tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60051768930496293282024-02-07T18:32:46.710+00:00Andy McH's Comedy AdventuresA comedy fan, failed musician and podcast whore.@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-48831098704659442022017-06-12T01:32:00.005+01:002017-06-12T01:32:43.664+01:00This blog continues over at WordpressI haven't updated this in a long time, but have decided to start writing a little more. I have moved over to Wordpress so have a look at <a href="http://andymch.wordpress.com/">http://andymch.wordpress.com</a><br />
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See you over there!@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-80931181923030702432016-04-30T09:47:00.001+01:002016-04-30T09:47:08.701+01:00Earl Slick & Bernard Fowler play David Bowie's "Station To Station"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Strangers who have died that have made me genuiely upset: Kurt Cobain, Rik Mayall, and David Bowie. David Bowie's was the one I felt the most I think as it came almost immediately after releasing his superb final album, Blackstar. His was the first gig I ever went to, in 1987: The Glass Spider Tour. It's not seen as Bowie's greatest period, but having said that, it's still underrated, and I would still recommend that people check out the live DVD of that tour.</div>
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The highlight for me, after waiting for so long in the old Sunderland football stadium, Roker Park, for most of the afternoon watching The Violent Femmes (who I hadn't heard of) and Big Country (who I had but couldn't stand), was hearing David start the show by saying "HELLO NEWCASTLE!" followed by the biggest good natured crowd boo I've ever heard.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tw9FywuD57G6VTU71fmpgpJU2pivpK-MR1wgG5nrTUxr4vpIa25vZWzqLlLZ8qV4Vl6sy2YqO0FKJFY0DCBtLrbf2qYATnirBPpe9D8RJr0Ka9JWnA0Zq653MO87Dllyi3mSDFZmfLY/s1600/IMG_2617+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tw9FywuD57G6VTU71fmpgpJU2pivpK-MR1wgG5nrTUxr4vpIa25vZWzqLlLZ8qV4Vl6sy2YqO0FKJFY0DCBtLrbf2qYATnirBPpe9D8RJr0Ka9JWnA0Zq653MO87Dllyi3mSDFZmfLY/s320/IMG_2617+-+Copy.JPG" width="196" /></a>I bought a ticket to see long time Bowie collaborator, Earl Slick, playing alongside Rolling Stones backing singer, Bernard Fowler, performing the entire Station To Station album, which is definitely in his best 5 albums, if not THE best. It was a great show, and I had a spare ticket, as my mate couldn't make it, and perversely I couldn't even give it away!<br />
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I got close to the front but man, it was packed. I got chatting with an older guy who was even more excited than me. He regaled me with stories of seeing Bowie in years gone by. A big guy pushed past us, saying "Excuse me", so I decided to follow, literally in his wake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeeslIHVlmCNQkScxXTdcRwkFLT7qYpl_xbIKW-MiSy5olec7w4hDgYcRuChqUCX1uJvCvD2tL-KNqinrkgklu8zXxa_MkdlOUQS6zSbKkrFW6DmRHORNfPmqeHfidPFlQ4P3ws8uoWE/s1600/IMG_2624+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeeslIHVlmCNQkScxXTdcRwkFLT7qYpl_xbIKW-MiSy5olec7w4hDgYcRuChqUCX1uJvCvD2tL-KNqinrkgklu8zXxa_MkdlOUQS6zSbKkrFW6DmRHORNfPmqeHfidPFlQ4P3ws8uoWE/s320/IMG_2624+-+Copy.JPG" width="272" /></a>Somehow I got to the front and had loads of room. After a while I realised I was in front of the rope, and not long after that I was told I was standing in front of the disabled area and getting in the way. I apologised to both the security and the guys in the wheelchairs and<br />
stood next to the bar. Bad, bad Andy!<br />
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But still, now I had loads of room!
Anyway they played the entire Station to Station album all the way through, pausing for Bernard to tell us that this isn't a time to think about death, but to celebrate life. We all cheered and we all were on the same page. After the album ended, there were renditions of Diamond Dogs, Valentine's Day and Win. What a night!
