Friday, December 6, 2024

7:30pm Showtime

6:30pm Doors

$20 General Admission

 

Holiday Music, Comedy and Storytelling!

 

Great River Arts is proud to present “A Schommer & Shynes Christmas Time” an all-new night of holiday themed comedy, storytelling and music.

 

For one night only Michael Shynes and Jason Schommer join forces in a festive night celebrating the magic of the season with special guest DGS! 

 

Inspired by the holidays and this unique time of year, “A Schommer & Shynes Christmas Time!” takes a hilarious and heartfelt look at all the joy, madness, insanity, reflection and unexpected moments of the season with stand-up comedy and stories by Jason Schommer and seasonal music by Michael Shynes from his holiday album.  Joining the hometown duo on stage is violin virtuoso DGS.  

 

Do not miss this evening of seasonal cheer busting with wall to wall laughs and incredible music including beloved holiday standards as well as new original songs inspired by the season.

 

 

JASON SCHOMMER (Comedian):

Jason Schommer is a standup comedian and storyteller who spent two years as the opening act for comedy legend Louie Anderson in Las Vegas and toured with Louie regularly. Comedy icon Louie Anderson said, “Jason is funny, clever, smart, and on his way to the big time!”.  As a stand-up comic, Jason has performed in clubs and theaters all over the USA as well as Canada and for the US Military in Japan.  A regular performer at The Moth, Jason has won numerous Story Slam competitions and was invited to perform at the GrandSlam at The Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul in 2016 and 2023 and in 2018 at The Guthrie Theater and The Pantages Theater in 2022.  Jason has made multiple appearances nationally on The Moth Radio Hour as well as featured on the podcast.  Jason has worked in New York City for The Rosie O’Donnell Show and has worked behind the scenes in Hollywood as a stand in for Louie Anderson on the FX television series Baskets.   In 2017 Jason released his first live comedy album “Confessions of a Local Celebrity”.  Most recently Jason went viral on TikTok by starring in a video with Dave Ryan from KDWB and hitting over 5.3 million views.  Jason has also been featured on The Morning Show and The Jason Show with Jason Matheson on FOX9 and Twin Cities Live on KSTP.

 

 

MICHAEL SHYNES (Musician):

Michael Shynes is a Midwest born singer songwriter with a Diamond Record in Poland.  Being a self-taught musician from Little Falls, MN, Michael chased an unlikely dream and built a career out of nothing more than pure hustle and soulful songwriting.  While Michael’s music may be difficult to define (often oscillating from Folk to Pop to R&B to Country and then back again), the intent behind it is the unifying ingredient; the unmistakable truth that it never strives to be anything less than genuine and authentic.  Blending shades of multiple genres over an acoustic and full band landscape, his songs are ripe with lyrical depth rarely paired with such mainstream appeal. The thing that seems to separate Michael is unquestionably his vocal stylings. With a range and falsetto that is nothing short of captivating, his acoustic finger picking style acts as the perfect bed of warmth on which his soulful lyrics can rest.  Michael would often get noticed as a strong local candidate to open up for national acts as they came through town, and even ended up on a tour with Platinum Recording Artist Howie Day. From humble beginnings, he has worked to become one of the most sought-after performers in the Midwest and now plays to standing room only crowds. Michael Shynes recently released his latest full length album “Don’t Be Scared” to rave reviews.

 

 

DGS (Musician):

DGS has studied and performed the violin with many artists in multiple genres, though their heart has always been drawn to creating something for themselves.  Performing on a five stringed instrument, DGS has both violin and viola at their fingertips, and the addition of live effects expands their sound palette even further. With a tap on the body of the instrument, the violin transforms into a kick drum. A synth pedal shifts the octaves down into a synth bass. Pizzicato in their hands is performed more like a guitar or mandolin, and ambient reverbs create synth textures uniquely voiced by the instrument’s timbre. All of these sounds are created and recorded live into a looper to transform this one person into a string quartet, a live band, and many shades and combinations in between. They invoke similarities to artists like Lindsey Stirling, Nils Frahm, and Hans Zimmer; The reflective and pensive ability of instrumental and classical music combined with the pulse and staying power of a Top 40 hit is a combination that inspires them most. Instrumental riffs lay the foundation while dense symphonic strings collide with dance-worthy beats. Melodies soar over top with earworm-worthy hooks while the sub octave bass roots and grounds the bottom end. DGS has a way of speaking through their music that captivates any and all who stop to listen.