Whitmer Thomas with guest Al Menne

A Los Angeles-based comedian, avid skateboarder, filmmaker, and actor, Whitmer Thomas added rocker to his credentials in 2020 with the release of the soundtrack to his HBO musical/comedy one-man show The Golden One.

A native of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Thomas first found success in 2014 with Stone Quackers, a surreal FX adult animated television series. Power Violence, a popular monthly show Whitmer hosted with friends, helped to secure his status in the upper echelons of the Los Angeles independent comedy scene, as did his numerous short films like Blue Line and Fast and Loose, and appearances on the Walking Dead and Glow. In 2020, Whitmer released his one-man show, The Golden One, on HBO. Featuring pop-punk songs composed and performed by Whitmer (a longtime fan of blink-182), which covered everything from millennial anxiety and sex to abandonment and addiction, the special spawned the companion LP, Songs from the Golden One.

whitmerthomas.com

Al Menne has a voice unlike any other. Soft and emotional with lyrical intimacy that calls back to Transatlanticism-era Death Cab for Cutie, fitting as they both share the same Pacific Northwest roots. Now based in Los Angeles by way of Seattle, Al has spent the last eight years as the lead singer of Indie-Rock band Great Grandpa. In-between responsibilities with Great Grandpa Al stayed busy, they’re a frequent collaborator on friends and peers projects, writing and featuring with Christian Lee Hutson (ANTI-), illuminati hotties (Snack Shack Tracks/Hopeless Records), and Whitmer Thomas (Hardly Art). They’re also a touring member of Christian’s band for headline tours and supporting slots with Bright Eyes. On top of all of the collaboration, Al has brought peers in to help with their own solo project recording with luminaries like Christian Lee Hutson and Melina Duterte (Jay Som), on new music that will become their upcoming debut-album. Whether intentional or not, their ability to expand and grow is something some could only hope to achieve in their lifetime, building the most beautifully heartbreaking music with people who mean more to them than anyone.

bigbadpickleboy.bandcamp.com

Host or Publisher Rickshaw Theatre