfantasy camp there, Courtney, and it
might be something you can see,Sitter. You know. I actually talked
to Brent Lightning from Vixen about somethingtogether and she was talking about the camp
(28:45):
and how they did like an allfemale one and we were like, hm,
maybe we could do something with comedy. We were talking about it at
a Creature And I love that youmentioned Rating the Rock Vault because Todd and
Zach are both in Rating The RockFall, and Zach Thrown and Todd Kerns
and that's who just did our showin Nashville. Unfortunately, I think Todd's
(29:06):
going to definitely be out of townfor this. I don't know about Zach,
but m Todd's wife is coming.Monique is coming, so that'll be
nice, and we're not sure whoelse is coming. So fashion Bach was
invited, but we just noticed he'sleaving for a show, so don't know
if he'll be able to also come. But a lot of people have been
invited and we're just plenty of people. Yeah, there's plenty of people in
(29:29):
town. I mean there's a triangleof places in the United States that everyone
left Los Angeles four that's one,Las Vegas, Austin, and Nashville,
and they all went there to leaveyou know, California. So hopefully all
the the guys that went to Vegaswill we'll come on out next Thursday.
(29:52):
Yeah, yeah, it should be. It should be pretty interesting. I
said. The crowd's gonna be veryinteresting as well. And um, I
want to mention I believe this isthe first time that that that Van will
be having some comedy on stage aswell, which is which is great.
I'm glad that the count is kindof thinking, you know, outside the
box a little bit. I knoweverybody likes as a rock venue, but
but um, I hopeully he doesa lot more comedy shows there as well,
(30:14):
and maybe he does a deal withwith you, Courtney and to be
able to bring out, like youknow, some of the rockers to do
um to do comedy out there oncethey start getting their sets together. Yeah,
I think that that's what really sellsthis show. Clearly it's not me,
but like I like, clearly it'snot nerd nerdy haven't. Um No,
(30:36):
but it is though like it it'sit's because Caleb and I immediately we're
like we should do something together,like on the Monsters of Rock Crews.
We start talking about this, andthen we talked about doing a show in
Vegas and now here we are,you know, less than six months later.
Because you know, we're not alltalk. We're gonna make it happen.
I mean I'm not, You're not, like we make it happen.
So um So we knew that thiswould be a good match. Poor Hall's
(30:59):
got to run double duty because youknow, he's he's our headliner. I
mean, we can't have anybody else. I mean, he's just so amazing
and obviously he needs a little breakin between. But um but the show
is kind of a novelty and peoplejust can't believe it when they see these
rock stars get up and have greatsets. They all do really well and
(31:19):
um and and it prises people becausethey don't know about all the stuff that's
really going on behind the scenes.I try, I tell them, don't
tell anybody that we've been working,you know, like what we've been doing.
Go up there and own it,you know, like he wrote every
single joke. Yes this, thisis true. I'm a witnessed. Uh.
(31:41):
There were two back punch lines andback line show on the on the
Monsters of Rock Cruise and uh Courtneyh set all those up with Izzy and
and they had Don Jamison on thereand how uh some sets and too.
And what was really interesting was theMonster of Rock Cruise crowd, you know,
(32:07):
is hardcore rock rock and roll,hard rock metal people, you know,
with that attitude, with with thatseriousness, and these comedy shows went
over so well with all of thembecause it's almost like when people are so
hardcore and serious, they need tobe reminded that stuff can be fun too,
(32:32):
and laughing is good. And justto see all those people with that
attitude, uh, you know,shed it for a few, you know,
for an hour and really kind ofjust enjoy the moment of laughter.
Really, I thought created a bondbetween all the Cruisers in a way that
(32:54):
wasn't just music, and that kindof carried over to our steps with nerd
Halen in the same environment with thatkind of crowd, we reminded those hardcore
people that no, we're not VanHalen, but but we sound pretty good.
We sound pretty close and you're gonnalaugh and enjoy yourself and have fun.
