CONTACT: jeff@jeffvrabel.com
About me: I’m a writer, humor columnist, music journalist, father of a seven-year-old aspiring Disney World monorail engineer (and bacon aficionado), former Hoosier and Chicagoan, irrational Springsteen obsessive, “Weird Al” Yankovic scholar, person who runs long distances very slowly and print media apologist based on Hilton Head Island, SC.
Currently, the pieces that I optimistically refer to as humor columns appear weekly in GateHouse Media newspapers nationwide. (That’s right: A newspaper company. Business is going really well, thanks for asking.) My humor essays have also been published in Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, Paste, the Chicago Sun-Times, Indy Men’s Magazine, the WordPress.com home page, Hilton Head Monthly (where I’m currently editor-in-chief) and the Florida Times-Union.
My music writing has appeared in Paste, RollingStone.com, Billboard (for whom I covered Bonnaroo in 2009 and 2010), Playboy, No Depression, the Chicago Sun-Times, All About Jazz, the official brucespringsteen.net site, the preeminent Springsteen magazine Backstreets, the Florida Times-Union, the lively blog PopDose, the Village Voice (technically, four years’ worth of Pazz and Jop comments, but I’m counting them) and several dozen Neil Diamond message boards — wow, can those people not take a joke.
In this context I’ve interviewed and/or profiled the Beastie Boys, Gnarls Barkley, four members of the E Street Band, the Avett Brothers, the Drive-By Truckers, John Prine, Billy Joel and Tom Jones, among many others.
I’ve also interviewed Snoop Dogg while my son watched a Winnie the Pooh movie in the back seat, covered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in New York City, discussed “Elmo’s World” with Alice Cooper, covered SXSW and Austin City Limits, obtained parenting tips from Ben Harper, boarded Damian Marley and Nas’ fragrant tour bus, accidentally convinced DMC to drop a 20-second freestyle dedicated to my cousin, accidentally appeared on VH1 adjacent to “Weird Al” Yankovic, shook the lovely hand of Britney Spears, kicked a soccer ball around with Michael Franti, been mentioned by name on Hillbilly Jim’s satellite radio program, had a fine interview with an actual Wiggle (the yellow one), discussed reproduction with Maynard James Keenan, had the band Travis send my son a hug, engaged in one extremely terrible interview with Ghostface Killah and a surprisingly chill one with Mitch Hedberg, seen Jimmy Buffett at Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, swung by Mose Allison’s house, discussed IU basketball with the Hold Steady, been indirectly insulted by Russell Crowe on Chicago talk radio and directly insulted by Brian May on his blog, exchanged Mick Foley stories with Johnny Knoxville, and asked Bret Michaels, Dizzie Rascal and Danger Mouse what song was playing when they lost their virginity (answers, in order: “something short,” he didn’t remember, and Jodeci).
Other profiles and interviews, most of which are available on this blog, include Linkin Park, Grandmaster Flash and Mele Mel, Slash, Jack Johnson, Henry Rollins, Mike Ness, Rob Thomas, Joan Jett, Grace Potter and many more.
Reviews include memorable shows by Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band, Neil Diamond, R. Kelly, Guns N’ Roses and many more.
Thanks to Ebert having much better things to do, I reviewed a few films for the Sun-Times, including the indie-rock doc “Dig!”, the original “Star Wars” trilogy on DVD and, memorably, “Jackass: The Movie.” (While at the Sun-Times, I also learned that if Ebert wishes to sit at your desk, even briefly, you sort of have to let him.)
My humor pieces have absolutely no connective thread whatsoever, but have involved a giant brushfire at my son’s birthday party, the night he vanished from the house at 1:30 a.m., the day he decided he was pregnant, the state of waiting areas of the Newark International Airport and fiascoes about handwriting. I have also been known to become emotionally invested in competitions regarding pierogies.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Hey Jeff, It is up to good people like yourself to let people know whats going on. Thank you. I just wrote a comment about the baggy pants issue,I know I am a little late. LOL. But I do not get on the computer that often as you can see. Let me know if you agree with what I say.
LikeLike
February 1st, 2010 at 11:00 pm
I suddenly feel so completely insignificant. Wonder if I’ll ever get a hug from Travis…
LikeLike
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Step 1. Have a cute young son. Step 2. Ingratiate self with successful Brit-rock outfit with tales of young son. Step 3. Receive hugs. It’s totally a snap.
LikeLike
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:57 pm
well hell, if only i’d known it was that easy. maybe i can get a hug out of snow patrol or heck, maybe even say thom yorke or dave gahan. should be a breeze.
LikeLike
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:51 am
That would be like the Moody Frontman Trifecta. Good luck!
LikeLike
February 7th, 2010 at 12:04 am
I’ve fallen in love with you through your columns and would like to propose. Yes, I know it’s a strange thing- usually an honor only bestowed upon imprisoned serial killers. Still, YOU alone make my local Saturday paper worth the trouble of walking out in the freezing Michigan cold weather to retrieve it….*sigh* Should you decide to accept my offer, you may contact me via email. I think it’s only fair to warn you that I have 3 children that I would expect you to love as your own…
June weddings are nice.
(No- I’m not insane- Just wanted to show my appreciation for all the laughs!)
LikeLike
February 16th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
You have a TON of credits under your belt! I really enjoyed reading your bio and will definitely subscribe and return for more humor…
LikeLike
April 1st, 2010 at 6:17 am
[…] via Jeff Vrabel: Bio « JeffVrabel.com. […]
LikeLike
June 25th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Hey Jeff!! Your cousin Ann in Chicago (whom I work with) directed me to your site. Very funny! Glad she gave me something to do while I’m bored-out-of-my-mind at work! Nice writing. Keep it up. And as I tell Ann all the time, “Kick some ass.”
Peace!!!
LikeLike