Get Off The Couch: Kevin James brings comedy to Tivoli

photo Lisa Denton and Barry Courter

LISA DENTON: Barry, I have to admit I'm a little jealous that you got to talk to actor and comedian Kevin James the other day about his comedy show Thursday night at the Tivoli. He just seems so nice-guy likable.

Plus, the story he tells on himself -- "I went water-skiing, and I found out that I scream the exact same if a great white attacks me ... or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot" -- reminds me of the time you came eye-to-eye with a dead rat in your basement.

BARRY COURTER: Nose-to-nose is more accurate, and the scream that came from my mouth is still traveling in space somewhere. Surprisingly, no windows were shattered and, to my knowledge, no animals were harmed. Other than the aforementioned late rodent.

Anyway, James was great and even laughed when I told him straightaway that just looking at him makes me laugh. Pretty sure that's Item No. 1 in the "How Not To Begin An Interview" handbook.

LISA: Yeah, but see, he's probably said instantly regrettable things like that to people before. That's what makes him so relatable.

It's a pretty good week for the Tivoli. The next night, Halloween, Grammy winning singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne will be there. He has said he got his unique vocal style by singing through his gut instead of his nose. I've drawn eyes above my bellybutton and pretended it could talk, but I've never tried to sing through it. I don't think it can open that wide.

BARRY: I saw him at Bonnaroo. That will be a good show. Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes is bringing his Brotherhood to Track 29 on Tuesday. STS9 is there on Wednesday, and Moon Taxi is there on Friday.

We should also congratulate Barking Legs Theater on reopening. The Mise En Scenesters will have a scary film festival there on Friday. Then Saturday, CoPac, which presents shows there, will host Wide Open Floor, which is kind of an open mike for dancers, poets, musicians and anyone else with an idea to try out.

LISA: Most of the ideas I'm ready to try out are how to dress for Halloween -- and where to go to trick-or-treating. There are several towns that are having official celebrations -- Cleveland, Dayton, Dunlap and Dalton among them.

Then Saturday, Crabtree Farms is hosting a Pumpkin Smash. It's an all-day fall harvest festival, but the highlight will be trebuchets you can use to get rid of that jack-o'-lantern.

BARRY: Punkin'-chunkin' trebuchets are tres cool.

And, in a sign that Christmas is truly around the corner, "Sanders Family Christmas" is back on the Cumberland County Playhouse stage. I'm sure our friend Jason Ross is geared up to again play Mervin Oglethorpe. Anyone who hasn't seen the show should drive up. Well worth it.

Get event information every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.

Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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