If you aren’t familiar with the Deathsquad Podcast Network, it was one of the first places to provide the resources for comedians to record and distribute podcasts.
Deathsquad was founded by Brian Redban, who has been a long-time collaborator with Joe Rogan on his digital projects, including the infamous Carlos Mencia joke-stealing confrontation and The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Deathsquad was the birthplace of many of L.A.’s most popular comedy podcasts, including Ari Shaffir’s Skeptic Tank, Your Mom’s House with Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitsky and The Bone Zone with Brendon Walsh and Randy Liedtke.
If you are already familiar with these podcasts, then you’re probably part of the Deathsquad army – devoted fans who interact with the podcasts via Twitter, chat rooms and message boards. They create amazing fan art and support the comedians who regularly appear on JRE and other Deathsquad podcasts.
This weekend, Deathsquad is heading north for four shows at the Sacramento Punchline and a Cinco de Mayo show at Cobbs in San Francisco. The weekend run features Redban, Sam Tripoli and Tony Hinchcliffe. AmericasComedy.Com caught up with Redban and Tony at The Comedy Store to talk about the run and how Deathsquad has evolved.
AmericasComedy.Com: So, let’s get the logistics out of the way, you’re bringing Deathsquad to NorCal?
Redban: Yeah, May 3 and 4 we’ll be in Sacramento and May 5 we’re going to San Francisco, which is Cinco de Mayo.
What I’m trying to do with the name “Deathsquad” is what I’ve been trying to do with the podcasts – and I think I’ve done a pretty decent job – is take all my friends who I think are funny and give them the exposure they deserve. Nowadays, we should use technology…Take open mic: It’s so hard to do open mic and get anywhere. If you have a voice and good jokes, it’s almost impossible to do it at four in the afternoon in Van Nuys. It will kill you, it will destroy your soul and everything.
So, what I’m trying to do with Deathsquad, is kind of make it a brand name. This is a group of friends and we all think each other are hilarious. So, if you want to go to a comedy show, you kind of have the Nintendo seal of approval for comedy.
AC: So, who are you bringing with you on this tour?
R: I’m bringing Tony Hinchcliffe, who is a writer for “The Burn with Jeff Ross” – he is hilarious. But, what’s cool about Tony is that 1) he’s from Ohio and I’m from Ohio and 2) we both fucked the same girl at one point. So we’re penis friends.
The other comic is Sam Tripoli, who I’ve worked with for a long time – his podcast Naughty Show and his live shows, which are hilarious and awesome. What he does is he puts on these huge shows with porn stars mixed with strippers mixed with burlesque mixed with music stars. It’s just this really cool live event.
It’s gonna be a great weekend and it’s just like a kind of appetizer for what I want to do with Deathsquad up north. It’s gonna be fun, it’s gonna be a party and the tickets are not that expensive since this is the first time we’re going up there. We’re just trying to bring good comedy.
AC: Well, I can certainly vouch – you have great shows every Friday at The Icehouse.
R: Yeah, and sometimes Wednesdays. We have Joe Rogan, Joey Diaz, Ari Shaffir, it’s great. So we’re trying to do that to all these comedy clubs because a lot of clubs all over are struggling. It’s nice to just bring a breath of fresh air. You know, comedy is a precious thing and if you see bad comedy once, it might leave a stain. You should never [have to] see shitty comedy.
AC: I like what you’re saying about the Deathsquad seal of approval. There’s a lot of credits I wish did count. I don’t care if you’re the weird neighbor on some sitcom, are you funny?
R: There’s a really strong community behind comedy and it’s really cool to have a connection, like, ‘Yeah, we really all like this person, we all believe in this person.’ And it is a group. If you don’t like one of us, you probably won’t like all of us.
AC: And vice versa, if you like one of you..
R: Yeah, it works like that, which is confusing and a marketing scheme. [laughs]
Tony Hinchcliffe: I’m excited. I’ve traveled the country with people like Jeff Ross and Jeff Garlin, but I’ve never been to Sacramento or San Francisco, and these are two places I really want to be in. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to taking chances and giving Sacramento and San Francisco some amazing shows.
AC: I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but I want to ask you about your game. Will you be bringing your game?
TH: Oh yeah, games and tricks and they better dress normally or else I’m gonna make fun of them. Don’t wear anything fluorescent or anything that might attract my attention. No goofy hats. Especially if you’re in the front row, you better just be playing it cool, or else…
AC: Well, that’s a good question, you’re a writer for “The Burn” and you’re a big force behind it and you’re a strong roast-y type comedian. What should folks steel themselves for during your set? If they’re NOT wearing a fluorescent shirt, should they be worried?
TH: No, they’re gonna have a lot of fun. I mean, unless I notice something else about them.
Visit our AmericasComedy.Com Facebook fan page and follow us on Twitter @AmericasComedy!
