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Arguments And Grievances Will Make Your Sides Hurt

By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 5, 2014 9:30PM

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Tyson Karrasch (standing) debates John Eisenrich over Compost V. Fertilizer. Photo by Kevin Brody.
It was Macklemore who once asked, “have you read the YouTube comments lately?” If you’re not acquainted, the debates waged in the comments section are often absurd, sophomoric, insensitive and upsettingly not funny. The monthly comedy/debate series Arguments and Grievances has all of this too, but with one major difference, it’s funny, really funny.

The show, which is also recorded for a podcast, features standout comedians debating outlandish topics. At the end of each 5-minute argument the opposing side is a given a chance to rebut and the victor is chosen by audience applause.

Last Sunday night’s topics ranged from iconic Americans (Jimmy Buffett V. Warren Buffett) to iconic American foods (Ham V. Spam). Ultimately the big winner of the night was Beach V. Billions, with comedian Joe McMahon’s astute observation that “being a Parrot Head means you never have to apologize for anything.” And what’s more American than that?

The biggest and most unexpected gut busting performance of the night came from the snooze-fest topic of Compost V. Fertilizer. Fighting for compost was John Eisenrich playing the part of an intense by-the-books dad with unconventional methods of lawn preservation (“pee is what gives it its moisture.”) And on the side of fertilizer was Tyson Karrasch, Eisenrich’s “neighbor of 20 years” who asserted that no one on the block likes him because his fertilizer smells like farts. To which Eisenrich spit back, "I know what you’re doing with your hot tub and privacy fence and it’s immoral." A lawn care debate turned into a smear campaign with two men’s dirty fart stained laundry on display. It was a joy to watch. And, close though it was, compost was the victor.

The show runs every first Sunday 8 p.m. at Schuba’s Tavern Upstairs and is produced by Kevin White, Zach Peterson, Goodrich Gevaart, and Kevin Brody. If you can’t make it to the show or want to catch up on the library of past shows, download the Arguments and Grievances podcast on iTunes.

By: Allison Kelley