In the Mixer. What turned into a long session as we refused to give up the table.
(I could do a stupid joke about love is blind at this point.)
Friday, December 30, 2005
The New Year Celebrations
Ok, there are a stack of photo's here from various nights over the Christmas and New Year Break. I'm going to try and get as many of them as I can up here for your amusement.
(I could do a stupid joke about love is blind at this point.)
(I could do a stupid joke about love is blind at this point.)
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Christmas in Paris
A few pictures from the Work Christmas Lunch. Yes that's right, Christmas lunch in Paris. Get us swanning about.
River Seine near the Louvre
An Accordian playing Santa
Inside the Restaurant
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Nine Black Alps - Astoria
Wednesday 14th December
Giles called me up having got a spare ticket for the Nine Black Alps at the Astoria. I'm fairly convinced that I've seen them before, probably just as a band on early at Glastonbury or something, but I thought it was worth seeing them again. I figured I knew at least one of their songs. I actually counted 4 songs that I knew. It's XFM, the songs creep into your subconscious when it's on as background noise.
We decided on getting a view from the balcony since it was rammed downstairs. It's probably as well, since there is no way I could have kept up with the kids in the mosh pit beating 7 kinds of crap out of each other. And to be honest it was a lot more fun watching it from our bird's eye view. The odd girl or couple wandering forward thinking they could see a gap nearer the front, only to find themselves in a whirlpool of teenage moshing. The crowd seemed to be enjoying the moshing and surfing slightly more than they were the music.
Watching the bouncers as they pulled the surfing kids clear of the barrier I came up with the theory of Bouncer Cricket. There definitely seemed to be some competiveness going on and so I conclude that you get 3 points for a pulling a kid clear. 1 point for an assist. Seriously there was one bouncer, who if he didn't get a hold on the kid first, went then to hold on to the back of the bouncer who had. And then 2 points for pushing the kid once he was over and on his way back round.
And so Bouncer Cricket is born.
Giles called me up having got a spare ticket for the Nine Black Alps at the Astoria. I'm fairly convinced that I've seen them before, probably just as a band on early at Glastonbury or something, but I thought it was worth seeing them again. I figured I knew at least one of their songs. I actually counted 4 songs that I knew. It's XFM, the songs creep into your subconscious when it's on as background noise.
We decided on getting a view from the balcony since it was rammed downstairs. It's probably as well, since there is no way I could have kept up with the kids in the mosh pit beating 7 kinds of crap out of each other. And to be honest it was a lot more fun watching it from our bird's eye view. The odd girl or couple wandering forward thinking they could see a gap nearer the front, only to find themselves in a whirlpool of teenage moshing. The crowd seemed to be enjoying the moshing and surfing slightly more than they were the music.
Watching the bouncers as they pulled the surfing kids clear of the barrier I came up with the theory of Bouncer Cricket. There definitely seemed to be some competiveness going on and so I conclude that you get 3 points for a pulling a kid clear. 1 point for an assist. Seriously there was one bouncer, who if he didn't get a hold on the kid first, went then to hold on to the back of the bouncer who had. And then 2 points for pushing the kid once he was over and on his way back round.
And so Bouncer Cricket is born.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Political Animal - Soho Theatre
Wednesday 7th December
Politcal Animal with Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver
Guests - Andy Parsons, Pete Cain
Another comedy night running on a twice montly basis, sadly on the same twice nightly night as the Book Club. Just this once we decided to pop along to this rather than the Book Club.
The night was a mixture of Andy and John doing their stand up followed by an act, then a break for beer, followed by a second half similar to the first, with the second act in like a headline slot.
Andy and John came on at one point with a new toy they wanted to market. The Tony Benn doll. A pure genius item. I'd sell it. They had bits of Tony Benn speech on CD pretending it was actually the doll talking. It sounded just like the ramblings of a mad man, very much like Tony Benn himself.
I think this comedy night could very much depend on the comedy acts as well as the crowd. Me and Caz made the foolish decision once again to sit at the front, just slightly to the side. As it turned out it was a small crowd and we spaced ourselves out evenly, with gaps everywhere so the acts couldn't direct the comedy in any particular direction without feeling like they were missing out some of the audience. I got picked on by Andy Parsons. My own fault for my positioning, but it wasn't so bad. Andy actually wasn't as shouty as he can be, maybe because it's such a small room, he didn't need to. The shouty technique is what normally puts me off with his comedy, so it was actually quite a good set.
A good evening but I suspect the lore of Book Club we won't be back unless there are some heavy weight acts like Chris Addison there.
Politcal Animal with Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver
Guests - Andy Parsons, Pete Cain
Another comedy night running on a twice montly basis, sadly on the same twice nightly night as the Book Club. Just this once we decided to pop along to this rather than the Book Club.
The night was a mixture of Andy and John doing their stand up followed by an act, then a break for beer, followed by a second half similar to the first, with the second act in like a headline slot.
Andy and John came on at one point with a new toy they wanted to market. The Tony Benn doll. A pure genius item. I'd sell it. They had bits of Tony Benn speech on CD pretending it was actually the doll talking. It sounded just like the ramblings of a mad man, very much like Tony Benn himself.
I think this comedy night could very much depend on the comedy acts as well as the crowd. Me and Caz made the foolish decision once again to sit at the front, just slightly to the side. As it turned out it was a small crowd and we spaced ourselves out evenly, with gaps everywhere so the acts couldn't direct the comedy in any particular direction without feeling like they were missing out some of the audience. I got picked on by Andy Parsons. My own fault for my positioning, but it wasn't so bad. Andy actually wasn't as shouty as he can be, maybe because it's such a small room, he didn't need to. The shouty technique is what normally puts me off with his comedy, so it was actually quite a good set.
A good evening but I suspect the lore of Book Club we won't be back unless there are some heavy weight acts like Chris Addison there.
Monday, December 05, 2005
The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You - Panto
Sunday 4th December
The League of Gents Panto has come in for some criticism in recent previews and reviews so I wasn't sure what to expect. I can see that as Little Britain is touring for the first time, the L of G's show might seem a little tired, since many of the characters have been here before. Still having seen the show I think the backlash was a little unwarranted.
The show was split into two parts, the first half saw Legs Akimbo trying to organise a community navity play. After an accident befell Olly (or rather the stage props befell on Olly,) the community decided to put on their own panto. So the second half was the panto proper. Or at least a shambolic panto with all the characters from the show we know and love. The Panto Cow is inspected by Veterinary Chinnery. The Ugly Sister/Dame is Pauline, complete with pen influenced garish costume.
I think if you paid for a League of Gents Panto, that is what you got. And funny too.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Mike's 30th
Saturday 3rd December
We spent this Saturday night in a scout hut tucked at the back of the Waitrose Car Park in Birch Hill, Bracknell, for Mike's 30th.
The first of the group to hit the milestone, it's frightening to think so many of us have it all to come in the next year.
It was a good night. Plenty of cheap pints and JD, until the JD was gone (shock horror, we cleaned them out!)
Here are a couple of photos I took with my digital camera during the evening, though I am sure there must be more floating about since there was a disposable camera on every table.
We spent this Saturday night in a scout hut tucked at the back of the Waitrose Car Park in Birch Hill, Bracknell, for Mike's 30th.
The first of the group to hit the milestone, it's frightening to think so many of us have it all to come in the next year.
It was a good night. Plenty of cheap pints and JD, until the JD was gone (shock horror, we cleaned them out!)
Here are a couple of photos I took with my digital camera during the evening, though I am sure there must be more floating about since there was a disposable camera on every table.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Big Howard Little Howard Show - 2nd December
Friday 2nd December
Howard’ show being as technical as it is, is always going to have problems, especially when relying on Macs and infrared connections, but Big Howard is used to this by now. He has little tricks to make us forget and just make it all part of the shows charm.
