This year, the SCION Garage Fest is happening on Saturday October 2nd in Lawrence, KS. The festival will happen over 4 different local Lawrence venues and the lineup will include the likes of The Raveonettes, King Khan & the Shrines, Best Coast, Times New Viking, The Gay Blades, The Greenhornes (which is the rhythm section for The Raconteurs/The Dead Weather), and The Ponys among others. Plus, two legendary and recently reunited garage bands The Oblivians and The Gories headline.

Enter to win tickets to the SCION Garage Fest now!

The contest ends on September 10th. Winners will be chosen at random and notified by Facebook or Twitter. They will have 72 hours to respond to us to claim their tickets. Tickets will then be mailed to the address provided for the winner. Tickets do not guarantee entry to the Scion Garage Fest if individual venue capacities are reached.

Samuel Howard-Spink, clinical assistant professor of the Music Business Program at NYU and the founder of the NYU Music Video Game Research Project and CMJ Play curator, thinks that one day gaming could provide more revenues to music artists than the recorded music business alone.

“Interactive games are becoming the most significant media form in the entertainment and culture industries, and practically every single game or mobile app uses music in some way. This represents extraordinary opportunities for music creators and various tech companies to connect with the most engaged music fans and gamers…This is the real future of music business, and CMJ Play is where this future will be discussed, debated, and forged.”

Not only are gamers paying for music downloads through games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but the inclusion of more indie-leaning music has increased dramatically in recent years as seen in the Madden and Tony Hawk series.

CMJ Play is open to Marathon badge holders, but special passes for the one-day event can also be purchased. For more information, visit CMJ.com/marathon.

Some of the content you’ll find on TheLaughButton.com includes…

• Interviews with stand-up comedians and players in the comedy industry
• Comedy album release and pre-order news
• Comedy event announcements and invitations
• Contestswith great comedy-related prizes
• Streaming tracks from your favorite comedy albums
• and more!

To keep abreast of all the latest comedy news and happenings, be sure to subscribe via RSS or email, follow @thelaughbutton on Twitter and join the other comedy fans on Facebook!

In the words of Dr. Peter Venkman, “we came, we saw, we kicked its ass!” We took part in little bit of everything throughout four sun-filled, San Diego days. Jon and I could go on for hours about everything we experienced at the Exhibit Hall alone but we thought we would allow some of our photos and videos to tell the story along with the below list of highlights.

- Hanging out with our amazing San Diego Synner team made up of our super captain Andrew Galvanand, Diane, Britt, Court, Jenn and Edwin.

- Being asked by some kids on the trolley if we knew why the Dragon Ball Z movie has been pushed back since we’re in the industry.


- Getting a sneak peek at unfinished scenes from Ugly Americans: Season 1B (debuting in October) and meeting the lucky 14 yr. old fan who will be drawn into a future episode!


- Meeting Matt Groening (one of my heroes) back stage between the Futurama and Simpsons panels.






- Running into Jim Norton and Sam Roberts from Opie And Anthony outside the Lego exhibit area.


- Partying with our friends at Comedy Central along with Nick Swardson, Chris Parnell, Kurt Metzger, Maria Bamford and Shane Mauss!


- Sampling caffeinated beef jerky for the first time (appropriately called ‘Perky Jerky’).






- Catching up with our friends Spoon and rocking out to their set in Petco Park’s left field.

- Getting a “free tour” of Petco Park including the dugouts, clubhouses, premium seats, press box and player’s garage.


- Watching our buddies from iFanboy launch free headphones into the crowd at the Digg Nation party.






- Experiencing a really impressive set by DJ/VJ @MikeRelm.


- Learning about all the exciting new shows and releases our friends at Adult Swim / Williams Street have in store.


- Party hopping with our bro Scott Perry from the New Music @Tipsheet.


- Receiving one of the best promo items EVER – a Kenny Powers ‘Eastbound and Down’ hat with fake mullet hair.






- Laughing with the cast of ‘V’ as they have “a Spinal Tap moment” in the back hallways of the convention center.


- Unleashing the Kraken (care of Clash of the Titans, 2010)!






- Getting rather creeped out by all the zombies on 5th street promoting ‘The Walking Dead’.


- Hearing someone in a Harry Potter costume stabbed another person in the eye for taking his seat at a panel — yowza!


