Comic Rachel Feinstein is surviving the pandemic one prank name at a time | The Blender

The calls haven’t stopped.

Feinstein and buddy Jessica Kirson have collaborated on “The Name Women,” a comedy album with tracks together with “Intercourse Store,” “Gymnastics Lesson,” “Therapeutic massage Parlor,” “The Bikini Low cost” and extra.

Feinstein is a headliner on the Flyover Comedy Competition, which runs Nov. 11-13 within the Grove Neighborhood. She performs Nov. 13 at Scorching Java Bar.

The brand new album rose from Feinstein’s struggles in the course of the pandemic. For months, she was unable to tour.

However a brilliant spot was giving beginning to her first baby. Her husband wasn’t allowed within the supply room due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“It was a bizarre, remoted time,” she says. “It was additionally a jacked-up time. And in the course of all this, I made the prank album. We began prank-calling strangers. It was enjoyable, and it made me blissful. As an alternative of rocking backwards and forwards in my nightgown and buzzing, we’d make these bizarre calls. The pranks album received me via.”

And it undoubtedly was higher than “performing in backyards and squatting on high of buildings as a result of I needed to,” she says.

A prank name is most profitable, Feinstein says, when you’ll be able to maintain the opposite get together on the road. One trick that works for them is pretending to be outdated.

“Folks put up with something for outdated girls,” she says. “You may get them to have interaction in essentially the most absurd issues potential.”

Resembling? Calling a therapeutic massage parlor and requesting a socially distanced therapeutic massage by a masseuse with very lengthy arms — or perhaps a digital therapeutic massage.

Generally the calls go flawed or backfire, however Feinstein and Kirson don’t surrender.

“Lots of people simply hung up and didn’t need something to do with us,” Feinstein says. “We do name again.”

They’re already planning a sequel to “The Name Women,” and it seemingly will turn out to be a sequence of albums.

She enjoys any challenge by which she will work with pals, akin to when she teamed with Amy Schumer for “Amy Schumer Presents Rachel Feinstein: Solely Whores Put on Purple.”

“All of my closest pals are actually humorous comedians — Amy Schumer, Marina Franklin, (St. Louisan) Nikki Glaser,” Feinstein says. “We’ve gotten to work lots collectively.”

The ladies have been featured on “Girls Who Kill,” a 2013 comedy particular. “They’re my pricey pals, and it’s nice to have the ability to make stuff along with them.”

Being again onstage now could be very important for Feinstein. She says it provides her an adrenaline rush.

“I would like that launch — to get onstage and course of stuff and impersonate individuals,” she says. “Plus, I don’t have another expertise. That is it. I can’t keep inside and be inside with regular individuals. I’ve by no means had a completely regular life. My life has been bizarre and unusual.”

She’s additionally grateful to the followers for displaying up at stay comedy exhibits as soon as once more.

”What a present that’s,” she says. “There was hypothesis it was lifeless. Would individuals wanna be packed in basements anymore? But it surely’s good. Folks want that launch too.”

The “Final Comedian Standing” finalist says she has a variety of new materials about her life. Her husband is a firefighter.

Writing the fabric didn’t contain any specific work technique or ethic, she says. Mainly, if one thing occurs in her life, “I run onstage and discuss it. I’m not organized the place I sit down and write. I’m last-minute. I’m not a type of organized individuals.

“I’m a storyteller,” she says. “It’s not a clear present. There are components which can be sick and flawed. It’s a superb hold.”

What she hasn’t missed about touring are the often horrible inexperienced rooms at venues — although that hasn’t been an issue for her in St. Louis. She has carried out right here many occasions and calls native comedians Tim Convey and Sean O’Brien pals.

“I really like the crowds in St. Louis,” she says. “I’m all the time grateful to be there. You possibly can say no matter you need, and also you don’t should be cautious. It’s not a PC crowd. Individuals are unfastened there. And I really like the barbecue.”

What Rachel Feinstein • When 8 p.m. Nov. 13 • The place Scorching Java Bar, 4193 Manchester Avenue • How a lot $24.50, with three-day passes out there; proof of full COVID-19 vaccination required • Extra information flyoverocomedyfest.com