I took Dave along with us this time, having already converted Caz, so he could see what we were raving about. (My “it’s a ladybird” Little Howard impression isn’t enough apparently.) Making Caz and Dave sit on the front row was in hindsight only ever going to backfire, but I know they wouldn’t have been able to see any further back.
So sure enough as a technical problem occurred, which involved rebooting the main computer attached to the main screen, a quick 5 minute sketch on the laptop to the side of the stage was needed. Choosing a sketch from last years show, that I wasn’t fortunate enough to have seen. So I couldn’t have known what was coming. As Howard asked for a volunteer to go on a date with Little Howard, the shows 6 year old cartoon boy. I tried looking all around, bar right in front of me, where Big Howard was stood. As soon as I turned, thinking it was safe, I caught his eye and realized I’d been the intended target all along.
The date started pleasantly enough. Big Howard played the waiter, as Little Howard went about ordering Sunny Delight to drink. I was prompted by an onscreen script to ask for Um Bongo, as LH said “an excellent choice my dear.” The date went remarkably well, apart from him falling asleep when I replied to his question of what I did for a living, (a stock response for all 6 yr olds I understand.) There was an embarrassing question about what it was like to have breasts, to which my ad-libbed reply of “great” made a couple at the front laugh out loud if no one else.
Funny how when (prompted) to ask if we could get out of their as I wasn’t that chaste that I was chased by Big Howard back to my seat! Apparently propositioning a 6 year old cartoon boy is wrong. (Ok that was me joking.) He did tell me I looked ravishing, that I will take seriously. It’s not like I get told that everyday, cartoon boy or not.
Howard’ show being as technical as it is, is always going to have problems, especially when relying on Macs and infrared connections, but Big Howard is used to this by now. He has little tricks to make us forget and just make it all part of the shows charm.
I took Dave along with us this time, having already converted Caz, so he could see what we were raving about. (My “it’s a ladybird” Little Howard impression isn’t enough apparently.) Making Caz and Dave sit on the front row was in hindsight only ever going to backfire, but I know they wouldn’t have been able to see any further back.
So sure enough as a technical problem occurred, which involved rebooting the main computer attached to the main screen, a quick 5 minute sketch on the laptop to the side of the stage was needed. Choosing a sketch from last years show, that I wasn’t fortunate enough to have seen. So I couldn’t have known what was coming. As Howard asked for a volunteer to go on a date with Little Howard, the shows 6 year old cartoon boy. I tried looking all around, bar right in front of me, where Big Howard was stood. As soon as I turned, thinking it was safe, I caught his eye and realized I’d been the intended target all along.
The date started pleasantly enough. Big Howard played the waiter, as Little Howard went about ordering Sunny Delight to drink. I was prompted by an onscreen script to ask for Um Bongo, as LH said “an excellent choice my dear.” The date went remarkably well, apart from him falling asleep when I replied to his question of what I did for a living, (a stock response for all 6 yr olds I understand.) There was an embarrassing question about what it was like to have breasts, to which my ad-libbed reply of “great” made a couple at the front laugh out loud if no one else.
Funny how when (prompted) to ask if we could get out of their as I wasn’t that chaste that I was chased by Big Howard back to my seat! Apparently propositioning a 6 year old cartoon boy is wrong. (Ok that was me joking.) He did tell me I looked ravishing, that I will take seriously. It’s not like I get told that everyday, cartoon boy or not.
Friday, November 18, 2005
News Quiz - October to November
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/newsquiz.shtml
Managed to see 5 episodes of this series of the News Quiz being recorded at the Drill Hall. Some of the panelists we’ve seen are Jeremy Hardy, Linda Smith, Professor Armando Iannucci, Andy Hamilton, Alan Coren, Francis Wheen, and Marcus Brigstocke.
Some of the highlights, which were more than likely not broadcast, were.
- The South Bank Show coming in to record Armando as they’re doing a show on him following his success with programmes such as The Thick Of It (showing on BBC2 in January.) Just for the ribbing recently “professored” Armando got.
- Jeremy Hardy throwing a bottle of water at someone trying to leave before they’d done the few retakes on lines Simon Hoggart, the host, had fluffed. It only ever takes 5 minutes, boring yes, but polite to stay through. It’s not like they’re adding funnier lines and ruining the effect of the show or anything.
- Alan Coren’s legally can’t go out on air stories, of which there is at least one a show. Like when he went to a party once being thrown by Michael Caine, a friend of his. It was around the time of the story about Richard Gere and the Hamster (non) incident and the subsequent page advertisement in the New York Times denying any impropriety. Alan knew that Caine was neighbours with Gere over in LA, so asked Caine what he thought of the allegations that Gere was gay. Caine’s alledged reply was “put it this way if they were ever short handed he’d help out.” It’s stories like that which will obviously never make it to air, but make us all chuckle in our seats and make the journey worth while. That and…
- Jeremy Hardy’s ranting. Jeremy could fill the half our show all by himself. Once he gets on a subject of the pet hate variety, it’s like winding up a spinning top and then see him go.
I’d recommend getting free tickets next series.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Mark Thomas and Rob Newman
Bloomsbury Theatre - 10th November 2005
We went to the Bloomsbury to see a double bill of two of the finest satirical comedians on the circuit. Having already seen Rob Newman's show as a work in progress back in January of this year it was good to see it again now, months on, when it's been finely honed after weeks of travelling the country. It's tough to argue with his in-depth and historical look at the reasons for the war in Iraq. It's so because of oil and America's need to own it. Anyone walking away from this show thinking otherwise was not paying attention.
Mark Thomas's half was more of a talk about the Arms Fair held over at Exel which he managed to get into with relative ease, and the video he recorded doing this, and other similar things. The video was on sale outside, so it was almost like a sales pitch. But funny and interesting all the same. It was only after 10 minutes of his half did I remember I'd seen him not 2 weeks before doing an opener to the Firesign Theatre group, as he repeated some of the material.
The finale/encore saw Mark and Rob come on stage together to do a number together with a ukulele backing. An hilarious bit of frivolity to finish on.
We went to the Bloomsbury to see a double bill of two of the finest satirical comedians on the circuit. Having already seen Rob Newman's show as a work in progress back in January of this year it was good to see it again now, months on, when it's been finely honed after weeks of travelling the country. It's tough to argue with his in-depth and historical look at the reasons for the war in Iraq. It's so because of oil and America's need to own it. Anyone walking away from this show thinking otherwise was not paying attention.
Mark Thomas's half was more of a talk about the Arms Fair held over at Exel which he managed to get into with relative ease, and the video he recorded doing this, and other similar things. The video was on sale outside, so it was almost like a sales pitch. But funny and interesting all the same. It was only after 10 minutes of his half did I remember I'd seen him not 2 weeks before doing an opener to the Firesign Theatre group, as he repeated some of the material.
The finale/encore saw Mark and Rob come on stage together to do a number together with a ukulele backing. An hilarious bit of frivolity to finish on.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Toulson and Harvey
Soho Theatre - 5th November 2005
With this show being satirical, it’s hard for the show not to evolve. So unlike the other transferred Edinburgh shows which have been almost word for word the same – here items have moved on or been replaced.
The central plot of the male and female news anchors having an affair to ad to their onscreen chemistry has now become a married couple, but one where one half leaves the other. The Two Blairs, Evil and Good Blair are now more than a minute sketch. We elected Good Blair first time round, but he’s been locked in a cupboard ever since by Evil Blair, who we’ve then been stupid enough to then vote for. They’ve been fleshed out, if that’s possible with a two-dimensional egotistical character like Blair, and given a longer slot, with a great Star Wars childlike play, including Jabbaprescott and Gordon Vader etc.