- Taking photos with some of our silver and small screen favorites in costume as well as various food mascots.






- Last but not least, checking out all the creative and inventive ways brands were promoting inside and out of the convention center!

Thanks for the memories, Comic-Con! We’re already counting down the days ‘till next year (July 21 – 24, 2011).

- Chris Elles

Syd Mandelbaum, CEO and founder of RWU

Bonnaroo resulted in a lot more than giggly memories and sunburn for us here at The Syndicate. We met so many amazing music industry members, artists, and organizations! It is there that we met Ashley Hillis and Taina Thermidor, representatives from Rock And Wrap It Up! RWU is an inspirational non-profit, with a focus of arranging the transfer of surplus food and supplies, that would otherwise go to waste, to partners that manage distribution among the needy in local communities. Leftover musical and sporting event catering materials (food that is prepared but not served), and discarded toiletries and paper supplies from hotels are among the most frequently donated items. Aside from working to close the gap between those with extra and those in need, the group’s mission also includes reducing landfill waste (by putting perfectly good food in mouths instead of the ground).

According to an article published by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the organization has donated to at least 41,000 shelters and locations in need, has collaborated with 150 bands, 200 schools/universities and 30 sports franchises, and have fed more than 200 million people. We had the opportunity to meet with Taina and Ashley again on our home-turf of New York City, along with other members of their team including CEO and Founder Syd Mandelbaum. I had the exciting opportunity to interview him over e-mail following our meeting.

Once a scientist who became renowned for his work in solving the famed Anastasia Romanov mystery using DNA technology, Mandelbaum has grown Rock And Wrap It Up! into an organization that requires his full-time attention, and his selfless devotion to the less fortunate of our world.

When you first founded Rock And Wrap It Up! in 1990 did you have any idea that the organization would grow to the point it is today? Was this your original vision?

I knew that in 1990 the current tactics to help the poor were not working. I served on the Board of Long Island Cares, a Regional food bank and was exposed to vertical strategies to help poverty fighting agencies. I also served on the board of a soup kitchen which gave me horizontal vision on the street level of how the poor were being helped. Those early experiences gave me the vision to grow our think tank in new directions. We morphed in many ways over the past 20 years. Sharon Osbourne has called us the first green charity in the music industry. Our message is simple; we all need to reduce the planet’s poverty footprint by reducing society’s carbon footprint.

What was your profession before the organization grew to the point that you needed to be around full-time? Was it related to your inspiration for starting RWU?

I worked as a scientist for think tanks, working mainly in genetics, DNA and cancer research. I managed divisions of Fortune 20 companies and received classical managerial training. I also took courses and received the equivalent of a BA in Economics while receiving my MBA in mgt. I had already a BS in Geology and MA in Science. My skills in logistics and planning gave me the confidence to grow RWU. I also was world renown in my other career for solving the Anastasia Romanov mystery using DNA. No she was not. So, fame and ego took a backseat to fighting despair and hopelessness. My parents, who almost starved to death as teens in Nazi concentration camps, inspired me by their survival to try to feed all who hunger.

What do you consider to be the most touching moments you’ve experienced during your involvement in RWU?

There have been many. My father and I had an epiphany in 1981 at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where I felt I needed to come back to America and change the world. It was the first gathering of Jewish Holocaust survivors and it was a special time.  Another time was seeing my youngest son stand on a milk crate at a booth in Jones beach Theater, at age 6, and tell people how they could change the world…

The organization has just recently recruited the NHL as an official affiliate. How do you expect the participation of such an influential force in the sports world to immediately affect the food shortage in impoverished communities? Can just one additional group becoming involved make a significant difference?

The NHL will help add millions of meals to help the hungry in North America. We will start with arena food and then empower the teams to mantle other RWU signature programs, like co-branding through Snack Wrap! The New York Mets and NY Giants have started Snack Wrap! programs, encouraging young students to be like the teams and donate food to Rock and Wrap It Up!

What are the types of goods that are most commonly collected from your contributors? How do you ensure your volunteers are trained for proper food handling techniques?

Food, paper products, toiletries, baby items, clothing, appliances, dorm assets.. Our volunteers work with agencies that are certified by local health agencies.

