Dave Attell: Living on the comedic edge

"PHILADELPHIA is one of my favorite comedy towns, along with Baltimore and, um, Camden," stand-up comedian Dave Attell shared. "I had a great time making an episode of 'Insomniac' there [for Comedy Central]. Loved going to Pat's and Geno's in the middle of the night. Walking the historic cobblestone streets. Visiting the Tastykake factory."

Good timing and good name-checking dude, given your Jersey riverside landing tomorrow at the Susquehanna Bank Center, as part of the second annual Funny or Die Presents Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival.

As summer shed shows go, this one's "definitely an oddball switch from your usual ZZ Top/38 Special bill, your metal tours, your million EDM/trance spectacles," ruminated Attell.

"I've got to admit, I really consider myself an indoor comedian, and most of the acts on this tour - like Louis C.K. and Sarah Silverman - would probably say the same. Only they're too hip to talk to the press or do morning radio. They're off creating a flash mob, putting the word out on Twitter or doing viral videos for Vine. I'm the least plugged-in and glamorous of the bunch, the Ringo of this tour - with apologies to Ringo. It's really cool they asked me to be on the show. They're paying me off in fireworks and cigarettes. You may find me working the parking lot, too."

So, who would qualify as an "outdoor comedian?" we wondered out loud. "Gallagher - when he lets the watermelons fly. Anybody who does juggling. Maybe there'll be some of that in the freaky, 'Curiosity' sideshow part of the festival. But you probably won't see it on the main stage show."

Like typical mega-bills, Oddball will employ big video screens and plenteous amplification to pummel the gags to the back of the Camden theater and out onto the lawn. "Timing is everything in comedy, and it's warping my baby mind just thinking about trying to touch 10 or 20 thousand people at the same time," Attell allowed. "The folks in front - they'll be into it. Out on the lawn - well, the hills have eyes, but are they even watching? I'm thinking everyone who comes should be given a pot brownie. Would definitely help with their concentration, getting the lawn sitters into my zone."

"Blunt" is definitely the unifying word to describe this smokin' class of clowns, also including the likes (and dislikes) of Hannibal Buress, Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin and Brody Stevens.

While restrained in our chat, Attell's act is heavily charged with sexual imagery and storytelling. Mr. C.K. (as your more falutin' papers might call him) shares the grossest, squirmiest tales about his daughters and bachelor dad hijinks in dateland. Ms. Silverman wickedly parodies her Jewish princess roots and any pretense of feminine "sensitivity."

For better or worse, shock value is in, while (rest in peace) Robin Williams' loosey-goosey style of comic daffiness is out in today's startling state of comedy land. "We're trying to connect with a super intelligent, super tech savvy, next generation of comedy fans who're raised on the Web, who've seen and heard it all," Attell said. "In a politically correct world, my crowd is politically incorrect, fearlessly so. We gotta take it to the edge. OK, over the edge."