GO LA: Dead Poets, Dead Writers and Denis Leary

Comedy Pick

Helios dancers in the lotus position

Charles Bukowski did love his Miller time.See Saturday.

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More About

• Denis Leary
• John Fante
• Tripoli
• Clint Eastwood
• Armenian Sam

DENIS LEARY, CLINTOPHILE

Why discuss the Rescue Me Comedy Tour, Leary’s first live jaunt in 12 years, when there are only two things on his mind: East and Wood?

—Julie Seabaugh

L.A. WEEKLY: Can you rant on command? I’ll give you a topic: Pancakes.

DENIS LEARY: Right before lunch I sat down at my computer and wrote a little rant about how much I love bacon. Sometimes it just comes to you, but sometimes it’s watching Lindsay Lohan say she’s gonna be under the protective custody of Stephen and Danny Baldwin for her sobriety. It’s organic. It’s of the ether, you know?

You’re a distant cousin of Conan O’Brien’s. Do you cordon off a special VIP section at family reunions?

I think he’s in denial about the relationship, and at this point, I kind of am, too, because we come from the same city and different sides of the track. He went to Harvard; I went to Emerson. One’s a school full of highly intellectual superbrains and the other is a bunch of actors and musicians and dancers. But for two skinny Irish guys from Western Massachusetts, we’re doin’ okay.

Which was the greater validation: Christopher Walken poking fun at you on the Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary, or being labeled a “very epic” superstar during an appearance on The Simpsons?

The Simpsons was really big for my kids and my nieces and nephews, and I’m a fan of the show. There’s one that still gets me: I did a movie with Clint Eastwood years ago. They did a Biography of me on the Biography Channel, and one of the guys in my office said, “Do you know Clint Eastwood is doing an interview for the Biography thing?” That, to me, is just huge. My mother would say being on Oprah is the greatest thing that ever happened to our entire family. I was forgiven all of my past sins by virtue of sitting next to Oprah.

Forget comedy influences; who inspires those badass sideburns of yours?

Are they really badass? For a fair-haired Irishman ...I don’t know. Probably Clint Eastwood.

Nokia Theatre, 777 Chick Hearn Court, downtown; Sat., April 4, 8 p.m.; $40.50-$80.50. (213) 763-6020.

Comedy/Music

ONE SINGS, THE OTHER HAMS IT UP

Apparently, singer-songwriter (and novelist — blimey!) John Wesley Harding and comedian Eugene Mirman are good friends. Sure, everybody knows everybody in show biz by six degrees, but that pairing never occurred to us ... although in hindsight we’re not sure why. Harding’s dulcet song stylings have always featured a bracing wit, not to mention moments of out-and-out comic genius. (Ever hear his Fab Four reunion epic “When the Beatles Hit America,” written several years before “Free as a Bird” was released? It’s a riot, and not just a teeny bit prophetic.) Mirman, on the other hand, though well known for his standup, is also a regular on Flight of the Conchords and first turned up on our radar thanks to a marvelous bit of musical Flash animation on his Web site, featuring his childhood self-portrait, which warbles rock classics in the key of “off.” (Li’l Mirman’s Daltrey impression is particularly inspired: “Who-o-o are you, whoareyouwhoareyouwho-o-o the fuck are you AAAAAH!”) Don’t know what we were thinking, to be honest; bet these two gents would make quite a team ... and we’ll get to find out for certain on Saturday, when their traveling music-and-comedy revue, Wes & Eugene’s Cabinet of Wonders, hits Largo at the Coronet, featuring a terrific lineup that also includes Jill Sobule, Mike Viola, Al Stewart, Ron Lynch, Matthew Specktor and a supersecret surprise guest. Or two. Ooh-er, the suspense! Wes & Eugene’s Cabinet of Wonders at Largo at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd.; Sat., April 4, 9 p.m., $25. (310) 855-0350. —Nicole Campos

Panel Discussion

L.A. STORIES WANTED — THIS MEANS YOU!

Got a story about your L.A. Neighborhood? Maybe you know something about an old building. If this press release is to be believed, 85 percent of our city “has never been surveyed to identify these significant historic places.” The Getty encourages us to share tales as part of MYhistoricLA: Preserving Los Angeles, L.A.’s “first-ever comprehensive program to identify significant historic resources throughout Los Angeles.” The project kicks off with a day full of activities, including a panel discussion with KPCC Air Talk host Larry Mantle, plus a screening of the award-winning video SurveyLA: Preserving Los Angeles. Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, Fifth & Flower sts.; downtown, Sat., April 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Reservations at www.aloudla.org. —L.M.

Classical

EXTREME RITES

When it comes to pushing the edge of the musical envelope, Jacaranda’s right out there in front, either going where no artist has gone before, or where no artist particularly wants to go. The musicians of Jacaranda are the most intrepid of explorers — in fact, some might even call them daredevils — for whom no technical feat is too daunting, and this week they’re presenting a program of “extreme performance” not intended for the faint of voice and finger. First off is a piano four-hands version of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring — enough to scare off most pianists but apparently not intimidating to duo pianists Danny Holt and Steven Vanhauwaert. A violent, sensuous ballet about pagan fertility rites and self-sacrifice, its notoriously controversial premiere in Paris by the Ballets Russes in 1913, Le Sacre du Printemps was greeted with boos and catcalls so deafening that Nijinsky, who choreographed the work, had to yell instructions to the dancers while standing on a chair.