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Be Yourself... Unless You're An Idiot - The New DVD from Phil Johnson! |
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It's finally here! My new stand-up comedy and music DVD "Be Yourself...Unless You're And Idiot" is a 45 minute joyride through human nature. It's about the constant battle to retain your individuality while still fitting in with polite society. We want everyone to understand us and yet we don't understand most of them.
I spent two years writing and refining this show and I can't wait for you to check it out!
As always this year, 10% of the proceeds will go to benefit Guitars Not Guns, bringing guitar lesson to underprivleged youths.
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Here's the Super Duper Don't Be A Moron Deal Of The Century (tm):
* 45 minutes of never before released comedy and music plus bonus extra bits and songs.
* Extras also include a Q&A with Phil plus The Mystery Of The Red Shirt Revealed!
* A free "Be Yourself" t-shirt First 20 Only!
(You pick the size, I pick the color)
* Includes a free audio CD of the show for your car
* A free MP3 zip file of the show ready to load onto your iPod
* A free MP3 zip file of my previous DVD "What Color Is Your Laugh?"
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Live DVDs come in two forms. It's either a glossy, overdubbed, greatest hits collection used to string the fans along until the next album; or it's a real document of what it's like to be standing in the front row at you favorite band's concert. "Raising A Rockus" from Roadside Attraction is definitely the latter. Blunders, jokes, and goofy plastic hats aside, this is the picture of a band and its audience communing under the slogan "Life just ain't that serious."
Roadside Attraction comes from leader Phil Johnson's twin careers in music and comedy. "The idea here is songs that are musically interesting and challenging, but also funny, and understandable by a casual music listener," says Johnson. It's more eclectic than Stephen Lynch, funnier than Prince, and more palatable than Frank Zappa, though influences of all three abound.
Sure, the band's best known songs are here… "Rumpalicious Booty Shaker", "Whale Blubber", "Two Of Me" and "LCW" all make appearances. But they also take the opportunity to give the audience new, unreleased songs as well. "Afrodizzyac" is their take on Blaxploitation film themes. This one about an international super spy (Afrodizzyac) saving the women of the world from his arch enemy, Left Nut. "Brown Ring Around The Collar" is a happy tirade about the stupid people we meet every day. And "Hella Good Day" is Phil Johnson's own musing on what would make his perfect day. "I wrote it during a really bad day and it helped cheer me up. I don't expect people to personally relate to each lyric. But I hope it will make them think about what would make them happier."
Two of the greatest forms of release are live music and a hearty laugh. And Roadside Attraction delivers in spades as evidenced by the audience of young and old, and every ethnicity that was present for this concert. "Raising A Rockus" is the story of a band on the rise, playing by their own rules, and doing everything they can to help you loosen up. |
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Being human is a constant struggle between defining ourselves as individuals and trying to fit in with “the group”...
Phil Johnson, who has appeared at the Sundance Film Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, uses comedy and music to dissect that dilemma in both his own life and others.
In pieces like “Vertical Eyebrows”, “Gangsta Pooh”, and “State Hats” Phil discusses the challenges and rewards of being different and proud of it. Though sometimes people misplace their self-worth into meaningless objects like in “Truck Nuts”.
But we also have to be concerned with how we relate to the thoughts and feelings of others around us. From dealing with new social issues (“Robots” and “Gay Children’s Books”) to keeping the relationship fire alive (“Bad Porno Sex” and “Geeks Don’t Care”).
Phil Johnson, like everyone else, sometimes gets it and sometimes wonders what the heck people are thinking. On stage his playful humor and likeable, endearing manner allow him to shake things up without antagonizing the audience. In the end we can only be who we are, try to understand others, and hope they understand us. |
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