RWU is also becoming increasingly involved with collecting leftover toiletry items and paper goods from hotels; goods that are in high demand by those that you distribute to. What types of initiatives are your team planning to implement to get more hotels involved?

We have become one of the Guidelines for waste management under the American Hotel and Lodging Associations website. We have added a video on our website on Hotel Wrap! We have hired Taina Thermidor, our National Hotel Wrap! and Music Director to concentrate in this sector and she is doing a great job!

What are the plans for further expansion of the mission of RWU for the near future?

We want to grow our mission in more schools, sports teams, hotels, bands and film. We believe The Syndicate and its partners can be an important resource for this expansion. We are one of the only think tanks in the Northern Hemisphere solely working to end poverty. We will continue to work to introduce the Federal Food Donation Act to more government agencies on the federal, state and city level.  We would like to see this law adopted by the countries of the G 8 and G 20.

How can someone interested in volunteering, contributing or donating to the program best go about doing this?

People interested in helping us reduce poverty can visit the website (http://www.rockandwrapitup.org/) and make a donation and volunteer. They can also support our efforts by attending our functions throughout the year. This is a tough year to raise money. Even a small contribution will help us continue our vital work.

The Syndicate is in the midst of a summer-long grassroots marketing campaign promoting Runner Runner, a group comprised of former members of Over It, Don’t Look Down and Rufio.  The band recently performed ”So Obvious” on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the first single from their self-titled debut.   The band showcases exactly why they are the first signing to late night host David Letterman‘s Clear Entertainment/C.E. Music – their performance has the same energy and infectious quality of the music they create.

“So Obvious” is available now on iTunes; the full-length record will hit retailers on September 28th via Capitol Records / MRV / C.E. Music.  Catch them on tour throughout July and August with Secondhand Serenade and The White Tie Affair!

Performance of “So Obvious” on Jimmy Kimmel Live

“So Obvious” official video

The Syndicate received two suprises from Comedy Central Records this week – plaques commemorating Gold DVD sales (50,000 units) for Bo Burnham‘s self-titled debut CD+DVD as well as Jim Gaffigan‘s 2004 CD+DVD release of Doing My Time.  Many congratulations, fellas – we are glad we were part of the story!

The band opened with their album’s single “The Good News,” as they brought the room to a fever pitch, ripping through perfectly crafted rock songs with big and catchy choruses. Stopping only to tune their guitars or to fire off a pre-recorded spazz out by the band’s frontman Berkfinger. At the end of the night, the band wrapped their set of original tunes and just for good measure brought things to a crashing close with a rendition of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” for good measure. Complete with voice-throwing foot pedals, instrument trade-offs, and at least one epic drum solo, The Philly Jays truly captured the audience’s attention while reminding us of the importance in having a good time.

The funniest part of the night was when Karen realized lead singer Berkfinger bears a striking resemblance to yours truly and we have the picture to prove it!

The next day we arranged for the band to make a visit to the studios of Goom Radio down the street from The Syndicate offices. Check it out here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The band just completed their US stint in LA on Tuesday, then it’s back to Australia before hitting up Africa and the United Kingdom!

We’re hitting the road with our friends at Comedy Central Records and The Laugh Button to take part in the experience and of course non-stop laughs.  So many of our favorite comics are set to perform that our heads very well might burst:  Anthony Jeselnik, Bill Burr, Bo Burnham, Aaron Kader, Garfunkel And Oates, Greg Giraldo, Harland Williams, JB Smoove, Jeff Ross, Lewis Black, Mike Birbiglia, Natasha Leggero, Paul F. Tompkins, Reggie Watts, Robert Kelly, Steve Martin…and even Cheech & Chong!

While the nights are clearly owned by the comics and their craft, here’s a glimpse of what’s in store for daytime panels and presentations:

THURDAY, JULY 15 (DAY 1)

10:00 AM – 11:15 AM COMEDY BOOTCAMP FOR FILM
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6
Presenting sponsor: Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Presented by the 2010 Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab, a Canadian Film Centre film program, in collaboration with Just For Laughs.

