Jonathan Coulton

Jonathan Coulton appeals to the nerd/geek/techie in all of us! His clever, often funny, patter & lyrics and excellent music make for an exceedingly enjoyable evening. I also Love that he mingles with his fans after the show! I would have liked him to include Chiron Beta Prime among his Christmas songs. I think the show would have been improved by increasing the voice track - the music volume overpowered the lyrics, somewhat. If he returns to Atlanta, I will definitely see him again!

The opening act was dreadful. There was no seating. Everyone stood around on concrete floors with concrete walls and the worst acoustics you have ever heard. It was loud, distorted, and absolutely a dreadful event venue. Having said that, JoCo is great. I love his music. And at the Paradise I can now say I'm a fan of his drummer, too. If I didn't already know the songs I would not have been able to understand any of the distorted lyrics. This was the sound system from hell. But people enjoyed "listening" to or at least hanging out with JoCo for a bit. Only a die hard fan would put up with it.

This concert was excellent, with downright hilarious moments and moments bringing back happy memories from 2011. Best concert of 2016. Key tip, if you want a good view get there when they open the doors, or have friends be there for you. Food platter sizes are large and filling.

Great show - First time I've seen Coulton with a backing band.

This was so much fun. The venue was wonderful, the opening band was hysterical and the music was incredible. The only thing that would have made this better was if there has been cake.

I came in not knowing what to expect and was totally blow away. Paul & Storm weren't just an opening band, but an act in their own right. Not only were the bands amazing (especially for nerds/geeks/fans) but the audience really got into it. By the pirate song, we were all wild, and even Paul & Storm got caught up in the laughter. I don't want to give everything away, but there were many audience props, new songs, and fun surprises. The food was average, but the service crew were quick and professional, and they had hard cider which is always a plus. Our concert started at 7:30 and let out at approximately 11:15pm. Well worth the cost. If this group is in your neighborhood and you don't go you're missing out on one of life's great adventures.

The opening act was very entertaining and Jonathan had a funny, but intimate show. It was worth the trip out of town

The show itself was great. Paul & Storm, who I'd never heard of before, were fantastic. Jon Coulton was as good as I expected. However, the Birchmere had a ridiculous policy of not serving tap water. The place is practically a full service restaurant, but waiting staff deny you something as simple as a glass of water? It definitely left a negative impression on me.

So fun Awesome For geeks and nerds We'll go again.

Paul and Storm's mixture of silly songs, comedy timing and witty banter caused the crowd (who, by a show of hands, looked like half of them had never seen Paul and Storm before) to warm up almost immediately. Jonathan Coulton's follow up with an amazing performance that brought Paul and Storm back for backup vocals, rhythm and comedic assistance can't be beaten. He can even roll with the punches to make his mistakes go to his credit, adding an unplanned song when he forgot to charge his laptop before performing another song that required it.

I've seen these guys play alone and together for 5+ years now. Every time I think they might get old they prove me wrong. The show continues to be fantastic and new.

This was a great event! From the intimate feel of the venue to the awesome opening act it definitely made my husband and I's anniversary! Jonathan Coulton is talented and does great with pushing for crowd participation.

Great music and show! Highly recommend seeing him live.

Briefly: JoCo was fantastic! He played "old" stuff as well as new material. All of it sounded superb. The opening act ("Paul and Storm") were hilarious! Funniest guys I have heard in a long time.

He played multiple old songs and mixed in an even amount of new material as well. Unfortunately, his vocals were obscured by the bass occasionally.

I don't mind the band. It makes sense that you'd want to reproduce the sounds on the album. The problem is that the banter, the introductions, and the interaction with audience vanished between this performance, and the performance prior. I' not eben sure if he likes the other band members as there was so little back and forth. It seems he has decided to stop being the iconic nerdy jokester in favor of the uncaring rockstar. The new material was fine, but it was a departure from being fun and witty in favor of bobbing heads, keeping in mind I paid for fun and witty. The sound was bad, and with the introduction of the "dance" floor I could no longer even see the stage, not that what was going on was interesting anyway. To sum up, I left before the encore, he didn't deserve it. On the bright side, Mike Phirman was genuinely entertaining, and I will go see him with Paul and Storm who have been great every time I've seen them perform.

It's pretty sad when the opening act is more fun than the actual show. I felt a little ripped off here. My boyfriend and I had managed to get good seats, just to have them turn bad quickly when a fair portion of the audience was allowed to stand up near the stage. The venue is too small and not made for there to be a pit for audience members. The event turned into watching people dance poorly since I could not see Jonathan Coulton himself. Without other acts to banter around with, Coulton just isn't very entertaining. I could have just stayed home and listened to the CD and have gotten the same amount of entertainment as seeing him live. Overall, really poor performance. But I did find the opening act Mike Phirman (of Hard & Phirm) to be funny and will probably be going to see him in March.

The show was great! We love Jonathan Coulton and look forward to seeing him again.

I loved Coulton and his new band and really liked the intro act whose name I have, unfortunately, forgotten.

