Aaron FrankComedy-folk duo Garfunkel and Oates — aka Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci — have blossing TV and film careers. But for the past three years they've been performing their brand of musical comedy at spots like the UCB Theatre and Largo, which will host their second annual Ho, Ho, Hoes? holiday show this Friday, December 9.
The duo specializes in translating topical commentary and everyday situations into YouTube anthems; their most famous, “Pregnant Women Are Smug” has over a million and a half views. Some of their videos have high production values, like “Weed Card,” but they often simply record themselves on a couch. Their most recent effort “Save the Rich” is a sarcastic argument in favor of rights for the wealthy. They spoke with us about their upcoming holiday show and third album, the yet-unnamed series they're creating for HBO, and “Save The Rich” in the context of the Occupy movement.
How did the concept for “Save The Rich” come about, and what has the response been like?
RL: The response has been good. I like when something gets people arguing on message boards.
KM: It's always good when something like that gets people talking.
Had you planned that prior to the beginning of Occupy Wall Street?
RL: We wrote it afterwards, but it was something we had talked about before. Income inequality and the recession were things we had talked about and brainstormed ideas for, and it was sort of on a list of ideas with another song we were writing for John Oates.
What was the song you were writing for John Oates?
RL: Oh, he doesn't even know about it. This was us just hoping to do a video with him, but the song was never good enough so we didn't send it to him.
KM: He's a really sweet guy and he's been such a good friend to us though. We played with him a couple times and we opened for him like two years ago.
RL: And he got us Hall and Oates tickets for the Bowl on July 4th. They played with the Philharmonic and there were fireworks, and we got to sit next to the Old Spice Guy. It was amazing.
Ideally, how would you like your songs to tie in with the HBO series you've been working on?
RL: We want to do something different for every episode, so that there's really no formula for it. Sometimes it will be a straight up music video. Sometimes it will be like a fantasy sequence.
KM: It's one of those things where I feel like there really isn't anything else like it and it would just be so exciting for it to be on TV.
What have your Largo shows been like in the past and what should people expect at the holiday show this year?
RL: It's always varied. Last time we had three guest comedians: Natasha Leggero, Jen Kirkman and Sarah Silverman, and they were all great. We also had a show where Reggie Watts opened for us, and Largo is just a great venue.
But Nick Kroll is going to be in the show, and I think we'll have some other special guests. We'll probably play a couple Christmas songs too.
KM: It's going to be a lot of Christmas cheer mixed in with our songs. Basically Glee with dick jokes and some Christmas spirit.
How is your new album coming along so far?
RL: It's good. We're definitely getting in to at this point. We have about seven songs done so far and it will probably be released sometime next year.
Do you work with a producer or is there anyone that helps you with the recording process?
RL: Yeah, we work with two producers, Mike Phirman and Eban Schletter. We have the best comedy producers you could ask for.
KM: There has to be a balance between making it sound good and still making it funny and those guys get it.
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