It comes in handy for any comedian to be versatile, both being able to create and perform a few minutes of funny material for any audience, and to host a comedy show... That involves warming up the audience, keeping the energy going for a strong lineup of fellow comedians and closing it out on a feel-good note. Daniel Hardin says he's still mastering his craft, but he feels comfortable at his home comedy venue- Black Dog Grounds and Sounds in Madison. We hear about the importance Daniel feels of keeping a sibling-like rapport with some of the Tennessee Valley's funniest comics, the art of taking an obscure, real-life event and embellishing it into a hilarious joke, and so much more.Funny You Should Ask is a series where we hear from comedians in the TN Valley, getting to know their style, hear intriguing stories about being funny stage and plenty more.Click here to find more episodes of Funny You Should Ask, and other series and past interviews on Arts Underground: https://wlrh.org/series/arts-underground

Listening carefully plays a key role in the work of any improv comedian, keeping the perpetual motion of a live, unscripted show going. Matt Carter and Sparky Shelton, members of Rocket City Improv in Huntsville, tell us about how they partnered with fellow comedian Kimberly Wilson- co-founder of Shenanigans Comedy Theatre- to bring improv to Huntsville. They also touch on the common misconception of improv being a stepping stone to something better in comedy, and that there's a bit more to honing one's craft in improv than goofing off in front of an audience.Funny You Should Ask is a series where we hear from comedians in the TN Valley, getting to know their style, hear intriguing stories about being funny stage and plenty more.Click here to find more episodes of Funny You Should Ask, and other series and past interviews on Arts Underground: https://wlrh.org/series/arts-underground

Self-described as a band of music professionals, Kerry and the OKs formed *just* before the pandemic hit North Alabama and the rest of the world. Now, they're ready to showHuntsville a grand time, withan experience that exceeds atypical night of karaoke.Instead of being backed by a pre-produced karaoke track in thedark corner of a dive bar, you're backed by a live band and the spotlight is on you, center-stage! All members of Kerry and the OKs are music instructors at the Musicology School of Music, founded by the band's drummer, Quentin Roddie.We'llmeet Quentin & the other members- Kelli Udas, Abby Good, Mari Hinckley, Jonathan Laird and the band's host / guitarist / "rodeo clown," Jason Sligh- a.k.a "Kerry." We'll alsosit in on the lastrehearsal beforetheir first gig. Their first gig, as you'll hear in this feature, brought the house down at The Electric Belle, located at Stovehouse in Huntsville. Your next opportunity to live out your rockstar fantasy will be at the same location, May 5, 2022 at 6 PM.Kerry and the OKs website:https://kerryandtheoks.com/

This episode, we meet Kyle Husband, owner of Offbeat Coffee Studio at Campus 805 in Huntsville. It may be a coffee shop first, but in a cozy nook, you'll find vinyl records of old, displayed among newer, hyper-hip attributes-- yes, that does include some sweet velvet furniture, perfect for soaking in the music while you consume your cup of java. Kyle tells us his New Orleans inspiration for the shop, his sentimental memories listening to records with his dad, his thoughts on "supporting local," and much, much more. Independent Grooves is an Arts Underground-exclusive series, where we meet Tennessee Valley folks who are keeping the great vinyl comeback going, and who believe in owning music you can spin in your living rooms. Offbeat Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/offbeatcoffeestudioEp. 1: Black Dog Grounds and Sounds>> https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-independent-grooves-blac... Ep. 2: Maxwell's Music >> https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-independent-grooves-maxw... Ep. 3: Vertical House>> https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-independent-grooves-vert...

Ogre joins us this week on Arts Underground for another installment ofour series, Funny You Should Ask. In this episode, Ogre tells us how he got his unique moniker, the truth behind the notion that there's never a bad audience,and how Ogre'spursuit ofa career in comedyled him tofollowlocal comedianKimberly Wilson from theater and art center,Somerville Playhouse, to her comedy theatre here in Huntsville,Shenanigans Comedy Theatre. Of course, Ogre tells us more than that, so hit the play button to hear it all.Funny You Should Askis a series wherewe hear fromcomedians in the TN Valley, getting to know their style, hear intriguing stories about being funny stage and plenty more.Click here to find more episodes of Funny You Should Ask, and other series and past interviews on Arts Underground:https://wlrh.org/series/arts-underground