There were still my favourite nonsensical bits with Parky interviewing a rock star wishing to help the Penguins of Afghanistan. There is a rock song rhyming everything with North not realizing they are actually from South Pole. Cue song where he tries his best to make the word south rhyme with words like fourth.
With this show being satirical, it’s hard for the show not to evolve. So unlike the other transferred Edinburgh shows which have been almost word for word the same – here items have moved on or been replaced.
The central plot of the male and female news anchors having an affair to ad to their onscreen chemistry has now become a married couple, but one where one half leaves the other. The Two Blairs, Evil and Good Blair are now more than a minute sketch. We elected Good Blair first time round, but he’s been locked in a cupboard ever since by Evil Blair, who we’ve then been stupid enough to then vote for. They’ve been fleshed out, if that’s possible with a two-dimensional egotistical character like Blair, and given a longer slot, with a great Star Wars childlike play, including Jabbaprescott and Gordon Vader etc.
There were still my favourite nonsensical bits with Parky interviewing a rock star wishing to help the Penguins of Afghanistan. There is a rock song rhyming everything with North not realizing they are actually from South Pole. Cue song where he tries his best to make the word south rhyme with words like fourth.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Singles night - 4th November
For those of you who don't know, I went on a singles night on Friday. Oh yes. Lots of cocktails and dancing in the Guanabar resulted in little more than sleazy men trying to grab dances with everyone. Needless to say I left early (9.15pm) to see the Red Hand Band play Jamm at Brixton.
But for those curious a few photo's are back. The rest will be here in a few days.
But for those curious a few photo's are back. The rest will be here in a few days.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Hunting For The Oddest Books Ever.
This was in the recently returned section of my local library at Kentish Town, which I joined at the weekend. Maybe I’ve led a sheltered life… I just had no idea…
Oddest book title
This is exactly the sort of thing that would go down well at the book club I'm sure.
Oddest book title
This is exactly the sort of thing that would go down well at the book club I'm sure.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
The Book Club - Lowdown at the Albany
This weeks Book Club had a few more passing comedians jump up on stage, namely Sarah Kendall and Paul from the Trap. I haven't seen Sarah before, though I know she is one of the few female comics to be nominated for the Perrier in recent years. She seems like a very natural performer.
Martin covered the Backstreet Boy's Everybody (Backstreet's Back), Pulp's This is Hardcore, and Spark's This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us in his own imitible accordianing style.
Bennett Arron did what was at times a painful set of jokes. He still not the most confident of performers, which reflects negatively on his material.
Books from Robin Ince this week included another read from the British Massage Parlours Guide Vol. 3, written sometime in the 1970's and of course from a Mills and Boons. This week Diamond Stud, another early 80's classic, judging by it's cover.
And Live Boggle returned.
I think we might be addicted to this anarchic mixture of comedy... I get withdrawals when we don't go.
Martin covered the Backstreet Boy's Everybody (Backstreet's Back), Pulp's This is Hardcore, and Spark's This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us in his own imitible accordianing style.
Bennett Arron did what was at times a painful set of jokes. He still not the most confident of performers, which reflects negatively on his material.
Books from Robin Ince this week included another read from the British Massage Parlours Guide Vol. 3, written sometime in the 1970's and of course from a Mills and Boons. This week Diamond Stud, another early 80's classic, judging by it's cover.
And Live Boggle returned.
I think we might be addicted to this anarchic mixture of comedy... I get withdrawals when we don't go.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Perrier London Season - Dutch Elm Conservatoire in Conspiracy and Tim Minchin
Dutch Elm. I still love the sillyness of this show, and it's quotability. The great scene with the aliens hovering above a field of wheat, whilst a conspiracy theorsist questions them on what they are doing. Are they warnings of impending doom from our alien neighbours? No they're just intergaltic doodles from bored aliens, a bit like when you are on the telephone and you draw a moustache on the Thompsons Directory cat.
I love the Austrians who steal the Turin Shroud to clone Jesus, like they did in the film Jurassic Park. And once more Jesus will walk amongst us. Unfortunately it doesn't work and so the scientist comes out with a top hat, wand and a pack of cards pretending to do magic. Jesus the Derren Brown of his day.
Even the strained joke about the Evil Austrian masterminds name Herr Dryer is funny, as it gets repeated and repeated and repeated. "Herr Dryer."
(With a cockney accent) "Hairdrier."
"No not Hairdrier. Herr.... Dryer."
"Yeah, Hairdrier."
Repeat for 5 frustrating Austrian minutes.
Trust me it's funny. I still believe it'll be made into a TV series on one day.
Tim Minchin. I have already written a fairly scathing attack on Mr Munchkin. And had to then defend my point of view against a "friend of Tim's" amongst these pages. I was not alone in disliking his Edinburgh show, but then he had an equal amount of avid followers.
What was very interesting to see as the show was bought to London, is how much of the act had changed. Something I was a little disgruntled by, it has to be said. Afterall this was supposed to be a showcase for the acts as they were in Edinburgh, not a showcase for Mr Munchkins talents. Still I can't deny the show was better for dropping the prat-fall of the stage, and improving what I thought were stilted fill-in jokes in Edinburgh.
Everyone else managed to keep their shows the same, holding them up for what they were, Perrier nominated/winning shows. I'm not sure what makes Tim think he's different. Perhaps it shows he wasn't happy with the show as it stood either.
Still think Ben Folds does it better.
I love the Austrians who steal the Turin Shroud to clone Jesus, like they did in the film Jurassic Park. And once more Jesus will walk amongst us. Unfortunately it doesn't work and so the scientist comes out with a top hat, wand and a pack of cards pretending to do magic. Jesus the Derren Brown of his day.
Even the strained joke about the Evil Austrian masterminds name Herr Dryer is funny, as it gets repeated and repeated and repeated. "Herr Dryer."
(With a cockney accent) "Hairdrier."
"No not Hairdrier. Herr.... Dryer."
"Yeah, Hairdrier."
Repeat for 5 frustrating Austrian minutes.
Trust me it's funny. I still believe it'll be made into a TV series on one day.
Tim Minchin. I have already written a fairly scathing attack on Mr Munchkin. And had to then defend my point of view against a "friend of Tim's" amongst these pages. I was not alone in disliking his Edinburgh show, but then he had an equal amount of avid followers.
What was very interesting to see as the show was bought to London, is how much of the act had changed. Something I was a little disgruntled by, it has to be said. Afterall this was supposed to be a showcase for the acts as they were in Edinburgh, not a showcase for Mr Munchkins talents. Still I can't deny the show was better for dropping the prat-fall of the stage, and improving what I thought were stilted fill-in jokes in Edinburgh.
Everyone else managed to keep their shows the same, holding them up for what they were, Perrier nominated/winning shows. I'm not sure what makes Tim think he's different. Perhaps it shows he wasn't happy with the show as it stood either.
Still think Ben Folds does it better.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Dr Who
Well it's the mad season, where I get stressed, irritable, and down due to it being Xmas in the mail order world. Not even having time to pop in here and update to say I'm tired and pissed off with it all. Still just read about this: Sexed up Dr Who and couldn't resist writing it up on here.
Doctor Who's steamy spin-off
An adults-only 'Doctor Who' spin-off show is being made.
'Torchwood', an anagram of 'Doctor Who', will follow the adventures of the Timelord's bisexual side-kick from the last series Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman.
The programme is set to hit screens next summer and will contain sex scenes as well as more adult-themed storylines although it is not yet known whether the new Doctor, played by David Tennant, will feature in any episodes.
A BBC insider revealed: "This will be a million miles away from the Saturday night adventures of the Doctor.
"There will be sex scenes galore. It's going to be graphic."
