Ryan Avery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Born: | 1986 Phoenix, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Occupation: | Singer, comedian and performance artist |
| Website: | www.thegoodshows.com |
Ryan Avery (born 1986) is an American singer, comedian and performance artist, photobooth artist and Mormon missionary from Phoenix, Arizona. He has emerged as a prominent representative of the downtown Phoenix art, music, comedy, and improv scenes, taking his acts into California for performances with the Radioactive Chicken Heads and Quintron and Miss Pussycat, as well as local performances with the The Aquabats, Peelander Z, Good Riddance, Wild Man Fischer, and Thanksgiving. He is going on hiatus to pursue a Mormon mission in Portland, Oregon.
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[edit] Biography
Avery was born in 1986 and raised in the Mormon religion. He has been diagnosed with hypopituitarism, which causes his youthful appearance. After his parents' 1993 divorce and discipinary incidents at school, Avery used performance to work out his issues.[1]
[edit] Performance art, comedy, and improv
Avery's first project, Locking Your Car Doors (also called LYCD), was an avant garde noise group known for its destruction of property (ala Wendy O. Williams). LYCD is best known for being banned from every major Arizona venue.
Avery transitioned from performing with a group to in a solo capacity. Silverchair (meant to be confused with the Austrailian rock band of the same) was Avery's venture into solo performance art, with such acts as doing monologues from under a tent to dressing like Adolf Hitler (both Avery and Hitler are art school dropouts).
Silverchair morphed into Hi, My Name Is Ryan. This vehicle for Avery's work runs the gamut between monologue, improv, spoken word, and stand-up comedy, with the first performance being set up like a talk show (which led to the creation of Grand Avenue Tonight), and subsequent performances including wrapping the audience in crime scene tape.
Avery began studying improv from Phoenix improv troupe Galapagos, directors of the Phoenix Improv Festival, both performing with them and joining a troupe formed while in the program called Catorce (with members JRC, Amy Carpenter, and Bri).
Avery performed as "Caspar," a retarded man-boy, in the cast of Uncle Sku's Clubhouse, performed at various Arizona venues as a perverted children's show, hosted by Pete Petrisko. The portrayal of Uncle Sku as an implied pedophile, a chain-smoking puppet named Mr. Jangles, and Avery's performance as Caspar (convincing enough to offend various audience members who have accused Petrisko of exploting the disabled, not knowing Avery was acting) did not deter Bill Thompson, host of landmark Phoenix show Wallace and Ladmo from requesting the Clubhouse crew perform for him. Thompson was reported to have been pleased, as well as fooled by Avery's acting.
Avery hosted Grand Avenue Tonight, conceived by JRC and Avery after a Hi, My Name Is Ryan performance set up like a talk show. Avery interviewed notable local artists and musicians, as well as touring acts like Duckmandu. Avery handed the reigns over to new host Kevin Patterson, a spoken word performer, and new co-host and producer Brodie Foster Hubbard, who had previously contributed to the show as a writer and frequent guest.
[edit] Collaborations with Jemsek brothers
Avery and Andrew Jemsek (of polka/punk duo Haunted Cologne) perform as Night Wolf, a comedic synth rock band with horror themes, dressed in blue and red track suits and black sunglasses. Night Wolf declare each show as "our final show ever." Andrew's brother (and Haunted Cologne bandmate) Tristan Jemsek sometimes performs with Night Wolf as a drummer called "The Phantom." The same trio perform in a jazz/noise act Iggy Pop (meant to be confused with the punk pioneer of the same name). Both groups have been kicked out of several art galleries for their confrontational performances. The Avery-Jemsek-Jemsek combination also began playing as street performers The A.R.T. Revue (with songs like "Give Me Some Money") and industrial/metal act Too Much Birthday.
[edit] Collaborations with Emily Spetrino-Murtagh
Avery was a promoter in the Arizona ska scene, and owned and operated the now defunct AZSKA.com. Avery was also a moderator on the forum for The Aquabats official site and the now defunct AZMUSICFORUMS.com. Through these channels, he formed a friendship with Emily Spetrino-Murtagh. Avery went on to form The Good Shows promotion group with Spetrino-Murtaugh, working with such acts as Peelander Z, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Captain Ahab, Triple Nipple, Kimya Dawson, and the Radioactive Chicken Heads. Most of his shows take place at the Trunk Space. Avery and Spetrino-Murtagh perform as The Best Friends, an a capella duo.
