A musical-comedy act that draws vague comparisons to Gilbert and Sullivan and Steve Poltz and the Rugburns?—It could only be Fragile Male Ego! While there is a strong emphasis on comedy, the self-deprecating and good-natured fun kind (Their bruised and battered egos do seem to draw a healthy crowd of admirers.), their musicianship and harmonies are standout exceptional.

Their fragile male egos all wandered into the promised land from Canada and North Carolina like all great multi-talented circus performers, but how did it all start for such an unlikely trio of musicians, actors, and comedians?

Brad Thomas and Randy Soare collided in the theatre department at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and quickly became known as two of the only few serious theatre students and thus were cast in practically everything. At the height of one impractical epiphany, they performed their 25 minute sword-fight adaptation from the last two pages of Hamlet that would have left anyone in awe but their theatre teacher and the southern belle Brad was trying to impress in a drunken frenzy. In his most impressive performance to date, Randy was left with his nose hanging by a thread. If that wasn’t enough, Randy also had a homosexual stalker running loose in his dorm (Randy will have to explain that one.). The two practically became blood brothers overnight.

It took a little while for the circus geeks to begin feeding on the musical Muse. The two were content for a time to snack on the beach, making up songs on the spot to amuse their friends and recording it all for that first box set, “On the Beach: Outtakes and Demos.”

Fast forward to New York about four years ago. After about a year of not doing very much musically, Randy began searching for the Muse, Brad arrived from Toronto to fulfill his dream of becoming a starving actor, and the two sort of picked up where they left off: drinking beers on the roof and horsing around on their guitars and recording all of it, as they did on the beach not so very long ago, for the “On the Roof: “Outtakes and Demos” box set.

Finally the musical Muse started to feed the circus geeks: Someone suggested that they get in front of an audience and give it a shot. The date was finally set, and about 2 years ago they got up on stage at the Antihoot---a “memorable” experience for all (ask them about their new pedals!).

Eric Chercover (former bass player in Brad’s Toronto band, The Bootlicks) arrived from Toronto about the same time to shamelessly follow his future wife and found himself performing at Desmond’s in Midtown with Brad in the audience. Brad and Randy were looking for a lead guitarist at the time and Eric was looking for a little more to occupy himself besides an acting career. They all decided to get together a while later and drink beers and jam in the tradition of all great rock ‘n’ roll legends. The musical Muse had arrived and Fragile Male Ego was born. Eric’s contributions increased the harmonies a whole lot and with his keen ear has become the group’s musical arranger, tweaking and organizing here and there.

Fragile Male Ego has essentially gone through two evolutions. First, there was, and is, the core of three. For a brief moment in time, they were a full band, with a drummer, a bass player, and a few additional hangers on. Through what could only be called a series of opportunities the whole outer shell fell away, and the three of them are what remain. This is how they are most comfortable and it suits their vision. But is it a comedy act or is it a band? Well, it’s both. But without the musicianship the comedic timing wouldn’t be there.

Their fragile male egos cater to everybody, especially women who tap into their comedic ineptitude, this human comedy, this tragicomic aspect of human drama. We all seem to be able to laugh at ourselves because we can relate. And there seems to be something said for sincerity too. The boys are writing from personal experience but being truly performers, actors and comedians, put just enough of a satirical spin to the business to keep everyone interested, laughing, and always coming back for more.

There are upcoming comedy shows, and of course the always special Kwannakahmas on Saturday the 22nd of December at 8;00 p.m. on this here stage where they will perform some of their hilarious and painful Christmas tunes including “Merry F___ing Christmas” and “Avoiding Home for the Holidays” as well as a kick-ass, acoustic-punk version of “The Grinch,” complete with narration.

Mounting a “Hedwig and the Angry Itch” type of show is not an impossible dream for these guys. Don’t forget to check their web site http://www.fragilemaleego.net for updates.