Barrowman, 38, admits he is thrilled about the show and can't wait to start working with 'Doctor Who' writer Russell T Davies, who will pen the new series.
He said: "'Torchwood' is going to be a dark, wild and sexy roller-coaster ride. I can't wait to explore Captain Jack even more."
Can't help feeling screw it being an anagram, wouldn't Touchwood have been better?!!
P.S. I promise to pop back in here and update these pages with all my recent gigs etc soon.
Doctor Who's steamy spin-off
An adults-only 'Doctor Who' spin-off show is being made.
'Torchwood', an anagram of 'Doctor Who', will follow the adventures of the Timelord's bisexual side-kick from the last series Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman.
The programme is set to hit screens next summer and will contain sex scenes as well as more adult-themed storylines although it is not yet known whether the new Doctor, played by David Tennant, will feature in any episodes.
A BBC insider revealed: "This will be a million miles away from the Saturday night adventures of the Doctor.
"There will be sex scenes galore. It's going to be graphic."
Barrowman, 38, admits he is thrilled about the show and can't wait to start working with 'Doctor Who' writer Russell T Davies, who will pen the new series.
He said: "'Torchwood' is going to be a dark, wild and sexy roller-coaster ride. I can't wait to explore Captain Jack even more."
Can't help feeling screw it being an anagram, wouldn't Touchwood have been better?!!
P.S. I promise to pop back in here and update these pages with all my recent gigs etc soon.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Perrier London Season - Laura Solon and Jason Manford
Jason Manford
Previously I have written the words “The new Peter Kay. Supposedly.” His hour is still a pleasant one. It was nice to see him interact with such a large audience and make it feel almost instantly like we were just in a tiny comedy club, and we were all his friends. It is only a matter of time before we start to see Jason’s beaming face hosting every Channel 4 quiz show ousting Jimmy Carr.
Laura Solon
This was the show that I most wanted to see transfer from Edinburgh to London. From tiny backroom of a pub to a West End Theatre. With only a few changes to the running order of the 8 different characters to allow for easier costume changes, it was pretty much the same. It felt good to hear the entire London audience finding the same jokes funny. “My husband left me. I knew it wouldn’t work out, cos I am a Carpricorn, where as he is a cunt.”
Go and catch her at the Soho Theatre
Previously I have written the words “The new Peter Kay. Supposedly.” His hour is still a pleasant one. It was nice to see him interact with such a large audience and make it feel almost instantly like we were just in a tiny comedy club, and we were all his friends. It is only a matter of time before we start to see Jason’s beaming face hosting every Channel 4 quiz show ousting Jimmy Carr.
Laura Solon
This was the show that I most wanted to see transfer from Edinburgh to London. From tiny backroom of a pub to a West End Theatre. With only a few changes to the running order of the 8 different characters to allow for easier costume changes, it was pretty much the same. It felt good to hear the entire London audience finding the same jokes funny. “My husband left me. I knew it wouldn’t work out, cos I am a Carpricorn, where as he is a cunt.”
Go and catch her at the Soho Theatre
Thursday, October 13, 2005
The Book Club - Lowdown at the Albany
The Book Club is now on twice a month. Host Robin Ince is as ever trying to keep together the ram shackle band of comedians, making sure they get on and off stage with some sense of timing. Trying to keep order as the evening progresses, and more and more alcohol's consumed. By 11 there is slight chaos something we are coming to love them for.
Tonight’s show isn't as packed out as the other week after the Guardian wrote up a preview on it. But I think the drop in numbers has more to do with the extra table at the back for Ricky Gervias and friends to sit at, and the turning away of a lot of people on the door.
Robin’s reads this week were from Don Estelle’s biography. Don't take property advice from him. A final reading from Diamond Stud, possibly the best Mills and Boons novel, ever. She is still trapped in a lighthouse with a man she doesn't get on with. Will they ever see eye to eye....
And a rather disturbing reading from the Krankies biography. The book is available for £2.99 in The Works. All I can say is don't part with your money. They're anti-semitic and racist. Who would have thought it. And Ian “Krankie” likes to get into fights. Blimey.
Tonight sees a stream of guest comedians turning up with their favourite books.
Natalie Haynes arrives with her arms full of the Diagnosis Murder Series. Yes that Dick Van Dyke TV series has its own series of books, complete with Mr Van Dyke's picture on the front. It has to be said that the plot to the one she read out is fantastic, and completely mad. A woman dressed as a mermaid is washed up on the beach. They think she's been killed by a shark, before the Van Dykes (Father and son) work out that she was actually killed by someone dressed in a sharks costume. Oh yes. That is a genius plot for a book or TV programme, you have to admit.
Chris Neill, not my favourite comedian in the world, bought along Page 3 model Jodie Marsh's biography and proceeded to read out a horrific story of her having sex in the back of a taxi. It was hilarious, though I’m not sure Jodie meant it to be. We should be lucky he didn’t read from the story about her rimming some band like Busted or Blue apparently……
Scott Capurro did a stint concerning the correct amount to tip taxis, do you, don’t you?
Martin played some great tunes on the accordian. First up Toxic by Britney. Sounding suspiciously like Bob Dylan in places as he couldn't quite reach the notes. Then he did the Power of Love in the second section. And finished the third part of the evening off with an Auteurs track for the indie kids.
But the highlight has to have been the Chat True Story re-enactment. Chav stories from hell. With the title “Bitten off more than I could chew.” It could have gone so many ways! The story involved two best friends going out drinking one night. The next morning one wakes up to find herself covered in blood with no recollection of the evening. She remembers them accepting drinks from a man and thinking we might get raped. She thinks that maybe she was in a fight defending her best friend. The story proceeds, with various comedians acting out the roles of best friends, boyfriends, policemen etc. It unravels that she got off her head and bit a chunk out of her friend’s cheek and ends up in jail for Grevious Bodily Harm. The story ends with her friend still not speaking to her, saying she’s psycho.
Classic book club material. Classic book club night.
Tonight’s show isn't as packed out as the other week after the Guardian wrote up a preview on it. But I think the drop in numbers has more to do with the extra table at the back for Ricky Gervias and friends to sit at, and the turning away of a lot of people on the door.
Robin’s reads this week were from Don Estelle’s biography. Don't take property advice from him. A final reading from Diamond Stud, possibly the best Mills and Boons novel, ever. She is still trapped in a lighthouse with a man she doesn't get on with. Will they ever see eye to eye....
And a rather disturbing reading from the Krankies biography. The book is available for £2.99 in The Works. All I can say is don't part with your money. They're anti-semitic and racist. Who would have thought it. And Ian “Krankie” likes to get into fights. Blimey.
Tonight sees a stream of guest comedians turning up with their favourite books.
Natalie Haynes arrives with her arms full of the Diagnosis Murder Series. Yes that Dick Van Dyke TV series has its own series of books, complete with Mr Van Dyke's picture on the front. It has to be said that the plot to the one she read out is fantastic, and completely mad. A woman dressed as a mermaid is washed up on the beach. They think she's been killed by a shark, before the Van Dykes (Father and son) work out that she was actually killed by someone dressed in a sharks costume. Oh yes. That is a genius plot for a book or TV programme, you have to admit.
Chris Neill, not my favourite comedian in the world, bought along Page 3 model Jodie Marsh's biography and proceeded to read out a horrific story of her having sex in the back of a taxi. It was hilarious, though I’m not sure Jodie meant it to be. We should be lucky he didn’t read from the story about her rimming some band like Busted or Blue apparently……
Scott Capurro did a stint concerning the correct amount to tip taxis, do you, don’t you?
Martin played some great tunes on the accordian. First up Toxic by Britney. Sounding suspiciously like Bob Dylan in places as he couldn't quite reach the notes. Then he did the Power of Love in the second section. And finished the third part of the evening off with an Auteurs track for the indie kids.
