Nashville-based comedian Keith Alberstadt was drafted by the US armed forces.. to perform stand-up for the troops stationed in Iraq. “I hope al Jazeera televises the Vandy games,” said Alberstadt on the MangyDog.com “Nashville Comedy” forum.
Keith flew out from Memphis Saturday afternoon, but checked in with the comics back in Nashville around 6:41 am Tuesday morning:
hello from iraq. it’s 3:30 pm here, which means it’s saturday in nashville, i think.
i rode in a humvee convoy from kuwait this morning. kind of surreal to be sitting next to a gunner looking out for insurgents. i am at the camp where they’re detaining insurgents who are caught insurging, or whatever the term is. all the comics got to fire machine guns and a grenade launcher today. holy crap…i still can’t hear. fortunately, no frogs were hurt in the ordeal (dan [whitehurst] knows what i’m talking about).
all is well and the show last night absolutely rocked. there were about 1,600 soldiers in the audience and they were incredibly appreciative. this is an amazing experience.
one show tonight then we get up early and fly in blackhawk helicopters to the next camp. most of this is on film, so i’ll show you crazy kids when i get back.
all is well. i’ll try to post more later.
keith
UPDATE: Sat. November 5th, 4:45am-
I’m writing this inside one of Saddam Hussein’s guest palaces in Baghdad. We just toured Saddam’s main palace…holy crap!
We flew Blackhawks over here, scaring the crap out of a few herds of sheep and camels (we have to fly low for obvious reasons). Shows have been going great. Troops are awesome! The traveling is a bit much, but when we realize what we’re doing and where we are, all of us are able to block out all the baggage and have fun. US Dept of Defense has ordered NO alcohol on any US bases for a variety of reasons, so there are no jackass stories to report…I’m able to stay somewhat level headed when sober. Yesterday I toured the birthplace of Abraham (the site is about 4,000 years old). Two days ago we hung out with some British officers as well as a few American contractors at Basra. Those Brits crack me up with their “anti-American football”.
Well, I have to go perform now. If any of you have XM, we’re going to be interviewed on the UPOP station (I think that’s right) on Ted Kelly’s show this (Saturday) morning. Maybe I’ll give a shoutout to you comics.
Beat the Gators!!!!
Take it easy,
Keith
We’ll have more from Keith as soon as we hear it. Until then, check out Keith’s website: www.KeithComedy.com and read some of his columns over in the MangyDog.com Archives.
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