Stand-up comedy spotlight: The Fireturtles
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Published by Sareth Ney on July 26, 2017 at 9:44 a.m.
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From left to right: Arlo Sander, Casey Schuckett and Brett Duggan
They perform as a trio in small clubs, as well as a five and six piece band (with a rhythm section in bigger venues).
Photo credit: H.R.
Sareth Ney: What inspired you to perform stand-up comedy?
The Fireturtles: We perform our special brand of satirical stand-up musical comedy because life is stressful for all kinds of people. Cathartic laughter heels minds and souls and music brings people together. If we can have fun writing something and people can have fun listening to it, we've done our job.
SN: What was the feeling like, when you first performed stand-up comedy?
TF: The first time we all got up together, made people sing along and laugh at the same time—it was like church without the dogma. It was like a birthday party, if everybody was the celebrant. It was a multi-person, multi-orgasmic trip. It was a primitive campfire dance combined with a drunken hug fest. It was good, is what we’re trying to say. We kept going back for more!
SN: What are your favorite comedy specials and record albums?
TF: The latest Louis C.K. special was awesome. We love Flight of the Conchord's first HBO half hour. Steve Martin's “A Wild and Crazy Guy” changed our lives in so many ways.
SN: What are your favorite sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy films?
TF: “This Is Spinal Tap”, of course. Talladega Nights: “The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” is an underrated, almost perfect comedy film. Will Ferrell is just a comedic genius. “Mr. Show with Bob and David”, “Key and Peele” and Tenacious D's short HBO show were also all amazing.
SN: If you could go on tour with any comedian, which one would you choose?
TF: Reggie Watts, Flight of the Conchords or Tim Minchin. There are so many. If we have to choose one, we will say Flight of the Conchords.
SN: If you could get roasted by five comedians (past or present), which ones would you choose?
TF: This is hard because we have stand-up idols, as well as musical.
We mean—Dave Chappelle, for one.
We just met Andy Dick and he loved what we were doing. He'd be fun.
Richard Pryor because why not? Louis C.K., Will Ferrell and that's five, right?
SN: Which other forms of comedy would you like to venture off into?
TF: We produced a mock reality television show and we want to make movies. Moving into television and film is the obvious next step. We also want to tour really big venues where everyone is there to see us; where everyone is there so we can help them leave the stress of the day behind. We want to go global.
SN: What experience would you like for your audience to take with them, after a set is over?
TF: We want their faces to hurt from laughing and their minds to be blown by the music. We want them to have songs stuck in their heads for days and weeks. We want them want to make love to other people in the audience (figuratively, though, unless they're back in their hotel. That could get weird).
SN: Where do you see your comedy career, in the next five years?
TF: If we could write it down (and by writing it down this would make it happen), it would go like this: In the next three months, The Fireturtles will perform on a late night talk show and from there begin playing around the country. We'll be able to make a comedy special that is loved by audiences and critics alike. This leads to our own television show that runs for the next four years. After our second Emmy—the stress of making the show eight months out of the year, touring the world the rest of the time is too much on the band and we break up... only to get together for reunion tours, every other year.
SN: Where can the readers find you online and on social media?
TF: thefireturtles.com, @thefireturtles on Instagram, @fireturtles on Twitter, #fireturtles and youtube.com/c/thefireturtles
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
The Fireturtles: We perform our special brand of satirical stand-up musical comedy because life is stressful for all kinds of people. Cathartic laughter heels minds and souls and music brings people together. If we can have fun writing something and people can have fun listening to it, we've done our job.
SN: What was the feeling like, when you first performed stand-up comedy?
TF: The first time we all got up together, made people sing along and laugh at the same time—it was like church without the dogma. It was like a birthday party, if everybody was the celebrant. It was a multi-person, multi-orgasmic trip. It was a primitive campfire dance combined with a drunken hug fest. It was good, is what we’re trying to say. We kept going back for more!
SN: What are your favorite comedy specials and record albums?
TF: The latest Louis C.K. special was awesome. We love Flight of the Conchord's first HBO half hour. Steve Martin's “A Wild and Crazy Guy” changed our lives in so many ways.
SN: What are your favorite sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy films?
TF: “This Is Spinal Tap”, of course. Talladega Nights: “The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” is an underrated, almost perfect comedy film. Will Ferrell is just a comedic genius. “Mr. Show with Bob and David”, “Key and Peele” and Tenacious D's short HBO show were also all amazing.
SN: If you could go on tour with any comedian, which one would you choose?
TF: Reggie Watts, Flight of the Conchords or Tim Minchin. There are so many. If we have to choose one, we will say Flight of the Conchords.
SN: If you could get roasted by five comedians (past or present), which ones would you choose?
TF: This is hard because we have stand-up idols, as well as musical.
We mean—Dave Chappelle, for one.
We just met Andy Dick and he loved what we were doing. He'd be fun.
Richard Pryor because why not? Louis C.K., Will Ferrell and that's five, right?
SN: Which other forms of comedy would you like to venture off into?
TF: We produced a mock reality television show and we want to make movies. Moving into television and film is the obvious next step. We also want to tour really big venues where everyone is there to see us; where everyone is there so we can help them leave the stress of the day behind. We want to go global.
SN: What experience would you like for your audience to take with them, after a set is over?
TF: We want their faces to hurt from laughing and their minds to be blown by the music. We want them to have songs stuck in their heads for days and weeks. We want them want to make love to other people in the audience (figuratively, though, unless they're back in their hotel. That could get weird).
SN: Where do you see your comedy career, in the next five years?
TF: If we could write it down (and by writing it down this would make it happen), it would go like this: In the next three months, The Fireturtles will perform on a late night talk show and from there begin playing around the country. We'll be able to make a comedy special that is loved by audiences and critics alike. This leads to our own television show that runs for the next four years. After our second Emmy—the stress of making the show eight months out of the year, touring the world the rest of the time is too much on the band and we break up... only to get together for reunion tours, every other year.
SN: Where can the readers find you online and on social media?
TF: thefireturtles.com, @thefireturtles on Instagram, @fireturtles on Twitter, #fireturtles and youtube.com/c/thefireturtles
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sareth Ney is the journalist for A Quarter and Dream Pictures. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and Center for New Media from Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is a former apprentice to master of horror, Clive Barker. He is a Wu-Tang Clan inspired superhero, Wu-Man Chu. He is an award-winning short filmmaker; his goal is to write 150 articles in select time zones, inducts every article into his hall of fame, is a stand-up comedian, motivational speaker, founder and co-host of Pueblo's Independent Multimedia Podcast and is the festival director at Sareth-Fest Music and Comedy Festival.