But the highlight has to have been the Chat True Story re-enactment. Chav stories from hell. With the title “Bitten off more than I could chew.” It could have gone so many ways! The story involved two best friends going out drinking one night. The next morning one wakes up to find herself covered in blood with no recollection of the evening. She remembers them accepting drinks from a man and thinking we might get raped. She thinks that maybe she was in a fight defending her best friend. The story proceeds, with various comedians acting out the roles of best friends, boyfriends, policemen etc. It unravels that she got off her head and bit a chunk out of her friend’s cheek and ends up in jail for Grevious Bodily Harm. The story ends with her friend still not speaking to her, saying she’s psycho.
Classic book club material. Classic book club night.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Perrier London Season - Jeremy Lion and Chris Addison - Lyric Theatre - 9th October
Jeremy Lion - What's the Time Mr Lion?
I found myself giggling all the way through Jeremy's show. Not because it was funny, but having seen the show twice before and not enjoying it, it's now become something in my mind so bad it's good. I think from now on we will always have a love/hate relationship. At least this time I didn't have to care it was a perrier contender. I also didn't have some mad bitch next to me making comments about me and the fact I wasn't laughing like I did last time. Caz was sat next to me instead. The first time she's got to see the show and although she'd had a fair amount to drink beforehand neither of us could get to that level drunkenness.
The whisky moment is still the highlight of the show, as the Jeremy, the alcoholic kid's entertainer finds hidden bottles amongst the stage props and then hands them out in a game of pass the parcel without the music. There is a nice moment when he comes down into the audience and finds one above the Stall doors exit sign. And one is planted up in the balcony underneath a chair Row C seat 3. Being in Row G it was touch or go as to whether any of the bottles would make it back as far as us. Many bottles mysteriously vanished into peoples bags when the show was in Edinburgh. But we managed to just get a final nip each from one bottle. Oh well.
Chris Addison - Atomicity Ah little Chris-sy Addison. He was robbed. What can I say. I tried.
Chris manages to look 10 years younger than his 33 years for his role in The Thick Of It. Playing Ollie Reader, he's a put upon civil servant usually charged with getting Chris Langham's character Hugh Abbot MP out of the shit. But being young and fresh out of university, Ollie is naive and somewhat struggling to catch up and fit in with governmental life and their mannerisms.
On stage Chris Addison still manages to appear young through his childlike enthusiasm about his subject atoms. Actually a real child wouldn't probably get as excited about it, or at least we didn't when we were at school. That coupled with the odd giggle, chuckle and cheeky grin, you can't help but get swept along by him. An hour soon passes. And I certainly don't remember science lessons going like that at school.
I found myself giggling all the way through Jeremy's show. Not because it was funny, but having seen the show twice before and not enjoying it, it's now become something in my mind so bad it's good. I think from now on we will always have a love/hate relationship. At least this time I didn't have to care it was a perrier contender. I also didn't have some mad bitch next to me making comments about me and the fact I wasn't laughing like I did last time. Caz was sat next to me instead. The first time she's got to see the show and although she'd had a fair amount to drink beforehand neither of us could get to that level drunkenness.
The whisky moment is still the highlight of the show, as the Jeremy, the alcoholic kid's entertainer finds hidden bottles amongst the stage props and then hands them out in a game of pass the parcel without the music. There is a nice moment when he comes down into the audience and finds one above the Stall doors exit sign. And one is planted up in the balcony underneath a chair Row C seat 3. Being in Row G it was touch or go as to whether any of the bottles would make it back as far as us. Many bottles mysteriously vanished into peoples bags when the show was in Edinburgh. But we managed to just get a final nip each from one bottle. Oh well.
Chris Addison - Atomicity Ah little Chris-sy Addison. He was robbed. What can I say. I tried.
Chris manages to look 10 years younger than his 33 years for his role in The Thick Of It. Playing Ollie Reader, he's a put upon civil servant usually charged with getting Chris Langham's character Hugh Abbot MP out of the shit. But being young and fresh out of university, Ollie is naive and somewhat struggling to catch up and fit in with governmental life and their mannerisms.
On stage Chris Addison still manages to appear young through his childlike enthusiasm about his subject atoms. Actually a real child wouldn't probably get as excited about it, or at least we didn't when we were at school. That coupled with the odd giggle, chuckle and cheeky grin, you can't help but get swept along by him. An hour soon passes. And I certainly don't remember science lessons going like that at school.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Noel Fielding, Simon Munnery and Lee Nelson - Monkey Business Comedy Club - 8th October
There were over 1200 email requests for tickets for this show. The venue is above Lush in Camden. A tiny place, normally with a few tables and chairs it doesn't fit many. Tonight, to maximise space, the tables are removed, chairs moved into tiny rows at the front and the back half of the place left as standing space.
We arrived 10 minutes after the doors opened, a good hour before the show was due to start, to find all the seats taken. We did however manage to get a spot against a wall on one side with a reasonable view.
Simon Brodkin was on first as the chav Lee Nelson. It's a joke which to be honest I think has had it's day. Oh Chav's are sooo funny. They wear caps, and burberry, and have kids when their teenagers etc etc etc. Hilarious. That and the fact it wears a little thin after the first 5 minutes. There was the occasional good dealing of heckles and interaction with the audience, which made me think Brodkin might still turn out to be a good comedian. He just needs to come up with a new character.
Simon Munnery was on good form. Last time I saw him was at Edinburgh at Late 'n' Live. Pissed, with his arm in plaster, he wasn't exactly coherent and he died somewhat on stage.
Tonight he showed that he is the genius we all know he is, though his set was sprinkled with all the old favourites. Like when he came second in a school poetry competition and won a box of paints. "It sends out an interesting message to a child. Well done but give up."
Lastly, the reason we were all there. Noel Fielding. One half of the Boosh. Mad as a hatter. He did several routines I've seen before like the one about a fly buzzing around, and if you're writing a novel and your disturbed easily by a fly, then maybe you don't have a novel in you.
The room was roasting, holding 120 people, instead of the normal 60 or so. Getting to the bar was a struggle even though we weren't more than a couple of metres from it, that's how packed it was. Noel made a few references to Martin, the guy who manages the night, and his over packing the room. Stuff like, Martin I've finished my drink, you might be able to squeeze another couple of people in the glass.
The fact the stage was shrunk to the size of a postage stamp, so that more people could be crammed in, meant that Noel's usual madcap moving about couldn't really happen. Which is a shame, but on a positive note meant I got some clearer pictures than I did at Edinburgh, where they came out all blurry.
I've read that the show we saw was better than the night befores, which had loud hecklers throughout. A few people seem to have gone to both shows. At a tenner a go we couldn't really afford to do that.
We arrived 10 minutes after the doors opened, a good hour before the show was due to start, to find all the seats taken. We did however manage to get a spot against a wall on one side with a reasonable view.
Simon Brodkin was on first as the chav Lee Nelson. It's a joke which to be honest I think has had it's day. Oh Chav's are sooo funny. They wear caps, and burberry, and have kids when their teenagers etc etc etc. Hilarious. That and the fact it wears a little thin after the first 5 minutes. There was the occasional good dealing of heckles and interaction with the audience, which made me think Brodkin might still turn out to be a good comedian. He just needs to come up with a new character.
Simon Munnery was on good form. Last time I saw him was at Edinburgh at Late 'n' Live. Pissed, with his arm in plaster, he wasn't exactly coherent and he died somewhat on stage.
Tonight he showed that he is the genius we all know he is, though his set was sprinkled with all the old favourites. Like when he came second in a school poetry competition and won a box of paints. "It sends out an interesting message to a child. Well done but give up."
