The members of Bully Mammoth Sketch Comedy: Ryan (left), Chris, Ricky, and Adam

For the last few years, I have been tech-ing for some of the funniest guys I know, collectively known as Bully Mammoth. It’s no coincidence that two out of the four guys in the photo above are my roommates and best friends. I have been in plays and musicals with Ryan (far left) since junior high and have recently found a passion for running things behind-the-scenes.

Good News, Grandma!

Their comedy is 95% scripted (”sketch” comedy), with a 5% margin for on-the-spot improvised punch-ups. And despite that their subject matter may not exactly be “family friendly” (whatever that means), you can’t help but care about their characters and the unique situations they find themselves in.

Good News, Grandma!

Take, for instance, the sketch Good News, Grandma!, where the boys in brown pay tribute to those late-night sexy hotlines with their own reinvention: a hotline for grandmas where they can “chat with nice young men of all walks of life just waiting to tell you pleasant news to make [their] day.”

Bully Mammoth on the terrace of the Tempe Center for the Arts

Last night marked Bully Mammoth’s biggest show yet at Tempe’s beautiful Tempe Center for the Arts. While the boys are never above playing smaller, more intimate spaces like the wonderfully adventurous space at Space 55, they could only describe their groundbreaking show at TCA as Arizona’s Carnegie Hall. While their live shows are truly Mammoth’s main event, they do sport a humble online video presence. One of their most recent is a music video called Pee Pee Drips (On My Kicks), and while ***it is probably not very appropriate for young people***, I guarantee that every guy can probably relate to it. (Plus, I wrote the music.) Enjoy!

If the first thought that just came to your head was “WTF?” then you’re in the right place. An explanation to Ryan in panda-face (above): since sometime back in highschool, me and my friends have been making dumb songs. And I say that with all the love and pride in the world. They’re something we’ve kept somewhat exclusively within our own creative circle, but I’ve recently decided to start sharing them. 

Now when I say “dumb” I don’t necessarily mean that they’re all dumb or that they’re necessarily meant to be “funny”. By “dumb” I just mean… different. Like, Neil Diamond or Bob Dylon different. Or Gary Wilson different. They’re basically whatever we feel like writing — from 80’s tunes you can dance to, to hip-hop, to whatever.

It’s definitely very different from the concert music I write. In fact, if you’re a director rehearsing one of my pieces, consider yourself warned.

Past hits have included A Little More Than Ordinary (folk-y), This Dream (rap-y), A Cheesecrisp is Not a Quesadilla (?-y), Ristorante Italiano (Bocelli-y), and our latest hit, The Information Age (80’s-y). I’ll probably only post the new songs we make from here-on-out, but I may throw in some weird oldies from time-to-time, too. There’s really no describing exactly what they are or why they are. Frankly, we’re not sure we even know. 

But, if you want to help us figure it out, you can subscribe to our pod(music)cast at iTunes for free. Just click the link below or do a search for a podcast called “Your Basic Tune & Lube.” Enjoy!

Subscribe to Your Basic Tune & Lube (clicking this link will launch iTunes)