EDITOR’S NOTE: Typically the Other Otter features fictional work and chooses not to get in the middle, so to speak, of comedy show promotions, etc. However, the JANGLEHEART CIRCUS is a rare occasion, so we decided to fuck our own ambiguous rules. Also, this made us laugh a whole bunch, so whogivesashit. #jangleheart 4ever. – Kristina (&A.J.&Nicola)
The first question everyone asks about the Jangleheart Circus (Thursday, August 22, through Saturday, August 24, at the Den Theatre. Tickets are still available: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/426153) is why. Why is the Upstairs Gallery organizing their biggest production ever—a comedy festival featuring 95 acts and more than 400 performers at the Den Theatre? In interviews, Alex, Caitlin, and Walt have talked about “showcasing amazing performers” and “celebrating Chicago’s independent improv and sketch comedy scene.” In reality though, that’s all smoke and mirrors. If you want to know about the true inspiration behind the Jangleheart Circus, then look no further than Lollapalooza 2011.
Despite the fact that Alex, Caitlin, and Walt were all too busy to go to Lollapalooza 2011, Perry Farrell’s festival was integral to the foundation of the Upstairs Gallery. Before the spring of 2011, the “Upstairs Gallery” was nothing more than a semi-monthly show that took place in a creepy art gallery/recording studio. That all changed on April 26, when the Lollapalooza organizers revealed the performers for its 20th anniversary dates. Struck by this magical combination of artists big and small, from the arena-ready melodies of Coldplay to the emotional songwriting of Lord Huron, Alex, Caitlin, and Walt finally realized their purpose: to turn that creepy art gallery/recording studio into a performance venue with the sole goal of reaching the level of perfection embodied by the Lollapalooza 2011 lineup. Mere months later, in July of 2011, the Upstairs Gallery was born.
Jangleheart Circus (Tickets are still available: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/426153) is the realization of the Upstairs Gallery dream. From the beginning, the Jangleheart producers were tasked with recreating the Lollapalooza 2011 lineup to a tee, using improv and sketch comedy acts from Chicago and beyond. What audiences will see this Thursday through Saturday night at the Den Theatre is the product of nearly five months of planning in order to turn their vision into a reality.
What’s next then for the Upstairs Gallery? Well, that I don’t know. There’s definitely a chance they will close forever. I mean, what do you do once you realize your dream of matching the sublime perfection of the Lollapalooza 2011 lineup? Maybe they will continue to be a home to independent improv and sketch comedy shows in Andersonville. Only time will tell. All I know for sure, is that you can come to Jangleheart Circus this weekend and see some of this city’s most exciting independent comedians. I believe tickets are still available: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/426153.
Also, exclusively for The Other Otter, here is the master list of Jangleheart Circus acts and their counterparts from Lollapalooza’s 2011 lineup:
Eminem: Tim Baltz
Foo Fighters: Cook County Social Club
Coldplay: The Other Other Guys
My Morning Jacket: Rainbow Deli
Muse: Making Out with Wes Perry & Friends
Deadmau5: The Living Room
Cold War Kids: Something old Something new
Girl Talk: Sick Adventure
Pretty Lights: Superhuman
Kid Cudi: New School/Old School
Cee Lo: Warlock
Damian “Dr. Gong” Marley & Nas: Hunkz R Us
The Cars: Boyish
Afrojack: The Great Show on Earth
Modselektor: Phat Beethoven
Skrillex: Kill All Comedy
Ween: Pizza Party
Bright Eyes: Dead $$$
Arctic Monkeys: Listin Up
Deftones: WiseSnatch
Big Audio Dynamite: Sour Milf
Beirut: Claymore
Explosions in the Sky: Sand
Death form Above 1979: Hot Horny Bullshit
Ratatat: Dumpster
Crystal Castles: Two Bunnies Eating Flowers
Flogging Molly: Thunderdome
Atmosphere: TV Screams
Lykke Li: Fanny
White Lies: All of Our Feelings at Once
Cage the Elephant: The Recchia
OK Go: No Excuses
Local Natives: The Manifest
The Kills: Fart City
Portugal the Man: DMNK
Two Door Cinema Club: Aboulia!
Ellie Goulding: LLUG
Delta Spirit: Atlas Improv Company
Beats Antique: Collector’s Edition
The Mountain Goats: Selfish Green Men
Manchester Orchestra: Lost Boys 69
Smith Westerns: The Manifest
Best Coast: The Shock T’s
The Cool Kids: Formal Apology
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals: Say Hello to Your Friends
The Drums: Cross Pollination
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: Uncle Funny
City and Colour: Mike Knish
Rival Schools: Promise Ring
Phantogram: Flying High
Lissie: Flyin’ Dry
Dom: Girls?
The Vaccines: Lonesome
Sam Adams: Rabbit Rabbit
J. Roddy Walston and the Business: The Dirty Shame
Black Lips: Meowsers
Fitz & The Tantrums: Wussball
Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses: Feldmanowski
Cults: MRS
Noah & The Whale: Tandies Candies
Tinie Tempah: Ray BradGary
Foster the People: Rotten
Titus Andronicus: Jacket Trouble
Patrick Stump: Spend Some Time with Jamison Webb
Mayer Hawthorne & The County: Wolodarski
Reptar: Venkman
Tennis: The Americans
Gold Motel: Queen Bitch
Skylar Grey: AIDS
Grouplove: BBG
Wye Oak: Ed and Kath
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.: Obvious Shark
Lord Huron: DAAANG Judi Dench
Walk the Moon: STRANGER
Young the Giant: Sweet Kisses
Iration: Mazel Prov
Kids These Days: Keenan and Family
The Joy Formidable: MC Chaps
Typhoon: Goose from Top Gun
The Pretty Reckless: Liam
The Kingston Springs: Triple A Battery
The Glitch Mob: Runts
Super Mash Bros.: Manny Mora
Busy P: Hi, Hello
12th Planet: Two Princes
Elizaveta: LIAM
Young Man: The High Ceilings
Narcisse: Eisbar
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