Lastly, the reason we were all there. Noel Fielding. One half of the Boosh. Mad as a hatter. He did several routines I've seen before like the one about a fly buzzing around, and if you're writing a novel and your disturbed easily by a fly, then maybe you don't have a novel in you.
The room was roasting, holding 120 people, instead of the normal 60 or so. Getting to the bar was a struggle even though we weren't more than a couple of metres from it, that's how packed it was. Noel made a few references to Martin, the guy who manages the night, and his over packing the room. Stuff like, Martin I've finished my drink, you might be able to squeeze another couple of people in the glass.
The fact the stage was shrunk to the size of a postage stamp, so that more people could be crammed in, meant that Noel's usual madcap moving about couldn't really happen. Which is a shame, but on a positive note meant I got some clearer pictures than I did at Edinburgh, where they came out all blurry.
I've read that the show we saw was better than the night befores, which had loud hecklers throughout. A few people seem to have gone to both shows. At a tenner a go we couldn't really afford to do that.
One fan at the front had handcrafted a very strange Noel teddy bear, complete with jacket and mullety hair, that spent most of the night propped up on the mic stand next to Noel.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
The Rakes - Koko - 7th October
We went to a the NME night at Koko courtesy of Lucy and her connections. We were told that there were over 300 people on the guest list. We some how managed to wangle VIP wristbands. Though they didn’t actually entitle us to anything more than a paper wristband it seems. After wandering around all the levels trying to find some secret room and coming up against clueless bouncer after clueless bouncer, we gave up finding out what it was for.
So Me, Caz, Lucy and Richard watched The Rakes from the ground floor, just about getting a good view. I was pleasantly surprised by them. I'm thinking I will have to buy their album. I can see them being another Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party or Kaiser Chiefs and suddenly taking off and selling shit loads of albums.
Lucy has a thing for Alan the singer, I don't see it myself. Wiry looking fellow.
Mad dancing. Reminiscent of Ian Curtis, or that long forgotten band Terris. And you know what they say, you can tell a lot about somebodies love-making skills by the way they dance. I'm thinking he might be a bit of liability!
Lucy was given a tip off that the encore of 22 Grand Job might be a bit special. Cue us hoping for various bands invading. But there was no sign of Kele or Maximo Park, instead we got choreographed dancing women dressed as sexy secretaries.
Oh well. A good evening, rounded off with a few drinks in Quinn's. Not very rock 'n' roll I know. But if we could have found that mysterious VIP bar then maybe we wouldn't have left.
So Me, Caz, Lucy and Richard watched The Rakes from the ground floor, just about getting a good view. I was pleasantly surprised by them. I'm thinking I will have to buy their album. I can see them being another Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party or Kaiser Chiefs and suddenly taking off and selling shit loads of albums.
Lucy has a thing for Alan the singer, I don't see it myself. Wiry looking fellow.
Mad dancing. Reminiscent of Ian Curtis, or that long forgotten band Terris. And you know what they say, you can tell a lot about somebodies love-making skills by the way they dance. I'm thinking he might be a bit of liability!
Lucy was given a tip off that the encore of 22 Grand Job might be a bit special. Cue us hoping for various bands invading. But there was no sign of Kele or Maximo Park, instead we got choreographed dancing women dressed as sexy secretaries.
Oh well. A good evening, rounded off with a few drinks in Quinn's. Not very rock 'n' roll I know. But if we could have found that mysterious VIP bar then maybe we wouldn't have left.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Humanist Funerals
A friend of mine recently went to his first Humanist Funeral and the whole idea of a humanist funeral got me thinking.
What 5 songs would I have played at my funeral? Several drinks in the pub later and I have. (With a little assistance.)
1 Boy with an Arab Strap by Belle and Sebastian - A twee, jolly little opener, which is rude.
2 Suspicious Minds by Elvis - Just a great song. I know there are millions of great songs, but I've chosen this one, because I can.
3 Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying by Belle and Sebastian - Two B&S songs, only because I couldn't choose between them, then realised I could have both.
4 The Man don't give a Fuck by the Super Furries - just because it's got the word fuck in it.
5 New York New York by Frank Sinatra - A song to remind everyone of me. Everyone will be required to get up and leg kick along.
What 5 songs would you choose? Remember "there is no God" so swearing is allowed. :-)
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Mark Thomas and the Firesign Theatre - 3rd October
Mark Thomas and The Firesign Theatre
We went to a free BBC radio recording at the The Comedy Store. It was worth it if only for the 30 minutes of Mark Thomas warming us up. As per usual I learnt quite a lot from that 30 minutes. Information I will no doubt bring up in future conversations. I'm always looking for clever arguments against the Government ID cards. When you think about it, how hard would it be for a suicide bomber, who has just obtained a pile of explosives, to get false ID. Mmmmm.
The Firesign Theatre were an odd bunch. Something of a cult by all accounts. They've been called the "The Beatles of Comedy." They've been going since the 60's, making surreal comedy albums which combined rock music, hippy culture, and detective drama from the golden age of radio. And to be honest even though me, Caz and Dave bought two 4 pint Pitchers of Fosters at happy hour prices, it wasn't really all that funny.
It's always interesting to see old styles of comedy, but on this occasion it was disappointing.
We went to a free BBC radio recording at the The Comedy Store. It was worth it if only for the 30 minutes of Mark Thomas warming us up. As per usual I learnt quite a lot from that 30 minutes. Information I will no doubt bring up in future conversations. I'm always looking for clever arguments against the Government ID cards. When you think about it, how hard would it be for a suicide bomber, who has just obtained a pile of explosives, to get false ID. Mmmmm.
The Firesign Theatre were an odd bunch. Something of a cult by all accounts. They've been called the "The Beatles of Comedy." They've been going since the 60's, making surreal comedy albums which combined rock music, hippy culture, and detective drama from the golden age of radio. And to be honest even though me, Caz and Dave bought two 4 pint Pitchers of Fosters at happy hour prices, it wasn't really all that funny.
It's always interesting to see old styles of comedy, but on this occasion it was disappointing.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Offbeat and the Rescue Rooms
Offbeat - Sheffield - 30th September
Rescue Rooms - Nottingham - 1st October
Well, I've only just found the time to write about my weekend. Busy week at work and all that. Had a great weekend visiting Lucy and Richie and seeing all the other guys up 'int' Sheffield and Nottingham. Finally been to the infamous Offbeat, and realise that it is probably the best indie club in the country. I was apparently quite drunk. I've a feeling that has something to do with the copious amount of beer, Jägermeister, and Apple Sours. And loved the Rescue Rooms. Shall definitely have to come back up to see Lucy and Wes DJ.
Thankfully the hangover on Saturday passed without incident, after gulping down 2 nurofen at 10 o'clock. And the great Roast Dinner on Sunday certainly has to be the greatest hangover cure of all time.Thanks to all that made us feel welcome
Rescue Rooms - Nottingham - 1st October
Well, I've only just found the time to write about my weekend. Busy week at work and all that. Had a great weekend visiting Lucy and Richie and seeing all the other guys up 'int' Sheffield and Nottingham. Finally been to the infamous Offbeat, and realise that it is probably the best indie club in the country. I was apparently quite drunk. I've a feeling that has something to do with the copious amount of beer, Jägermeister, and Apple Sours. And loved the Rescue Rooms. Shall definitely have to come back up to see Lucy and Wes DJ.
Thankfully the hangover on Saturday passed without incident, after gulping down 2 nurofen at 10 o'clock. And the great Roast Dinner on Sunday certainly has to be the greatest hangover cure of all time.Thanks to all that made us feel welcome
Friday, September 30, 2005
Alex Horne - When In Rome - 29th September
At Soho Theatre
I saw this show at Edinburgh. Well I say I saw it at Edinburgh. Every show is different depending on the audience's choices.