They then went on to play some blues stuff by Buddy Guy, and although I'm sure the rest of the gig was fantastic, I felt I had all I needed. Sure, they may have tricked us by playing more Bowie later, but I was happy to slip away, having seen exactly what I came for.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pGzoDJmq1RI" width="560"></iframe>@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-28541322306706812362016-01-01T19:22:00.000+00:002016-01-01T20:44:33.857+00:00Podcast: The Complete Guide To Everything<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
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Podcasts are great aren’t they? I’ve been listening to them since I discovered them back in 2009, mainly accompanying me to and from work, which is around 2 hours most days. The ones I really got into first were what I like to call “two guys talking” podcasts. Collings & Herrin and Precious Little being the ones that spring to mind. But as time has gone on, the podcasts I listen to have generally got more focused:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Comedians talking to other comedians: Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast, The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast with Stuart Goldsmith<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Panel shows: Do The Right Thing, Pappy’s Flatshare Slamdown<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Comedy and sketch shows: The Bugle, As It Occurs To Me, ManBuyCow, POTOm<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Comedy review shows: Film Fandango, Vitriola Music<o:p></o:p><br />
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I heartily recommend all of these shows, but there is one “two guys talking” podcast that I have fallen in love with that I don’t think many of you know about. I’m talking about <a href="http://tcgte.com/">The Complete Guide To Everything</a>.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/yourpaltim">Tim Daniels</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/tomreynolds">Tom Reynolds</a> (from now on known as Tim and Tom) are two friends based in New York who, at the end of 2015 have over 300 episodes under their belt. Tim and Tom aren’t professional comedians; however they could easily take up that career if they chose to do so. Tim is shrouded in mystery but we do know that he is a drummer, while Tom is a successful author, having now written the third book of his superhero series, Meta.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Every week a subject is chosen and in the 60 minutes or so that the podcast runs for, they may spend 10 minutes discussing the topic before getting distracted by each other and veering off, quite often into territories such as Tim’s dislike of baby boomers and teens as well as his fear of horses (especially on aeroplanes) or Tom’s latest Apple product or the latest Batman movie. So you can really pick any show to get started and not worry too much if the topic is one that interests you.<o:p></o:p><br />
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They are based in New York, but not long after the show started they got picked up by the UK iTunes and were made a featured podcast. This has led to the strange situation of them being an American podcast that has a substantial UK listenership, which is often addressed. This has also meant that Tim and Tom have come to the UK on a number of occasions to do live shows. I went to one in Kings Place in June and had a whale of a time at the show, and just as much fun when a suvstantial chunk of the audience joined the guys in the bar for a few beers afterwards.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy and Tim outside Kings Place, June 2015</td></tr>
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They help fund the podcast through <a href="https://www.patreon.com/completeguide?ty=c">Patreon</a>. I pay $5 per month and this gets me a Google Hangout every month (which I have not joined in with yet because I don’t really know what it is) as well as a shorter podcast, around 15 minutes, every week called “Amazing Facts” which is a competition between Tim and Tom to find the most amazing fact about a subject which the Patreon supporters can vote on each week. One of the targets on their Patreon was to bring back their rather more focussed “Pop Everything” podcast which does manage to stay on topic right the way through. Pop Everything is for everyone, not just Patreon supporters so you can easily subscribe to it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So guys, our podcast listening habits often get stale; sometimes months go by without looking for new things to listen to. Sometimes we keep listening to the same shows that we have grown tired of and never get round to unsubscribing. So give your podcast app of choice an injection of freshness, and subscribe to The Complete Guide To Everything today.<br />
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@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-27994627113843540532015-07-06T11:21:00.000+01:002015-07-06T11:25:51.359+01:00ARGComfest 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cool kids</td></tr>