(33:19):
And that was I think the newfeeling for those people that they sat
that they found with us, especiallywhere it kind of made us the talk
of the ship, and we kindof stole the crews from all the you
know, veterans of rock because wewere different and we brought that laughing element
(33:40):
and it's just a fun time.So I knew when I saw Courtney's show,
which is pretty much Courtney's idea andU and Baby and I knew that
we had to be a part ofthat. We had to mix nerd Halen
with that somehow future and I thinkthis thing a vamped on Thursday, the
(34:04):
twenty first of July is going tobe special in that way that people are
going to be reminded that yes,rock, hard rock, loud hard rock
is the best thing in the world, but laughing and having a good time
is the only thing that super sedesthat. So um, we're looking forward
to it for sure, and thecrowd is our age. I think that's
(34:28):
another thing that people forget is thatwhen you go on these Monsters of Rock
cruise, it's not Coachella, it'snot a bunch of twenty year olds and
thongs running around with you know,glow sticks and on ecstasy. It's people
in there that would be okay,that would be okay, nothing wrong with
that. But it's people in theirforties, fifties and sixties who still follow
these bands, and some people intheir seventies, I mean and older who
(34:52):
are going on a five day cruiseand seeing like thirty five bands and you
know what, we gotta sit down. We got just two good break you
know. Like That's what I saidat the Creatures Fest was, Hey,
everybody, we have chairs, andeveryone's like, what chairs Like? It
was like the best thing they heardand we had, like we first we
put out fifty chairs, then wehad to put out fifty more. Like
(35:14):
we had to keep adding chairs becausepeople kept coming in. And I said
to the crowd, I'm like,I love that more of you were here
for the chairs than the comedy.But the crowd was hot. They were
great. Todd Kerns and Zach Throneboth killed it. It was really fun.
But the same thing everybody says tome at the Rock and Pod,
at the Monsters of Rock Crews andat this was what a nice little breather.
(35:35):
You know, we're having such agood time here in our favorite bands,
and we're just awesome. We're havinga good time. But I'm fifty
and I'm gonna sit down. I'mgonna have a couple of laughs. And
I really enjoyed myself because it's stillthe same rock stars that I paid to
see. But here they are doingsomething different, but it's still the same
people that I paid to see.So I think that that is another reason
(35:57):
why the show works. I mean, right after we were done with our
second show on Monsters, we gotbooked immediately for the next cruise the next
year. They're like, you're onnext year. It's done, We're doing
it, so you know that's stillwe're still waiting. But yes, well
it's a testament. You know,they'd never done comedy before on the ship
that actually like worked. They'd hada show, but they ran out of
(36:20):
time, so all the guys onlyhad time to do one joke each.
That's what ended up happening. Solike this time, we actually, you
know, we found a way tomake it work for this crowd. And
that's what's different about the show.You're going to see good comedy for this
genre. We all share this incommon. We're music fans. So we're
going to talk about the fans andthe bands and make references that this particular
(36:43):
crowd is going to get and know, you know, and and then we're
going to have an awesome rock starwho you don't expect to be funny,
get up and tell jokes and befunny and be real. And Chris Kale
is our guest for this show.And he's the bass player for five Finger
Death Punch. He's a local guy. He's been in Vegas for like a
(37:05):
really long time, I think liketwenty years, and he's been with five
feet Finger for like over twelve orthirteen or yeah. And he's a good
freest good friends with the Count aswell. Yes, yeah, he's buddies
with the Count. And and we'llopen the Count jumps up with us for
a song or two. It I'dbe really fun too, because I think
he knows the words. So I'mpretty sure he knows the words. Yeah,
(37:28):
you know, you know, Ithink that you know, these heavy
metal guys um and these rock fansdon't have a sense of humor, but
they do. They want to laugh, so I absolutely do. Sometimes sometimes
you know, you don't realize thatthese guys have a sense of humor.
They have sometimes the dark sense ofhumor, but they do have a sense
of humor. So, um,it's great to be able to that is.