The show is based around 3 things. Latin, the Choose Your Own Adventure Books and Frank Lampard. Alex Horne and his personal assistant Tim Key set about trying to teach us or at least get us interested in Latin. Alex has a genuine enthusiasm for his subject and it's hard not to get caught up in it.
The audience is split into 2 teams, men versus women, with a captain picked for each team. Alex then guides us through his latin Choose Your Own Adventure Book. If you don't know, the books don't read like conventional books, page 2 following page 1 etc. Instead at the bottom of page 1 there might be a choice of whether to go up the mountain by turning to page 5 or heading to the river by going to page 9.
Here the story is we're in Sheffield, getting through our first year at uni. Sheffield is chosen because like Rome it is built on 7 hills. Unlike Rome it was built in a day, when one day in 1963 the people of Sheffield decided they needed somewhere to live.
There are some brilliant moments like when one of the audience gets a little over excited and begins to interrupt the flow of the show. Geeky Tim Key, sitting at his computer, brings up the detention letter on to the giant screen and promply gives him a written warning.
The show is full of technical wizardry. There is so much more to the show than you see. I could happily see it again.
I saw this show at Edinburgh. Well I say I saw it at Edinburgh. Every show is different depending on the audience's choices.
The show is based around 3 things. Latin, the Choose Your Own Adventure Books and Frank Lampard. Alex Horne and his personal assistant Tim Key set about trying to teach us or at least get us interested in Latin. Alex has a genuine enthusiasm for his subject and it's hard not to get caught up in it.
The audience is split into 2 teams, men versus women, with a captain picked for each team. Alex then guides us through his latin Choose Your Own Adventure Book. If you don't know, the books don't read like conventional books, page 2 following page 1 etc. Instead at the bottom of page 1 there might be a choice of whether to go up the mountain by turning to page 5 or heading to the river by going to page 9.
Here the story is we're in Sheffield, getting through our first year at uni. Sheffield is chosen because like Rome it is built on 7 hills. Unlike Rome it was built in a day, when one day in 1963 the people of Sheffield decided they needed somewhere to live.
There are some brilliant moments like when one of the audience gets a little over excited and begins to interrupt the flow of the show. Geeky Tim Key, sitting at his computer, brings up the detention letter on to the giant screen and promply gives him a written warning.
The show is full of technical wizardry. There is so much more to the show than you see. I could happily see it again.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
The Book Club – Lowdown at the Albany – 28th September
I’ve wanted to go to the Book Club for a few months and finally made it down this week. And how glad am I that I did?
I’d heard it was like the “Vic Reeves Big Night Out” was when it was a cult underground comedy. A secret comedy show, hidden underground, literally, as the Lowdown is underneath the Albany at Gt Portland Street. They’ve only been around a year, and having taken the show up to Edinburgh it’s fast becoming the hot comedy “ticket”
We arrived and queued to find we should have reserved our seats by calling in advance. Luckily being near the front of the queue we were first in the queue to take the places of the no-shows. Once in, with a beer in hand, we went to stand at the back of the tiny venue; the few seats that there were, were all taken. I bumped into Graham, head of comedy at Channel 5, a fellow Perrier Judge. I’m guessing I might bump into a few of them as I go to all these comedy shows.
The evening is split into 3 sections. Starting at 8pm. Each of the acts does a turn. At 9.15ish there is bar break. (Though beer is available throughout.) Then everyone does another bit. At 10.30pm, having overrun, there is another break. Quite a few people sidled out the door at this point to catch the tube home, with it being a week night, the older folk obviously wanted to make it a relatively early night. I guess they had a few hours of comedy by this point. Then there was another set from everyone, before time was eventually called at somewhere around midnight.
The Book Club itself is hosted by Robin Ince. Who Dave described as a grey haired Geordie recently, after he saw him at some charity event. Not surprisingly we couldn’t work out who he meant, as Robin is in no way a Geordie, and he missed off the fact he wore specs, another vital clue. (I draw you attention at this point to the fact the game nothing-lookie-likey was invented by Dave’s observational skills.) Robin is a comedian’s comedian. If you’ll know him from anywhere it’ll be as Ricky Gervias’ preferred warm-up act.
He reads from books that he’s picked up from charity shops on his travels. There is a cheer when he goes to read from Stormy Vigil. A Mills and Boon classic. She is a journalist having to write a piece on Lighthouses. She goes to a Lighthouse. There is a man. They don’t get on. They become trapped in the Lighthouse as there is a storm. They don’t get on. Every month Robin apparently reads from Stormy Vigil. As he reads there is some nice atmospheric instrumental music played, adding to the funniness of the reading. He upsets the crowd though by announcing that whilst he was at Edinburgh he finished the book. There were gasps of horror from people at the thought he finished it without them. It was clearly their book.
Other ‘classic’ books he read from were a book about caravanning. A brilliant guide book to massage parlours around Great Britain, published sometime in the 1970’s. Robin did give the ISBN to that one, but I’m afraid I forgot to write it down. And so on. I passed Robin my book during one of the breaks, and that was held up and shown in the next section. My lovely Gyles Brandeth’s Wit Knits. Early 80’s knitting patterns, featuring various celebs posing in awful jumpers – Joanna Lumely, Christopher Biggins, Matthew Kelly… all the greats.
The acts in between readings were Josie Long. I picked up a free copy of Josie Long’s fanzine on the way out. Fantastic mad stuff. She’s quite young but a comic talent of the future no doubt. Nathan Penlington, a poet, and comic. A bit sort of John Hegley, but younger. Just as geeky. Howard Read. Martin White, accordion player, doing songs like A-ha ‘Take on Me,’ corpsing with laughter before he can get to the end every time.
This week saw the first night of a Chat Magazine True Story – a stage production. I’m sure it’ll become a regular feature. They were great as they all acted out the various roles in a story of a couple, one of whom is impotent. Enter a young virgin male who is bought in to service the wife. It all goes horribly wrong when the wife falls for the young lad. Cue scenes of the wife (played by Robin) and the 18yr going off stage to make sex noises. Brilliant.
There was Live Boggle, with everyone in the audience taking part in an attempt to beat Josie Long and Danielle Ward. Both self-proclaimed Boggle Champions.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the whole evening. Coming in at 4 hours long it’s easy to see why by the time we left we felt we really had become part of a little secret club.
And the great news is they’ve just announced they are going twice monthly. So I’ve just reserved my tickets for the 12th. I can’t wait.
I’d heard it was like the “Vic Reeves Big Night Out” was when it was a cult underground comedy. A secret comedy show, hidden underground, literally, as the Lowdown is underneath the Albany at Gt Portland Street. They’ve only been around a year, and having taken the show up to Edinburgh it’s fast becoming the hot comedy “ticket”
We arrived and queued to find we should have reserved our seats by calling in advance. Luckily being near the front of the queue we were first in the queue to take the places of the no-shows. Once in, with a beer in hand, we went to stand at the back of the tiny venue; the few seats that there were, were all taken. I bumped into Graham, head of comedy at Channel 5, a fellow Perrier Judge. I’m guessing I might bump into a few of them as I go to all these comedy shows.
The evening is split into 3 sections. Starting at 8pm. Each of the acts does a turn. At 9.15ish there is bar break. (Though beer is available throughout.) Then everyone does another bit. At 10.30pm, having overrun, there is another break. Quite a few people sidled out the door at this point to catch the tube home, with it being a week night, the older folk obviously wanted to make it a relatively early night. I guess they had a few hours of comedy by this point. Then there was another set from everyone, before time was eventually called at somewhere around midnight.
