Last we saw Dave Attell on TV (before last week's Conan appearance, of course), he was oogling up a sweat at a Berlin sex club. Last we saw him in person, he was co-headlining the inaugural Comedy Central Live tour with Lewis Black. Now for his second CCL stint, the Insomniac star is rolling into town -- literally -- in a big ol' bus fully pimped out with a slot machine, dartboard and mounted jackalope head, not to mention an astonishing number of cup holders. Attell's got no complaints about the stylin' ride, but is he feeling pressure without a myocardial-infarcted madman to pick up the slack this time around?
"Yeah, it's all on me," Attell says. "It is a lot more pressure, but I'm drinking my way through it. I'm drinking for two now."
Proudly and not-at-all-shockingly sponsored by Bud Light, "Comedy Central Live Presents Dave Attell: The Insomniac Tour" culminates in a two-night stand in July in Las Vegas, where Attell's performances will be shot for a concert film to debut on Comedy Central later this year.
Though it's a bit harder to connect with the crowd in his current theater environments, Attell promises the shows aren't all that different from the club gigs he typically plays. "I still get some drunks; it just takes longer to throw 'em out in a theater," he says. "A girl climbed up on stage in Pittsburgh. But I was more worried about her falling off the stage than anything she was going to say. That's really not any different from a club -- it's just that in a theater she has farther to fall."
Despite the fact that Attell still has no plans to film an Insomniac episode here, all potential bus Bettys are encouraged to look for the black Hedonism-Resort-on-wheels plastered with the comedian's grimacing face outside the Pageant (6161 Delmar Boulevard; 314-726-6161 or www.thepageant.com); the comedy at the non-smoking show starts flowing at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 (at www.ticketmaster.com), a fair price to catch someone who was once chased down the hall by a just-having-wiped-his-ass-with-his-hands Chris Farley. -- Julie Seabaugh
Son of Crawdad
Eat tiny lobsters
SAT 5/21
How do you eat your crawfish? You can have 'em boiled or fried, in étouffée or crawfish pie. 'Course, you have to eat quite a few of those little suckers to get full, which is definitely going to make you thirsty. May we recommend a malty, full-bodied bock beer? Fortunately, the Schlafly Tap Room (2100 Locust Street) just happens to have you covered on both counts with its free Crawfish and Bock Party from noon to 7 p.m. The brewery offers its pale bock, doppelbock and Maibock at the party, and there'll be live music, too, from Gumbohead and T-Wayne and the Swamptones. For more information visit www.schlafly.com or call 314-241-2337. -- Amy Helms
Let's Hear It for the Girls
FRI 5/20
After a full day of groping-by-staring at the grocery store and catcalls while walking through the office park (ladies, write in if either pick-up tactic has ever worked on you), sometimes it's nice to just spend a night with the girls. Lucky for you, the Saint Louis Black Repertory Company and the Diversity Gallery @ the Pageant are facilitating such an evening with the free Ladies Night Out Part II, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Grandel Theatre (3610 Grandel Square). You and other members of the gentle gender can enjoy shopping at the bazaar during a cocktail reception, complete with live music and door prizes. And don't worry: The only hootin' and hollerin' here will be, appropriately, after the 7 p.m. staged reading of portions of Intimate Apparel, the Black Rep's final play this season.Call 314-534-3807 for more information. -- Alison Sieloff
Pet-together
SAT 5/21
The best part of summer carnivals and fairs is running free on the midway. Along with the queasiness achieved after riding the Rock-O-Plane and then the Scrambler six times in a row also comes explicit warnings from the parents: Beware of the carnies. You know, those shady-looking characters who run the rides and smell of rotten caramel apples. Luckily, there won't be any carnies to shy away from at the Petropolis Pet Carnival! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Petropolis Pet Center (16830 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield) hosts a one-of-a-kind free carnival featuring pet adoptions, a pet psychic, local celebrities, pet contests and pet photos (like the one of precious Rocky, pictured). For more information check www.petropolis.com or call 636-537-2322. -- Amy Helms