[edit] Father's Day
Arguably Avery's most known project, Father's Day, is a thrash band consisting of Avery, the Jemsek brothers, and Spetrino-Murtagh. Each is known by an alias; Spetrino-Murtagh as "Classy Dad," Andrew Jemsek as "Golf Dad," Tristan Jemsek as "Drunk Dad," and Avery as "Business Dad." Avery's character is named "Douglas Patton," after the first and middle names of Avery's father. The character resembles Tony Clifton due to Avery's use of a fake handlebar moustache while performing as the character. The music is punk rock, but the lyrics are written to portray what a dysfunctional father might say to his family[2] . Songs include "When I Say Woman, I'm Talking To You," "Spank the World," and "My Son's a Gay."
The band opened up for Good Riddance, but was then kicked off the stage and banned from the venue.
[edit] Photobooth art
After the installation of a black-and-white photobooth at the Trunk Space, Avery devoted himself to "photobooth art," as noted on Mark Mothersbaugh's website.
[edit] Mormon faith, documentary, farewell
Avery's religion is an influence, though not a barrier, to his performing. However, he announced in summer of 2006 that his church had accepted him to go on a mission in Portland, Oregon. Avery will be serving the church until 2008, at which time he says he will return to Phoenix and continue his performing.
Salt Lake City filmmakers Paul Eagleston and Stephen Rose shot interviews and performance footage of Avery in his final days in Phoenix for a documentary that will be submitted to film festivals.
On August 16, 2006, the Trunk Space celebrated his career thus far with the premiere of a short film, "Rocky Road," which Avery has a starring role in. Among the nearly 20 performances were several local artists, Red Pony Clock, the Nourishment with special guest Phil Lawrence joining Archbishop Jason Polland, Joe Teppermen, Blair Sterrett and Jeremy Matthews, and Wild Man Fischer of Rhino Records fame in his first public appearance in five years. Avery concluded the show with his "Hi My Name Is Ryan" performance-art piece.
[edit] Discography
2006
- FATHERS DAY "i don't want to do this!" 7" (Gilgongo Records)
- FATHERS DAY "self titled / live @the REAL coachella" CD
- IGGY POP "warped" 12" VINYL
- SOFT BOULDER "live @the trunkspace 4-20-06" CD
- HI MY NAME IS RYAN "i like photobooths" CD (Grunge Puppy Records)
- THE DIETRICHS "violently" CD
- 8 BIT PORNO "Live @The Trunkspace 01-06" C-30 (Russolos Brain)
2005
- VARIOUS ARTISTS "mr. snails halloween compilation" CD (Snail Sounds)
- THE COITUS "DEMO Live @The Trunkspace 09-05" CD
- NIGHT WOLF "you asked for it" CD
- HAUNTED COLOGNE "once upon a time" CD
- NIGHT WOLF "get a REAL drummer you jerks!" CD
- FATHERS DAY "spank the world" CD
- NIGHT WOLF "the stupid" CD
- NIGHT WOLF "the good" CD
- NIGHT WOLF "the bad" CD
- NIGHT WOLF "the ugly" CD
- IGGY POP "numbers" CD
- FATHERS DAY "stay out of my den" [split w/haunted cologne]
- FATHERS DAY "i'm very disappointed in you" [split w/aurora borealis]
- FATHERS DAY "the perfect housewife" [split w/french quarter]
- FATHERS DAY "i want a divorce" [split w/birthday indian]
- FATHERS DAY "i use to play football" [split with iggy pop]
- FATHERS DAY "get a haircut" [split w/jaime j. and sean t.]
- FATHERS DAY "don't screw up like i did" [split w/brodie hubbard]
2004
- LOCKING YOUR CAR DOORS "put in teh gay VOL. 2" DVD
- LOCKING YOUR CAR DOORS "put in teh gay VOL. 1" DVD
- LOCKING YOUR CAR DOORS "50+songs, -20 minutes" CD
2002
- THE PUTTIES "from the putties to johnny five!" CD
2001
- DJ SENSE "the sounds of acid" CD
[edit] External links
- Ryan Avery official site
- Phoenix New Times feature on Ryan Avery
- The Good Shows official site (also hosts sites for Father's Day, Night Wolf, and other Avery projects
- Ryan Avery on MySpace
- CMJ.com article on Father's Day
- College Times review of Father's Day
- College Times review of Uncle Sku's Clubhouse
- Ryan Avery on Mark Mothersbaugh's site
- Article featuring Catorce improv