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This is my 4th year in a row at this 4 year old festival, and it is getting bigger and better every year. From a one day festival at <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/argcomfest.html">The Kings Cross Social Club in 2012</a>, expanding to two days at the <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/argcomfest-2013.html">Camden Barfly in 2013</a>, then at <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/argcomfest-2014.html">The Garage in Highbury last year</a>, this year we were heading to Shoreditch Town Hall. They had also expanded to 3 rooms, which meant the choices of who to see were 3 times as hard.<br />
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I had made a list of who I was planning to see on both days, and I<br />
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I met up with <a href="http://twitter.com/nealp55">Neal</a> outside Shoreditch Town Hall and we headed into the basement. At first it seemed a bit of a labyrinth. This never changed as I still got lost towards the end of the day. Though I did discover that the toilets on the 1st floor were by far the quietest. I didn't tell anyone this though, lest by doing so I spoiled it for us cool 1st floor kids.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed Aczel</td></tr>
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So I saw 8 acts each day. I missed 16. Obviously I can't comment on them, but I have to assume my 16 were the best!<br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/edwardaczel">Ed Aczel</a> opened the festival with his usual low key performance, now complete with extremely well shot video clips. What a lovely way to start the festival. Although Ed doesn't have any jokes to tell as such, his "anti-comedy" kept everyone happy throughout, though I'm not sure what the latecomers must have thought. Part of Ed's show is for us to ask him anything from a set of specific questions, such as "Why does Venus spin the wrong way?" and "Who did not win pipe smoker of the year?". I'm seeing Ed support Stewart Lee on Tuesday so must try and remember not to ask the same questions this time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart Goldsmith</td></tr>
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We went upstairs to see Josh Widdecombe but it was so busy. I decided to head back downstairs. By all accounts Josh was fantastic, but it did seem like the Annexe room upstairs was by far the warmest. After this, I met Neal and we went to the front row of the Rivington Room for <a href="http://twitter.com/stugoldsmith">Stuart Goldsmith</a>. Just before the show started I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Stuart. "You do know it's me on next don't you?" he said, bearing in mind I had seen him less than 18 hours earlier at the Betsy Trotwood. I did know it was him, but I had enjoyed him so much the night before, so why not? And, comedy geek that I am, it's fun to see the little changes that are made from one night to the next.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSrHVJijdUcXAZu1oveGQBgKrpMSiNPyoT59dT4uN0_OfRokRGr757CDFMJD8OLKe70kLYuEn37MpAMd4r1ETnCcb3TCSFyvGitGpWzH9oyD8p_iyCXTtp0JwrAqP8cW56JGykICOl6s/s1600/rhys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSrHVJijdUcXAZu1oveGQBgKrpMSiNPyoT59dT4uN0_OfRokRGr757CDFMJD8OLKe70kLYuEn37MpAMd4r1ETnCcb3TCSFyvGitGpWzH9oyD8p_iyCXTtp0JwrAqP8cW56JGykICOl6s/s200/rhys.jpg" width="115" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhys James</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowmAr3e-A3DvUI80FMKF_tYe4LbJ7JrUM1okNA8jpvP9zmeoQJZ8P3helJtSVyo8VEH4lVcBWL03Uw2R5NLUSKxVF5qohizXmmvb5nhZgddUQa70eUDOzUElQJO4Nukk7MC0Nl2IdiRs/s1600/caroline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowmAr3e-A3DvUI80FMKF_tYe4LbJ7JrUM1okNA8jpvP9zmeoQJZ8P3helJtSVyo8VEH4lVcBWL03Uw2R5NLUSKxVF5qohizXmmvb5nhZgddUQa70eUDOzUElQJO4Nukk7MC0Nl2IdiRs/s320/caroline.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline Mabey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We made our first visit to the Garden Studio to see the bonkers <a href="http://twitter.com/carolinemabey">Caroline Mabey</a>. This was another show I had seen before about Caroline's transition into motherhood. And no, it's not quite as nicey-nice as it sounds. She explored some very dark areas indeed, bearing in mind there was a pregnant woman in the row behind us.<br />
<br />
