The Highway Man
I first became aware of Henry Phillips when he was performing in coffee houses and comedy clubs throughout the Los Angeles area. His songs are scathingly funny but kind of off the beaten path. He’s what you might call an acquired taste. His delivery is very deadpan, so he acts as if he is completely unaware of how funny he is, but once you pick up on his rhythm, his schtick and his lyrics are sidesplittingly hilarious. I was hosting a songwriter’s showcase at the Chimmneysweep in Sherman Oaks. After reading a review of Henry Phillips by Jonathan Widran in Music Connection Magazine, I decided to track Henry down and invite him to perform at the ’Sweep. After that, we started hanging out now and then.
Eventually, Henry branched into filmmaking. I found this out when in 2006, shortly after I moved back to Philly, I was searching Youtube to see what Henry had been up to since I’d last seen him. In addition to discovering a few new songs, I came across a web series he had filmed for IFC called “The Loner”, where he portrays a guy who hangs out with a cool, good-looking, smooth-talking buddy that has an easy time picking up girls in bars. But when Henry, after observing his friend run the game on a lady, tries to emulate him, the results are the direct opposite… and as they say – hilarity ensues.
Henry has also written an award winning, independent film called “Punching the Clown” followed by a sequel called “Punching Henry”. I highly recommend both of these movies and now that we’re sequestered indoors, you can check them out later, after you finish listening to this podcast.
Punching the Clown is for rent on Amazon $3.99
Punching Henry – if you subscribe to Showtime, you can watch it for free
His later endeavors include a cooking show spoof called “Henry’s Kitchen” where you can learn to prepare scrumptious dishes such as “Isolation Cupboard Casserole” and “Meatloaf For One”.
The most recent Henry Phillips project is a new series on Patreon titled, “The Highway Man”. As the Highway Man, Henry travels the nation’s highways, encountering motorists in trouble where he stops to offer assistance. Having absolutely no mechanical skills whatsoever, he often leaves them in more of a lurch then they were in before he came along.
All right! Well, I think I’ve already told you more than enough. Come on and sit in on my conversation now, with the one and only – Henry Phillips.
BTW – The Godzilla clip was inspired from a meme that’s been passed around Facebook, and I thought it would be cool to create an audio version. So, yeah, I kinda stole that – I have no idea where it originated.
Talking Points
Sorry, wrong number
Discovering Henry – Music reviewer Jonathan Widran
Chimneysweep
Jerry’s Deli Stories – Marlon Brando
Saturday Night Live, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider
John Ritter, Amy Yasbeck
Mark Cohen
The Devil and Donny Most
The Loser on IFC
Henry’s Kitchen
Jose Suicidio
Hecklers
New Show The Highway Man
Singer songwriter Eric Schwartz
Doug Stanhope
Misogonistic lyrics
Role of John on John Silicon Valley
Mike Judge
Links:
Henry Phillips: Neither Here Nor There on Amazon Prime
On Youtube:
End of the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0_aFU4Yjj8
On Patreon
Henry’s Kitchen https://www.patreon.com/henryskitchen
The Highway Man https://www.patreon.com/HighwayManShow