In this episode, we head to the Athens Limestone County Public Library to meetJennifer Baxter- the library's ambitiousdirector & host of ALCPL podcast Between the Stacks. Jenniferjoined ALCPL in late 2020, with the goal to rejuvenate the library and to pitchin with new projects on the horizon. One of the very first was starting an innovative collection ofpodcasts made at the librarycalled, "Library Voices."Each has its own niche... Between the Stacks- highlights conversations with guests who come to the library to discuss cultural, educational and community programs;Homegrown History- recounts stories and brings in guests to talk on the rich history of Limestone County, AL;Talkin' Dirty at the Library- hosts welcome guests who share plenty of tips on local gardening;& All in with Athens- a podcast projectby students in the Athens Mayor's Youth Commission.More local podcasts are brewing with the library, and ALCPL is closeto renting out its recording room to the community!You can listen to all of these showsthrough your favorite streamingplatforms, or click here! >>https://www.alcpl.org/podcasts/

Carl Paul is the first local comedian of 2022 to hang out with usin our series, Funny You Should Ask. This episode, Carl tells us how his method of writing jokes, oftenabout his blue collar life and mental health, standsapart from the norm. We also hear Carl's favorite corny joke- which other comedians have advised him to retire- and Carl tells us about raising his cool daughter, who shares his love for RC Cars.Funny You Should Askis a series wherewe hear fromcomedians in the TN Valley, getting to know their style, hear intriguing stories about being funny stage and plenty more.Click here to find more episodes of Funny You Should Ask, and other series and past interviews on Arts Underground:https://wlrh.org/series/arts-underground

This is the fourth segment in our series on Arts Underground, titled, "Independent Grooves." In each installment, we'll meet the folks who are keeping the great vinyl comeback going and whobelieve in owning music you can spin in your living rooms. In this segment, we meet Lynsey Staggs, an entrepreneur with a Bohemian soul and owner ofUrban Atlas in Decatur. We get to know Lynsey's inspirations for starting her own eclectic record shop at the age of 20, the music that feeds her souland her role as a bridge between folks who prefer tangible media todigital. We also learn about Urban Atlas as a launching pad for women-owned businesses, its underground hot spot for music shows and the LGBT+ Prom Lynsey started here.Urban Atlas Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/ShopUrbanAtlasUrban Atlas Website:https://urbanatlas.squarespace.com/Ep. 1: Black Dog Grounds and Sounds>>https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-independent-grooves-black-dog-vinyl-hifiEp. 2: Maxwell's Music >>https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-independent-grooves-maxwells-musicEp. 3: Vertical House>>https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-independent-grooves-vertical-house-records

This is the third segment in our series on Arts Underground, titled, "Independent Grooves." In each installment, we'll meet the folks who are keeping the great vinyl comeback going and whobelieve in owning music you can spin in your living rooms. In this segment, we wander over to Railroad Room 9 at the Lowe Mill to pick the brains of Andy and Ashley Vaughn, owners ofVertical House Records. From a very tall house in 5 Points to thousands of square feet, filled withtons of records, vintage goodies and a phenomenal photo studio, we hear Ashley and Andy's journey to being one of Huntsville's most beloved houses of vinyl.Vertical House Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/VerticalHouseRecordsVertical House Website:http://theverticalhouse.com/Ep. 1: Black Dog Grounds and Sounds w/ Cliff and Leslie Patterson>>https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-independent-grooves-blac...Ep. 2: Maxwell's Music >>https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-independent-grooves-maxwells-music

We bring you, once again, Funny You Should Ask on Arts Underground, this time withguest Tim Kelly. By day, Tim's a quiet guy doing his engineering thing, and when the sun goes down, you might find him yukking it up on the mic at a comedy show in Huntsville. Tim also cofounded Huntsville's 10-year-running comedy showcase at what is now Theatre Huntsville in the Lowe Mill-Epic Comedy Hour.Funny You Should Askis a series wherewe hear fromcomedians in the TN Valley, getting to know their style, hear first gig storiesand plenty more.Epic Comedy Hour Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/EpicComedyHourF.Y.S.A. Ep. 1 Brandon Ijames:https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-funny-you-should-ask-bra...F.Y.S.A. Ep. 2 Rayna Cahill:https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-funny-you-should-ask-ray...F.Y.S.A. Ep. 3 Ty Funny:https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-funny-you-should-ask-ty-...F.Y.S.A. Ep. 4 Scott Eason/ Epic Comedy Hour:https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-funny-you-should-ask-epi...F.Y.S.A. Ep. 5 Kimberly Wilson:https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-funny-you-should-ask-kim...F.Y.S.A. Ep. 6 Elliott White:https://wlrh.org/WritersCorner/arts-underground-funny-you-should-ask-elliott-white