Three Drummers Walk Into a Bar ...

Photo by Gary Miller

Three Drummers Walk Into a Bar ...

With SXSW's comedy component growing every year, a discussion on the convergence of comedy and music seemed well-timed. The two worlds have been colliding with increasing frequency, not only in popular acts like Lonely Island or Reggie Watts, but also on bills pairing stand-up with indie rock. Case in point was panelist Tig Notaro, a comedian signed by the powerhouse Secretly Canadian label and supported by an indie music booker. The conversation ranged from creative technique to career management, but unfortunately seemed to have little direction and even less purpose. Songwriter Dan Bern provided an apropos punch line by performing "The Fifth Beatle," but Conan producer J.P. Buck offered the most insight in discussing the show's deployment of social media (there's a staff a 10 for the show's Facebook page alone) and the suggestion that comedy's increasing indie cachet allows for comedians to work more nuanced shades and emotions into their performances beyond simply being funny. Ultimately, as they adjust to and take advantage of the digital era, the music and comedy scenes share many parallels – both in struggles and successes – and their merging in mutual support can benefit both.