Jessi Klein's NotBlog

I am the last nerd on this train, I’m sure, but I am in an obsessive M Ward loop right now.  The Transfiguration of Vincent has turned me into a complete Gossip Girl, OMGing all over the place about this album.  I don’t smoke, and I don’t live in the South in a ramshackle house with a rickety patio and a view of the moon, but I wish I did, so that I could smoke on my Southern patio and look at the moon while listening to this. 

If you can find me a song that ties simple and pretty into a more perfect bow than “Voice at the End of the Line,” please pass it on to me as soon as you are able.  Likewise, “Rollercoaster” (on the album Postwar) is one of those sweet little love songs that hits you just like Cupid’s arrow itself, causing a rush of heartpoundey innocent yearning.  Thank you M Ward, for taking me on a trip to Swoonsville.

Thanks to all the lovely people who came out to Largo last night.  I have to say, in all my years, it was one of the most fun shows I’ve done.  Comedically.  And spiritually.  I got so much out of making a list of things I like, I highly recommend it as an anti-cynicism/irony exercise.  And it was quite a catharsis to talk about my adolescent love triangle fantasy involving Gary Carter and Tim Tuefel of the ’86 Mets.  I feel lighter for having shared it.  (Oh, and thanks to the hilarious Zach Galifianakis for a last minute drop by which saved the day.)

On another note, I just wanted to give my BFF over at Moontree Letterpress a non blog shoutout.  Right before Christmas she approached me about the idea of a collaboration in which she would take my silly doodles of animals and make letterpress cards out of them.  I’ve been making silly animal doodles since I was a child. (I briefly doodled naked people in second grade, leading to an awkward trip to the principal’s office that went as follows:

PRINCIPAL:  Jessi, why are you drawing naked people?

JESSI:  I dunno.

PRINCIPAL:  OK.  Carry on, love.

Our principal was a Montessori educator from New Zealand who became a legend in his own time for the progressively creative school he ran.  When he died, PS3 was renamed in his honor.  Clearly, a man who lets you continue drawing naked people for your classmates is a genius.  Read his obituary here:  http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5DE133BF932A35750C0A963958260)

Anywoot:  I am drawing an animal card a month that you can check out over at moontreearts.com .  I am not telling you about them because of any fiscal profiteering angle, but more because I genuinely like (this is how you remember these things, by making the list) sharing them.  It beats all coinage, truly.  Becky does such beautiful work, I love everything on her site.  Checkit.

For anyone in the LA area this Monday April 14th, me and comedian/actor/genius Nick Kroll are doing a new show called Things We Like.  We are going to talk about all kinds of things that we like.  It has been incredibly fun preparing, because basically all I’ve been doing is sitting around and trying to remember the things in life that bring me pleasure.  There are a lot.  You should come and hear about them.  They are sweet and ridiculous.

Here is the OFFICIAL info.  As opposed to all the unofficial info circulating out there:

Since so much comedy is based on people talking about things they hate - airplane food, traffic, Jews, etc – Nick and Jessi thought it was time to do a show about things they actually like, such as the ’86  Mets, hors d’oeurves and fat babies.  Featuring the brilliant MARIA BAMFORD, DANA GOULD and KAREN KILGARIFF, who will share jokes, stories, songs and monologues about things they like as well.

WHEN:  Monday, April 14th – doors at 8:00pm

WHERE:  Largo – 432 N Fairfax Ave

CALL: 323-852-1851 for reservations
THE BACKSTORY:

Jessi Klein and Nick Kroll met when Nick made fun of Jessi for tripping on the corner of Houston and Broadway six years ago.  Jessi  thought he was kind of an asshole for that, but was won over when he  bought her a drink at an open bar.  Since then, they have dated, become close friends and hosted an award winning comedy show  together.  The only thing that seemed to work of those three was the  comedy show gig so they’re doing it again.