Fans of storytelling podcasts like The Moth are likely to enjoy the debut comedy album from Jeff Simmermon, And I Am Not Lying. A Moth alum, Simmermon specializes in long, humorous stories that offer their fair share of chuckles along the way, even if they don’t often pay off with big stand-up-style punchlines.
Highlights include yarns about Simmermon’s failed attempt to hit it big with a band featuring live chickens playing toy pianos (a track by the band, Royal Quiet Deluxe, is tagged on the end of the album), losing a testicle to cancer, and finding unexpected empathy on a New York subway train after a grocery bag disaster.
There are more smile-worthy moments than hilarious laugh-out-loud bits, but Simmermon is a charming personality with an uncommon perspective.
And I Am Not Lying is now available for download or streaming. Simmermon is currently fundraising to put out a pink vinyl edition on Indiegogo.
Justin Remer makes movies, directs music videos, and plays in the bands Duck the Piano Wire and Elastic No-No Band when he is not writing movie reviews. His folk-rock documentary MAKING LOVERS & DOLLARS is currently streaming on Amazon.