Funny or Die Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival

Fred Hernandez

Rarely is there a lineup so stacked that missing it would be a shame onto you and everyone you know. Funny or Die’s Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival has such a lineup this year. Last year’s Oddball Fest was headlined by Dave Chappelle and Flight of the Conchords along with John Mulaney, Kristen Schaal, and Al Madrigal for their 15-show run. This year promises to be even better. With names like Louis C.K., Sarah Silverman, Aziz Ansari, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan and Bill Burr topping the list, the Oddball Fest trumps most festivals’ lineups–music included–for having the biggest names on the bill.

In total, twenty-five comedians will take their blood, sweat, and tears to amphitheaters across the country alternating lineups as they go for a 20-night run across America’s comedy hot spots.

This year’s headlining act is Louis CK. The actor/comedian, who just wrapped up the fourth season of Louie is arguably the best comic in the world right now. His pithy observational comedy–anything he ever says, really–has his audience in stitches without fail. His production and entrepreneurial skills combined have set him up to control most every aspect of his career. Most artists try to regain the artistic freedom they once had during their beginnings and Louis CK has done just that. Whether it be releasing an old film he produced in 1998 or a Todd Barry special full of unrehearsed material and banter, Louis CK has become a sort of home run hitter with every endeavour.

Another noteworthy name on the bill is Sarah Silverman. She is one of three female comedians booked for the festival. Her jokes on race, sex, religion, and drug use are like a brutally, vicious dagger penetrating your heart except the outcome is you laugh a lot.

Amy Schumer, the second female comedian at Oddball, has been killing it with her show, Inside Amy Schumer, which airs on Comedy Central and has been renewed for a third season. Her subject matters focuses on the deep and dark personal stories, mostly about sex, in all its incarnations. In her show she plays a heightened version of herself in short sketch vignettes with footage of her stand-up acting as transitions. Schumer come a long way since placing fourth in the fifth season of Last Comic Standing.

Dave Attell and Marc Maron are old favorites who have seen a resurgence in recent years. Maron currently resides in LA, where he hosts his WTF podcast, and stars in the eponymous Maron. Attell hosted his short-lived show on Showtime, Dave’s Old Porn, from 2011 to 2012. He would watch and do commentary on 70s vintage porn along with guest comedians and modern day porn stars. These veterans’ insightful and sometimes raunchy humor never fails.

Though any festival would be complete with the comedians mentioned above, Oddballs will also showcase powerhouses Jim Gaffigan, Aziz Ansari and Bill Burr. Other performers to check out are Brody Stevens, Ron Funches (Undateable), Chris Hardwick (Nerdist podcast, @midnite), Chris D’Elia (Undateable), Demetri Martin, and Whitney Cummings (Whitney, 2 Broke Girls). DJ Trauma will liven up the intermissions between comedians.

The Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival launched August 8th in Tampa, Florida and runs through the continental U.S. until September 21st in Austin, TX.

The Funny or Die Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival is coming to Irvine on Saturday September 13 and Sunday September 14 at the Verizon Amphitheater at 5:00 pm . Tickets are on sale now.