Jonathan played about 1/2 of his old songs and about 1/2 of his new songs. It was a nice mix to see where he is going, but still participate in the songs that you have grown to love.

Aside from getting lost in Baltimore (my fault for not getting directions first), the show was great! The sound levels were perfect for an audience pushing 40. The performance had old and new songs, which were all good. Nice banter with the intimate crowd. Would recommend this show to everyone and would definitely go again, myself.

great show! completely worth driving around federal hill for an hour looking for a parking space. :)

I went because my 15 year old son and his friend wanted to go. I think I had as much of a good time as they did! Mr. Coulton and his band mates are excellent musicians and were extremely entertaining even between songs. His songs are amusing, but are very well written...change the lyrics and I'm sure he'd be a mainstream success. 8 X10 is a small venue, which is nice because it makes the concert experience much more intimate. He's back in May, I understand, so I'll be sure to make my son and his friend go again!

Jonathan Coulton is a great entertainer! I had a lot of fun even though I generally hate crowds, bars, and concerts. I laughed all night. His songs = musical happiness.

Crowded - wish there had been more chairs available. Loved how he knows fans come to hear the "old" songs. Make him come back to Baltimore.

A lot of fun! Great music and really funny too....

And I never thought I'd feel the way I felt that day when I felt the way that I do right now: I feel fantastic...

This was extremely funny show. I took my 15 year old son and his girlfriend. This was their first concert and they both enjoyed it,

Good music, great comedy, remarkably strong stage presence - both Coulton and Paul and Storm were really very strong.

The title says it all. Unlike most artists, Jonathan Coulton sounds amazing live. I'd definitly recommend him to anybody. Not to mention Paul & Storm. They all stayed afterwords for autographs. I conclusion, like I said in the title: Best. Concert. Ever.

Second time seeing Jonathan Coulton at the Variety Playhouse. First time we had only heard a couple songs by him and the show blew us away. This time, we were die hard fans and it was even more fun. Paul & Storm opening up for him is a non-stop laugh/sing-a-thon and Jonathan is always great. If you have a chance, GO.

This was actually my first time purchasing my own tickets, so I'd like to thank Ticketmaster for making the process mostly harmless. The show was an absolute blast. The Variety is one of the better venues in Atlanta to go see a show. It's big enough for an excited crowd without sacrificing a personal connection to the performance.

Sold out event, got there 30 mins before tickets were validated for [first come first seated gen admission] numbering, and was 50 families back; sat in air conditioned comfort after ticket numbering because Birchmere rocks.... Still got 2 seats 15 feet from JOCO center stage, and enjoyed food and beer while he sang many songs I love. (He sang enough 2009-era stuff that I could relate, and I enjoyed the newer stuff from his more recent albums... -Truly a masterful mix.) Paul and Storm were better than any youtube video I'd seen of them, so that was a bonus for the openers, --and their backup vocals to JOCO were tight and professional!

Paul and Storm were hilarious. They had the audience laughing constantly. You had to be a Game of Thrones fan to understand two or their songs. Jonathan played solo and put on a good show too--Paul and Storm sang with him for some of the songs. Fun show!

Excellent sets from Paul & Storm as well as JoCo. Tons of fun all around, exactly what every wordplay-loving music nerd could ever want. Bonus comedy action from hilarious exchanges with the show's ASL interpreters, who were kind and patient enough to put up with the performers' antics with good humor.

Amazing show, Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick were both terrific.

Energetic Jonathan Coulton and his cohorts playfully entertain with witty, wonderful, heartfelt, odes. Part Rembrants, with a bit of Blues Brothers, a dollop of early 60s with a 90s twist, and a ton of nerdy wisdom. Done right FUN!

Great concert. He's always amazing when he comes in town!

The show was hilarious and a musical treat. enjoyed the show

I loved being able to be on the dance floor by the band! The songs were so great and the opening act was really good! I shouted to the stage maybe a little too often, but I was having an amazing time! Heck! I got to have a short improvised conversation with Jonathan Coulton while his computer rebooted! Who could ask for more!?!?!

Coulton is and was AMAZING! If you have the chance to see him...do it!!!! Scarface singing Skullcrusher Mountain was a fantastic treat!! GO SEE!!!

I so wish i could live on Jonatan Coulton's planet full time. Even his henchman thinks I'm crazy!

As always, JC entertains no matter what happens onstage. The energy the orchestra brings is invigorating. Happy to have gone again.

Seeing him live was super-fun! I had a really great time. He played all my faves!

After seeing Jonathan Coulton open for They Might Be Giants in March, I had to see JoCo again! John Roderick opened with some really cool folk/rock tunes. I had only seen him in the duet Nemeses with Coulton and I was impressed with his presence and his voice. He has a great sense of humor, too. All in all, a great set! Coulton had a great show, too! The only problem was the audience. They're such hardcore fans that they sing all the words out loud. I came to see Coulton sing, not some IT guy from Somerville. It was still fun and entertaining! My favorites were Roderick and Coulton doing Nemeses and Coulton's I Crush Everything which he did solo with just an acoustic guitar. Really pretty. I would like to have heard I'm Your Moon, but you can't have everything. A fantastic show! Such a winning personality, too!

