Emo Philips on performing at AltCom and comedy festivals

Emo_philips_headshot Only a few days before the debut of the newest comedy festival to hit the circuit, AltCom: the Alternative Comedy Festival in Somerville, Mass. (May 9-10). I thought I’d get an expert comedian’s opinion on AltCom, and Emo Philips provided The Comic’s Comic with his insight on AltCom, festivals vs. clubs, and why he’s taking part in the inaugural AltCom festival…

I am extremely flattered to be part of AltCom: The Alternative Comedy Festival. Truth be told, I’m not exactly sure what alternative comedy is, so I’ve taken the precaution of replacing every third of my punchlines with a couplet from the Victorian poet Robert Browning; ideally, that will give the alternative comedy hipsters in the audience something to groove on.

I get invited to, on average, one comedy festival a year. Now don’t get me wrong, I love playing comedy clubs — but performing at a comedy festival is a very special treat for me, because then I get to watch the acts of, and hang out with, comedians who are more or less at my own professional level. It’s like going to "headliner camp."

Headliner Camp! I like the sound of that. Philips goes to camp Friday headlining a lineup with Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry and doktor cocacolamcdonalds. Saturday’s lineup boasts Patton Oswalt, Morgan Murphy, Jim Jeffries and the Walsh Brothers. Both shows start at 8 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. Tickets are still available! I’ve seen two different promotional discount codes. You can click here and type in TMDEAL and get $7 off. Or, click here for Friday’s show and type in OSWALT for $8 off. Click here if you’re looking for $8 discounts for Saturday and type in OSWALT.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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