James Urbaniak sang Judas death song from  Jesus Christ Superstar.  Guys, I know nothing about Jesus Christ Superstar.
James Urbaniak sang Judas' death song from Jesus Christ Superstar. Guys, I know nothing about Jesus Christ Superstar.

Last night at Bridgetown Comedy Fest's Baked show, hosts Steve Agee and Brendon Small took the dark chocolate of music and dipped it in the creamy peanut butter of stand-up comedy. It was delicious. And also surprisingly rocking. Those dudes can play. You might remember this great LA showcase from last year, but the premise is that Agee, Small, and talented backing musicians (like regulars Walter Ino and Peter Griffin) play covers, tell jokes, and riff on medleys before a handful of comedians do short sets with the live band. Then comedians sing. It's super fun.

The Baked Players ripped through songs like "Blinded by the Light," "Hot for Teacher," "Tears in Heaven," and so many iterations of the Eurythmics' "Here Comes the Rain Again." So many. Brendon Small kicks ass on guitar. He noted that it only took 25 years in order to do a sweet Saved by the Bell cutaway riff. Totally worth it. Alice Wetterlund was the first guest, telling her Portland-fave jokes about being a single mother... of cats. She killed with her version of Patsy Cline's "A Poor Man's Roses." James Urbaniak skipped the comedy ("I'm an actor.") and sang Judas' death song from Jesus Christ Superstar. Guys, I know nothing about Jesus Christ Superstar. I'm not religious; hail Satan. My main lady, Aparna Nancherla, killed as usual. (Go read Megan Burbank's recap of Aparna's earlier set.) She read from her collection of terrible online dating messages and discussed anxiety ("It's like an edgy improv group in your brain"). She did Asia's "Heat of the Moment," delightfully, natch. Polishing off the evening was John Roderick, who was extremely proficient at Black Sabbath's "War Pigs," but he's a professional musician with the Long Winters, so it's kinda like cheating.

The Baked boys are doing another show tonight at the Doug Fir at 7 pm with new guests (Jonah Ray, Eliza Skinner, Julian McCullough, and Sara Schaefer). I might stick my head in to catch Schaefer's set—I suspect with her Christian youth group upbringing that she can really sing. And I heart her like crazy.

See you cats tonight.