The cover of Bad Company's "Feel like Makin' Love" was timely and sensitive.

I have been a fan of Jonathan's for a couple of years now and can't believe that this is the first time I'm seeing him! The concert was great. Starting with John Roderick opening (Not moving to Portland was a highlight) the night was great. The crowd at the concert was excited happy and not at all like the rock club patrons I was used to. Everyone sang along and got into the music (some maybe a little too much). Besides not playing Ikea and a few other favorites the night was perfect! I can't wait to see him again.

A wonderful show in every way. Great setlist, and the songs work beautifully live - hadn't had this much fun in ages.

JoCo never disappoints, and with a full set, we were enthralled for almost four hours and would have been for an hour more. If you like nerd rock / pop / folk, this is your man.

I've seen JoCo at the Birchmere three times previous and it's always been acoustic. I wasn't sure how I'd enjoy a show with a full band, but it was phenomenal! He still threw in small talk/banter in between songs, his bandmates were fantastic musicians with great energy, and John Roderick made the perfect opening act. I would buy tickets to another show like this in a heartbeat!

This is the fourth year in a row that I've seen Jonathan Coulton play the Birchmere, and he never disappoints. His songs are great, and the venue caters perfectly to his style. The only downside to this show was that Paul & Storm (comedy musical duo) didn't open for him; instead, it was an indy/emo singer/guitar player. And while he wasn't bad, he wasn't as entertaining as Paul & Storm always are. My only other minor complaint is that the food and drink selection at the Birchmere is pretty limited and expensive. Anyone wishing to avoid carbs should eat beforehand, and water is $2 a bottle (with tap water not being served).

Very entertaining. Had a very enjoyable night, worth the 4 hour drive.

This was my 5th trip to see JoCo, 3rd at the Birchmere. This is the first time I've seen his "band", with drummer and bassist, and I have to say the sound sucked like the speaker at a fast food drive-thru. Musicians all were excellent, but the main point with JoCo is the words to the songs, and at least half the songs were unintelligible. I guess the sound board guys thought they had to crank up JoCo's mike to stand out over the music, but it just turned it to mush. The only electric song that could be clearly understood was SkullCrusher Mountain sung by "Scarface", an apparent roadie whom I suppose JoCo insiders are supposed to know and recognize. Also, both he and John Roderick, the "opening act", spent a lot of time tuning guitars. I thought by now they could have afforded extra guitars and have the roadies tune them like real bands do.

Johathan Coulton, his orchestra (including Ringo & mandolin/bass player,) AND John Rocerick (who seems to have been having a spot of trouble w/ the Hilton,) were PRIMO!!! Oh yes, and let's not overlook Scarface with his angelic voice.... Fantastic! Great fun, such drollness, so much that went over my head... alas. Still, all made for a memorable outing with my daughter who even scored a picture (taken with our Hot Pink Aldi's special camera,) with the Yale man himself. Code Monkey likes you, A LOT, and so do we. Thanks!

this time with a full (and electric) band, but still great. as was John Roderick, the opener.

JoCo performed a mix of some of his most popular songs and songs on his new album, "Artificial Heart". His sense of humor, voice, and playing were all on target. His assistant, who he introduced as "Scarface", sang "Skullcrusher Mountain", and did very well with it.

I wasn't sure I'd like Jonathan Coulton with a band, but, boy, what an enhancement! The drummer and bass player really know how to put on a show. Much personality here! His opener, John Roderick, is also someone I definitely want to see again. The chemistry between them made for a fun evening.

I saw the opening concert of the Artificial Heart tour. As a parent and the driver for my teenage son and his friends, I was expecting an OK show. The show was very fun to watch. I had a surprisingly good time and enjoyed the show thoroughly. It says alot about the performer when the people in the audience that don't know the music so well have a great time.

Paul and Storm were amazing, as always. Getting to hear Jonathan Coulton with the band was different - it is very loud, like a rock show - but he also did some acoustic and some with the ZenDrum.

Jonathan Coulton and the band are amazing live! For this show, they played some old songs, as well as new ones from his new album "Artificial Heart." Along with playing awesome music, he also kept the audience laughing and entertained.

Really great show. Thoroughly enjoyed myself through the entire evening! I knew that I really liked Paul and Storm before the show, but wasn't sure about Jonathan Coultan as I had not heard as much of his stuff. Very entertaining.

This was a typical Coulton show, but with even more awesomeness because he had a drummer and bassist along. The only problems I had were with volume. Coulton should never be presented at the volume this was presented in. It vibrated my chair. And the instruments completely drowned out his voice. The sound engineer may have only worked with rock bands or heavy metal before, in which the vocalist screams and can make himself heard above the music. In this case, all I could hear sometimes were the bass guitar or the drums.