Russell Brand’s Infant Sorrow Gets To The Greek

Many Los Angeles landmarks have been immortalized in films, but I believe this is the first time that a concert venue is part of the main plot point and in the title of a movie. Yes, our beloved Greek Theater is one of the main characters in the upcoming film, ‘Get Him To The Greek’.

The story is a spin-off of sorts from the film, ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’, where a record company intern is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow (Brand) to a concert at the Greek Theater.

On Monday night, The Roxy hosted the film’s other star, Russell Brand, as he debuted his character, Aldous Snow’s rock band Infant Sorrow.  The ever charming Brand appeared to thunderous applause like a Manson-esque ringmaster, giving the benediction “May we all get pregnant, even those of us without a womb!”

Then as a joyous surprise to many, he introduced Carl Barat of Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things fame, who kicked off the show with some “songs about death” to fit with the Infant Sorrow theme.

Sandwiched in a booth with some gal pals and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin’ to you) with other various Judd Apatow employees and Funny Or Die denizens milling about the VIP section, I cheered Carl on as he launched into his Dirty Pretty Things hit, ‘Bang Bang You’re Dead’.

Russell resurfaced with his co-star Jonah Hill, to bring out his character’s band in the film, Infant Sorrow.  Songwriters Dan Bern and Mike Viola took over vocal duties on songs like ‘Furry Walls’, ‘I Am Jesus’, ‘We Got The Clap’ and others that sounded like they should have been on the soundtrack for the film version of Motley Crue’s ‘The Dirt”. True, the songs are supposed to be bad on purpose, yet it doesn’t work on a Spinal Tap level.  After a while I felt like I had gotten to another type of Greek -  a frat house, where the in house improv troop were performing for Spring Carnival. We get it. We get it. We get it.

Brand finally did allow the audience to hear the dulcet tones of his voice in a duet with Barat, on the song Carl wrote for the movie, “Let’s Get Fucked.”

Brand, in his self-effacing, nervous fashion, demanded lyrics on paper and hung back, only to burst forward for the second chorus and steal focus as a self admitted attention-hungry comic of his stature will. The set was rounded out with an appearance with the Grand Pooh Bah and Frat House President, Mister Apatow.  Then the super group launched into a song penned by Jarvis Cocker, who couldn’t be there because, as Russell told us, “he couldn’t be arsed”.

The song, “Just Say Yes,” is the single being promoted off the soundtrack, and for this night, (which it turns out was one long musical commercial for the film),  was one of the better songs. Cocker, with this song and his scoring of Fantastic Mister Fox, has found himself a nice new niche in pop culture. Though I’m betting I’ll like Fox better than Greek, film wise.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love me some Russell Brand. And I do laugh at some of the Apatow films. But just like during this show, midway through most of his films I just get bored and sigh and think “when are we gonna find our female Apatow to champion the funny?”

I’m not talking any Nancy Meyers “It’s Complicated” bullshit. I don’t mean chick flick, leathery Jennifer Aniston finally finds a boyfriend tripe. Or any Sex And The City 12, crap. I mean the type of comedy that Liz Phair would want to see. Something funny, something raunchy, something smart…something for me.

Do I have to do everything myself?

If you want to Get To The Greek, the film opens June 4th. The soundtrack is available June 1^st from Republic Records.

Serato Is Not A Pasta – DJ Intervention Starts Now

I’ve written many times before about the difference between a legit DJ and the hobbyists who like the idea of having their playlist heard on a Friday night for a little cash in their pocket.

If it’s true that ‘Anyone Can Play Guitar’ then it’s even more true that anyone can DJ, especially when you can download Serato for free…but forget beat matching. That rarely even enters into the equation anymore. In today’s club scene a dilettante can get paid four or five thousand dollars and show up with their i pod just because they fucked someone famous and the promoter thinks thats cool and bitchin and shit.

OK, the novelty of seeing the cast of Gossip Girl fumble around with a mixer might be an initial draw but then what? I’ll tell you what. If it’s a nightclub with a dance floor, the real DJ has to come in and save their ass and make sure there’s actual music playing.

Now, not all venues have to have banging house tunes. Many bars and clubs these days want a lo fi, bring-your-own-stuff-to-spin atmosphere, and that’s cool. But the difference is: no one is being paid obnoxious amounts of money for something they downloaded off itunes a few hours before.

I’ve been hired to spin at certain clubs around Los Angeles, mainly because I know music. I’ve been asked to spin records (yes, I use vinyl) in between bands performing at venues…and even though I have been on air at a few different radio stations, I don’t really consider myself a working DJ. On air personality? Yes. A DJ? Not really.

Do I love to search for records? Sure. I like to go to Counterpoint and flea markets. I’ll drag boyfriends and family members to vintage shops and dusty record bins while on vacation until they beg me to stop. However, I don’t make special crate digging trips to Japan or Israel or Brazil like Pete Rock or Cut Chemist do, for the SOLE PURPOSE of collecting rare records. That is LOVE of the craft. That is why those guys should be hired to do the job.

Pete Rock crate digging for vinyl gold

And then some dick promoter is going to pay Peaches Geldof a shit ton of money to “DJ” their party?

When I see the amount of hard work someone like DJ Z Trip or Rhettmatic has put into their careers, only to see some trust fund kid with a chip on his shoulder and a personal paparazzo by his side, breeze by and get flown all over the world for 5 and 6 figure gigs…when I’ve seen that same trust fund fucker literally plug his i pod in at a venue and then walk away from the DJ booth to pose for pictures and pound drinks…it infuriates me for the hard working DJs out there.

Z Trip's first love

I’m not saying that not every celebrity sucks at DJing. Carlos D from Interpol has been DJing for years and only uses vinyl. It seems to me he has a real love for it and puts a lot of time and energy into it. Therein lies the difference. Are you in it because you love it? Or are you doing it for the photo op? Cause most of us can tell, you know.

Club owners: Stop paying good money for shitty product. You want the cast of Twilight to DJ your party? Fine. Don’t pay them. They’re not DJs. Give them a bottle of Grey Goose and set them up in a booth in the corner. You can take a photo of them standing near the DJ booth for the starfucker page on your website and leave the DJing to someone with chops.

Festival bookers: Really? Six figures for a DJ who’s crap?  We’re not that high. Stop it.

Last fall, after another night where Z Trip had to follow another “DJ” train wreck, he took to twitter and ranted which I have to admit, I egged on and on. Our tweets ultimately gave me the idea for this film…this is part one of an ongoing series of DJ INTERVENTION.

If you like it, pass it on to all of your friends who may need some help. We know you’re out there and we want you to get the help you deserve…

Or you can vote for it here on Funny Or Die:

DJ Intervention, Part 1 – watch more funny videos

Part Two to come soon!!