Noon – 1:00 PM NETWORKING LUNCH
ALFRED-ROULEAU ROOM, LEVEL 4
Presented by Fonds de solidarité FTQ

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM KEYNOTE ADDRESS WITH LEWIS BLACK
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM FROM STAGE TO SCREEN
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM A LATE AFTERNOON WITH KEVIN SMITH
GRAND SALON, LEVEL 4

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM 2010 VARIETY “10 COMICS TO WATCH” COCKTAIL RECEPTION
BALCONY TENT, LEVEL 6
Presented by Variety Magazine

10:00 PM – MIDNIGHT JAY ROACH COCKTAIL RECEPTION
BALCONY TENT, LEVEL 6
Presented by Fonds de solidarité FTQ

FRIDAY, JULY 16 (DAY 2)

10:00 AM – 11:15 AM PITCH ‘TIL YOUR SIDES SPLIT: TV SERIES PITCH SESSION
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6
Presented by Fonds de solidarité FTQ

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM JUST FOR LAUGHS AWARDS LUNCHEON
GRAND SALON, LEVEL 4
Presented by Fonds de solidarité FTQ

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM 2010 Variety “10 COMICS TO WATCH” Panel
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6
Presented by Variety Magazine

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM FUNNY OR DIE PANEL
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM ANDY KINDLER: STATE OF THE INDUSTRY ADDRESS 2010
GRAND SALON, LEVEL 4
Presented by The Comedy Network

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM ¡SATIRISTAS! (book signing)
GRAND SALON ENTRANCE, LEVEL 4

Dan Dion and Paul Provenza will be on hand at the Hyatt for a book signing immediately following Andy Kindler’s State of the Industry speech.

SATURDAY, JULY 17 (DAY 3)

10:00 AM – 11:15 AM PITCH ‘TIL YOUR SIDES SPLIT: WEB SERIES PITCH SESSION
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6
Presented by Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Noon – 1:00 PM NETWORKING LUNCH
ALFRED-ROULEAU ROOM, LEVEL 4
Presented by Fonds de solidarité FTQ

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM WEB FACE-OFF: COMEDY KINGMAKERS
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM CBC RADIO’S THE DEBATERS
Cabaret Juste Pour Rire, 2111 St. Laurent

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM LATE NIGHT: IN THE WRITERS’ ROOM
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM THE ONION PRESENTATION
JEANNE-MANCE ROOM, LEVEL 6
For more info and full listings, please visit:

Live shows: www.hahaha.com
Comedy Conference: www.hahaha.com/conference
Films: www.hahaha.com/film

Comedy Central will once again take part in the enormous convention by hosting two very special panels for Ugly Americans and Futurama featuring the animated show’s respective cast members, directors and producers. The network is also throwing a free comedy event, appropriately titled “House of Comedy”, featuring a packed line-up of big stand-up comics including Maria Bamford, Horatio Sanz and one of our absolute, all-time favs, Nick Swardson!

The Syndicate will be on site all weekend distributing some super cool Ugly Americans and Comedy Central swag, so if you’re attending please find us and make sure to stop by to see our friends at the iFanboy booth. They have a sweet, digital version of the Ugly Americans official field guide for you to prepare yourself. You just may need to assist a zombie at Comic-Con with his flesh cravings!

And now for the three can’t-miss comedy events at Comic-Con 2010…

1. “Ugly Americans” Panel – Friday, July 23 From 10:00-11:00 AM

With David M. Stern (Showrunner And Executive Producer), Dan Powell (Executive Producer), Jeff Poliquin (Supervising Producer), Devin Clark (Producer And Series Creator), Aaron Augenblick (Director Of Animation), And Cast Members Matt Oberg, Kurt Metzger And Randy Pearlstein

Event/RSVP Page

2. “Futurama” Panel – Saturday, July 24 From 12:45-1:30 PM

With Executive Producers Matt Groening And David X. Cohen, Cast Members Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, And Maurice LaMarche, Writers Ken Keeler And Patric M. Verrone, Director Crystal Chesney-Thompson And Animation Producer Claudia Katz.

3. Comedy Central Live @ Comic-Con From The House Of Blues – Saturday, July 24 From 7:00-9:00 PM

FREE comedy event hosted by comedian Pete Holmes. Performances by Maria Bamford, Adam DeVine, Chris Gethard, Kurt Metzger, Matt Oberg, Randy Pearlstein,
Horatio Sanz and Nick Swardson

What are your can’t-miss events of Comic-Con 2010? Let us know in the comments below.