From music to acting, Fred Armisen does it all! Did you know Fred Armisen played drums for the '90s post-hardcore band Trenchmouth? Did you know he once played drums with the Blue Man Group? There is so much more to Fred Armisen than his SNL fame alludes to. He's a huge music buff and the Amoeba cameras caught up with Fred in our San Francisco store to take a look at what's in his bag. He's pretty eclectic in his musical taste and, of course, as a drummer he pays close attention to the beat. From world artist Joyce to oldies rockers The Turtles, Fred digs deep. Check it out!

Fred Armisen - What's In My Bag?
Watch and comment on YouTube

Armisen is reportedly leaving Saturday Night Live, acording to the New York Post. But never fear - IFC just renewed Portlandia for two new seasons, so there will be plenty more sketch comedy to come from the actor. On May 18, Armisen's last night at SNL, he performed a musical number with his castmates Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, and Taran Killam. They were joined midway through by Portlandia co-creator Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag, Sleater-Kinney), Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), J. Mascis, Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), Aimee Mann and Michael Penn. Watch this amazing send off below:

San Francisco’s comedy festival SF Sketchfest runs January 24th - February 10th and features over 150 shows with some of the top comedians and best up-and-coming talent around.

SF Sketchfest, the most prestigious comedy festival on the West Coast, celebrates their 12th year with a tribute to Portlandia with Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, evenings with Bruce Campbell and Patton Oswalt, Drew Carey, Futurama Live, and so much more!

See the amazing line-up and get your tickets HERE!

Here are a couple of nights we here at Amoeba recommend!

Judge John Hodgman LIVE with John Hodgman & Jesse Thorn, musical guest John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats
Friday, January 25, 10:30pm at Marines’ Memorial Theatre
Join bestselling author and self-appointed judge John Hodgman as he listens to real- life disputes and weighs in on such pressing issues as “Is chili a soup or a stew?” This live version of the popular Maximum Fun-produced podcast features Bullseye host and Maximum Fun founder Jesse Thorn and musical guest John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats.

The funny, talented women of Wild Flag sat down with us recently for a What's In My Bag? episode. Wild Flag is the first major musical post-Sleater-Kinney project for Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss, and includes Mary Timony (Helium) and Rebecca Cole (The Minders) to boot. The four members of Wild Flag had interconnected musical histories during the last decade, playing in various bands that toured or collaborated with each other, but somehow the formation of the Wild Flag was the first time the four of them ever played together at the same time. Wild Flag released their self-titled debut full-length in November 2011 on Merge Records.

You may also know Carrie (and her humor and wit) from the TV show Portlandia which she co-created and stars in with Fred Armisan (SNL).

Unfortunately Janet couldn't make it on the day of the shoot, but Carrie, Mary, and Rebecca shared their picks which included Lionel Richie, Yes, George Jones, Iron Maiden, Destroy All Movies, and more. They also put a call out for a Vinyl Nanny to take with them on tour...

Anyone familiar with "Lucky Night" by the Sugarcubes knows when to appreciate the magic of a good thing come in threes (as in 1+1=3). The latest coincidence of this two-at-once plus one more collision of indulgence coordinates occurred as a result of Joanna Newsom freewheeling a song that can only be called "Tom Bombadil" on IFC's sassy Portlandia sketch TV show. Well, I've seen a lot and most things excite me but what tops it all is enjoying several things at once. Seeing the lovely J-New (as we are wont to call her at the fort) perform a song about the most fried, free-loving hippie-drippy character Tolkien ever invented (yet sadly, like Radagast the Brown wizard, never made it into Peter Jackson's version of the Lord of the Rings saga) on a show that smacked love-at-first sight vibes upon initial encounter (more Women & Women First, please) was, altogether, not unlike taking a plate of your favorite thing - scattered, smothered, and covered with your other favorite things - to the face like a little pig divin' in the slop trough. A valentine inside a valentine inside... you get the picture. Check out the clip below and if you love this even half as much as I do then Happy Valentine's Day to you, friend - we're practically besties!

Funny because it is so true of Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or anywhere USA. Loved every episode of the all too short first season of this TV show but this skit, with Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein desperately trying to escape DJ night, from the new upcoming second season of IFC's Portlandia, has even outdone all the previous ones. Hilarious!  Season 2 of Portlandia begins on the IFC channel on Fridays January 6th, 2012 at 10pm. Check local listings. Meantime purchase Portlandia Season One on DVD from Amoeba.