(37:49):
And and to your point about youknow the older you know, the
older fans wanting to see rock androll. I mean, if the rock
Ball is any indication of that,yeah, they always you know, they're
all ways getting a lot of ticketssold for their show, and I'm pretty
sure that's a little bit older audience. So I think that there is a
there is a niche for that.So it's interesting to see how everything is.
So we got this kind of arock comedy connection going on right now,
(38:13):
So um, this will be itwill be interesting to see it that
with that as as well, UM, I want to mention, Um,
Courtney is going to be on PrettyFunny Women, I believe next month's right,
Yes, August fourth, I'm headliningthe Pretty Funny Women show at Flappers
and Burbank, And you have acouple of things going out east New New
(38:34):
Jersey, right Um, And thenAugust twenty seventh, we're doing punch Lines
and back Lines in New Jersey withPJ Farley from Fozzy Nice and Trixter Yeah,
Trixter from Love Bozzy, I LoveBosse. Uh, we didn't mention
Jericho earlier on in the earlier earlierYeah anyway, um um Caleb, any
(39:00):
other shows coming up for for Deerand Halen. Yes, funny you should
ask. Uh, we have thisone on the twenty one? Did I
say it was the twenty first?Yeah, Thursday, Uh, it would
be this Thursday when this runs,Uh, the twenty first of July at
Counts famed Um and then our nextschedule is uh August nineteenth at Monsters on
(39:23):
the Mountain in Gatlernberg, Tennessee,which we're playing with that night, we're
playing with Tom Keefer Band, ExtremeInvade, Richie cottson Quiet Riots. It's
gonna be an amazing day for us. And then we wake up the next
(39:45):
day and get on a plane andfly into Dallas and play in Plano at
the Embassy Hall on August twentieth,and that'll be a fun show. That'll
be a long set. First timein Texas. Um, and Uh,
the gallin Burg show is our firsttime in Tennessee, which is great and
uh and then we'll fly home andthen the following Friday, on the August
(40:07):
twenty sixth, my wife's birthday.I know that because I had to get
her agreed for me to play ashow on a birthday in another city.
Uh. We're playing at the Bottomof the Hill in San Francisco, which
is a pretty classic venue that I'vealways wanted to play. Oh yeah,
and that's really cool because Enough EnoughChips Enough wanted us specifically to open for
(40:32):
him in that show and had hismanager to reach out to us. And
they're really taking care of us,getting us up there, putting us up
and actually giving us a little moneyjust to open. So that for me
is pretty special and our first SanFrancisco gig. So and then and then
we do a wedding on October firstin Austin, Texas. And then the
(40:53):
next night, I haven't even mentionedthis anywhere, but we're we're playing downtown
Austin at the Speakeasy. Uh.It's going to be a show in Austin,
Texas, So we'll be going backto Texas and Uh yeah, that's
all we have scheduled. And somethingcoming up in January in Vegas. That
all on out soon, uh atanother resort. And uh, but hopefully
(41:16):
we're going to fill in a bunchin between here and there and maybe who
knows, pick up a tour openfor you know, some huge band play
stadiums. Why not just putting itout there. Yeah, I believe,
if I believe, I'm not mistaken, I think the Peppers are playing that
Saturday after you guys are there,So they're playing Allegiance. So um,
(41:37):
yeah, we have to see whathappens. There. Always a pleasure Courtney
to have you on the show.Um and um, and thanks Killer for
coming on the show. Definitely ifwhen that January date, uh, slam
Spy, we need to do uh, we'll do it. We'll do another,
We'll do another. Uh, We'lldo another interview with you because I've
got a million of questions for youin terms of of Nerd Halen and your
(42:01):
kind of your your background as well. But of course I'll see both of
you at VAMPED on the twenty first. I'm really looking forward to being able
to see the venue and of courseseeing Courtney again in person again and meeting
you Caleb as well. And bestof luck to you guys, and we'll
see you next week. Thanks somuch, awesome. Thanks Mark,
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