The Book Club itself is hosted by Robin Ince. Who Dave described as a grey haired Geordie recently, after he saw him at some charity event. Not surprisingly we couldn’t work out who he meant, as Robin is in no way a Geordie, and he missed off the fact he wore specs, another vital clue. (I draw you attention at this point to the fact the game nothing-lookie-likey was invented by Dave’s observational skills.) Robin is a comedian’s comedian. If you’ll know him from anywhere it’ll be as Ricky Gervias’ preferred warm-up act.
He reads from books that he’s picked up from charity shops on his travels. There is a cheer when he goes to read from Stormy Vigil. A Mills and Boon classic. She is a journalist having to write a piece on Lighthouses. She goes to a Lighthouse. There is a man. They don’t get on. They become trapped in the Lighthouse as there is a storm. They don’t get on. Every month Robin apparently reads from Stormy Vigil. As he reads there is some nice atmospheric instrumental music played, adding to the funniness of the reading. He upsets the crowd though by announcing that whilst he was at Edinburgh he finished the book. There were gasps of horror from people at the thought he finished it without them. It was clearly their book.
Other ‘classic’ books he read from were a book about caravanning. A brilliant guide book to massage parlours around Great Britain, published sometime in the 1970’s. Robin did give the ISBN to that one, but I’m afraid I forgot to write it down. And so on. I passed Robin my book during one of the breaks, and that was held up and shown in the next section. My lovely Gyles Brandeth’s Wit Knits. Early 80’s knitting patterns, featuring various celebs posing in awful jumpers – Joanna Lumely, Christopher Biggins, Matthew Kelly… all the greats.
The acts in between readings were Josie Long. I picked up a free copy of Josie Long’s fanzine on the way out. Fantastic mad stuff. She’s quite young but a comic talent of the future no doubt. Nathan Penlington, a poet, and comic. A bit sort of John Hegley, but younger. Just as geeky. Howard Read. Martin White, accordion player, doing songs like A-ha ‘Take on Me,’ corpsing with laughter before he can get to the end every time.
This week saw the first night of a Chat Magazine True Story – a stage production. I’m sure it’ll become a regular feature. They were great as they all acted out the various roles in a story of a couple, one of whom is impotent. Enter a young virgin male who is bought in to service the wife. It all goes horribly wrong when the wife falls for the young lad. Cue scenes of the wife (played by Robin) and the 18yr going off stage to make sex noises. Brilliant.
There was Live Boggle, with everyone in the audience taking part in an attempt to beat Josie Long and Danielle Ward. Both self-proclaimed Boggle Champions.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the whole evening. Coming in at 4 hours long it’s easy to see why by the time we left we felt we really had become part of a little secret club.
And the great news is they’ve just announced they are going twice monthly. So I’ve just reserved my tickets for the 12th. I can’t wait.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Busy Week - Catch up
Ardal O'Hanlon - Tuesday 27th September
It’s a shame to see this happen. Ardal O’Hanlon, accomplished stand up, several national tours under his belt, years of experience, a part in one of THE cult TV shows of the 90’s Father Ted, playing loveable Dougal, go on to star in possibly the most bland, MOR, filler, before the watershed comedy, My Hero, not for one series, or two, but countless.
I’m sure his kids and bank manager love it, but it’s not going to be revered in years to come. If you’re unlucky someone might remember it in 15years time. So we turned up with interest tonight to see Ardal back on stage. Warming up for his new national tour. This is the first of two nights at the Red Rose on Seven Sisters Rd. And by god does he look like he needs them.
By half time, he’s looking as bewildered as Dougal. Where has it gone? The audience eating out of his hand? The easy irish charm and wit? He looks like he’s lost it.
Well like us the rest of the audience seem to be here to see exactly what is left of this once comedy talent. And we’re waiting with our arms crossed. After two hours we’re still waiting. There was the occasional flicker of the old Ardal, as remembered circa 1998. But along with it were the jokes. His new material was lacking, and the smattering of old jokes were needed to raise a laugh.
Sorry Ardal, I know your confidence took a beating during the gig, but you’ll need to get that back. Perhaps you should wear the cape for the tour
It’s a shame to see this happen. Ardal O’Hanlon, accomplished stand up, several national tours under his belt, years of experience, a part in one of THE cult TV shows of the 90’s Father Ted, playing loveable Dougal, go on to star in possibly the most bland, MOR, filler, before the watershed comedy, My Hero, not for one series, or two, but countless.
I’m sure his kids and bank manager love it, but it’s not going to be revered in years to come. If you’re unlucky someone might remember it in 15years time. So we turned up with interest tonight to see Ardal back on stage. Warming up for his new national tour. This is the first of two nights at the Red Rose on Seven Sisters Rd. And by god does he look like he needs them.
By half time, he’s looking as bewildered as Dougal. Where has it gone? The audience eating out of his hand? The easy irish charm and wit? He looks like he’s lost it.
Well like us the rest of the audience seem to be here to see exactly what is left of this once comedy talent. And we’re waiting with our arms crossed. After two hours we’re still waiting. There was the occasional flicker of the old Ardal, as remembered circa 1998. But along with it were the jokes. His new material was lacking, and the smattering of old jokes were needed to raise a laugh.
Sorry Ardal, I know your confidence took a beating during the gig, but you’ll need to get that back. Perhaps you should wear the cape for the tour
Monday, September 26, 2005
Gordon's last night in London
I'm sorry it's taken me a while but here are the photo's from Gordon's last night in London. (Finally finished off the film on the Singles Night.)
I have edited these photo's down. There seemed to be an awful lot of shut eyes and drunk looking people in the others. (Gordon being the main offender.)
I have edited these photo's down. There seemed to be an awful lot of shut eyes and drunk looking people in the others. (Gordon being the main offender.)
Shane taking it well...
It must be love...
Bunny Ears, that's never not funny...
Belle and Sebastian - Barbican
Me and Caz went off to see Belle and Sebastian on Sunday night for their full playback of “If you’re feeling Sinister.”
Thoroughly enjoyable evening of tweeness. B&S are always value for money, being on stage from 9 until 10.45 with only a few minutes off stage before the encore. There were some great B&S / audience moments.
Before Fox in the Snow Stevie was struggling to retune his guitar. Retuning every single string. A guy the row in front of us shouted “I usually skip this one.” Stuart had a moment. Telling the story of a dream he had the week before, where Isobel agreed to join them for the gig, as long as a taxi was kept running outside for her. He then said he missed her. Then in horror immediately apologised to Sarah and thanked her for being there. Two songs later, someone at the back of the audience shouted "Taxi for Isobel." Which I thought was quite sharp.
Stuart got a few mad dancing girls up on the side of the stage to dance during Mayfly. And thank god he did, because we were sat jigging in our seats up until that moment. After that little ice-breaker, we all stood up, and stayed dancing till the very end. Cue mad dancing on Boy with the Arab Strap, and that is all I ask of any B&S gig to make it perfect.
Set List
A bit of a warm up first:
Slow Graffiti
Another Sunny Day (new song)
Woman's Realm
The Loneliness Of The Middle Distance Runner
Electronic Renaissance
Then into the tracks:
The Stars Of Track And FieldSeeing Other People
Me And The Major
Like Dylan In The Movies
The Fox In The Snow
Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying
If You're Feeling Sinister
Mayfly
The Boy Done Wrong Again
Judy And The Dream Of Horses
Then the Encore:
Dog On Wheels
The Boy With The Arab Strap
The Wrong Girl
I'm A Cuckoo
If You Find Yourself Caught In Love
Still doesn't beat the magical XFM gig at Islington Academy. For me possibly one of the best gigs I've ever been to. But this was cracking all the same.
Gordon's Leaving Party - the photos are back
Finally I can put the pictures up! Here they are in all their glory.
The Group Picture. 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)