Neal headed off to see the highly recommended Joseph Murpurgo and I stayed in the Garden Studio to catch <a href="http://twitter.com/rhysjamesy">Rhys James</a>. When you hear older and more alternative comics talk about young comedians who have trendy haircuts and wear t-shirts and skinny jeans, Rhys's is the face you should see in your head. I had first come across him via Twitter (where he is great value. Follow him!) and seeing him do his stuff live is a treat. he is (as he said himself) pretty mainstream, but he knows how to write great, proper jokes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCLMslhRx7BVmh2SrkHmreW4gbHAXG9II2SYMnp6D0PA8M_T6J6lfujWXEpIIsz_zHzxmYo5mB9K2fQm5djYlQTSuD6aE84CG6qvZR8oZaISc1j8U_PZvHzoQZSqVxbpKabv9X9qRzug/s1600/matthew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCLMslhRx7BVmh2SrkHmreW4gbHAXG9II2SYMnp6D0PA8M_T6J6lfujWXEpIIsz_zHzxmYo5mB9K2fQm5djYlQTSuD6aE84CG6qvZR8oZaISc1j8U_PZvHzoQZSqVxbpKabv9X9qRzug/s320/matthew.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew Crosby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For me, the highlight of Saturday was <a href="http://twitter.com/matthewcrosby">Matthew Crosby</a>. You'll know him from the sketch group Pappy's (whose Flatshare Slamdown podcasts are among the best around) and Badults. Again, Neal and I got a front row seat. The show was loosely based around Matthew's recent trip to Russia, and his apparent obsession with Vladimir Putin. He danced topless wearing a Putin mask for 2 minutes and 19 seconds, which, as he said, is much longer than you think. I ended up arm wrestling with "Putin" which I technically won, but Putin being Putin... What a great show. Go and see Matthew when you can.<br />
<br />
Back upstairs to see <a href="http://twitter.com/mikewozniak">Mike Wozniak</a>. You'll know him, if not as a stand up, as Greg Davies' best friend in "Man Down". He told a long "shaggy cat" story about his "gruelling" drives from Exeter to Edinburgh after finding a cat in his car and deciding he needed to return it to his owners. this was interspersed with some facts chosen by us before going back to the cat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_-tGMeUPmz4yxRj0FJgngBxZ97U12hfnMOHixcvtpDvSfM8RGb5msYJu6J0AXA_bxxaWsfI15x9D_ksSO2BI_QC8ABnJe-2IbzlDXWDAgOxSdIDc8FzkjFzpQbTKhiK4ixvwr6XK41M/s1600/mike+w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_-tGMeUPmz4yxRj0FJgngBxZ97U12hfnMOHixcvtpDvSfM8RGb5msYJu6J0AXA_bxxaWsfI15x9D_ksSO2BI_QC8ABnJe-2IbzlDXWDAgOxSdIDc8FzkjFzpQbTKhiK4ixvwr6XK41M/s200/mike+w.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike Wozniak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKPRt4bpXVYSPMP896ycMERJIXAu25bUfjhmJOLxn7AR-ZoxkLnse9di1vbACkAleP7YjK_BfoOBi_PRzkGShoAG8_JbXSgq9d46_udx2MIniBvFd6iSZSFAENEtNXrBDDiasaKPiuJQ/s1600/jupitus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKPRt4bpXVYSPMP896ycMERJIXAu25bUfjhmJOLxn7AR-ZoxkLnse9di1vbACkAleP7YjK_BfoOBi_PRzkGShoAG8_JbXSgq9d46_udx2MIniBvFd6iSZSFAENEtNXrBDDiasaKPiuJQ/s200/jupitus.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phill Jupitus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The night ended with us going to see Phill Jupitus as Porky the Poet, this time sitting in taller chairs at the back, as of course, the show was almost full. Phill explained that now his TV pop quiz has been cancelled, this is all he has to fall back on. We got treated to a selection of his poems, culminating in Neal volunteering from the crowd, which involved standing beside Phill in a Star Wars storm trooper mask as Phill read poems about the movie. After this Phill recited a rhythmic poem about Blondie being both his first and last gig, where all the lines loosely rhymed with Jupitus. Great stuff!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwja_p8BfbPhhMiEcMrwvjM-Y0PICueWDQNzGYKBP5aoEAqeW_T8PQtLLWKLJJUNltj6778_AyM5D4AtAxlkYZNn18aoev-Qal9EpSWdNILs4_0qYSpoRszrx098ZRBAu8THGtmGjvuGg/s1600/lazy+susan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwja_p8BfbPhhMiEcMrwvjM-Y0PICueWDQNzGYKBP5aoEAqeW_T8PQtLLWKLJJUNltj6778_AyM5D4AtAxlkYZNn18aoev-Qal9EpSWdNILs4_0qYSpoRszrx098ZRBAu8THGtmGjvuGg/s200/lazy+susan.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lazy Susan</td></tr>
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By this time we were all tiring and it was time to head home, to prepare for arguably an even better line up on Sunday. After another big morning fry up I walked back to Shoreditch and got there at 1230. All the way there, and for most of the morning before I had been thinking "Bridget or Acaster? Bridget or Acaster?" By the time I got there I was no nearer an answer. What a cruel clash. Anyway we reckoned that Ed Gamble would be in the packed hot room so we decided to stay downstairs for <a href="http://twitter.com/comedysusan">Lazy Susan</a>. I'm never keen on seeing sketch groups I don't know, but they were fantastic. They really reminded me of classic French and Saunders. So <br />
likable, with extremely well written material comprising of sketches that when put together told a story of 2 young boys who fell out and then made up again when they were grown up as well as a successful business woman and her two slightly less talented assistants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxD6Y3V_7paJYOJcbfEP96pMTL-CeUSz_IPJxAdBh9Ry6XqRwrSg4fk34GLCfmEKQTksSYSXsljiHoHlP7EwLAWgErgJI5yHZ96cxH_e9u0mDhd2_Skflrryx6Jz69Ijx3ZmR0RgQeM8/s1600/lou+cradles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxD6Y3V_7paJYOJcbfEP96pMTL-CeUSz_IPJxAdBh9Ry6XqRwrSg4fk34GLCfmEKQTksSYSXsljiHoHlP7EwLAWgErgJI5yHZ96cxH_e9u0mDhd2_Skflrryx6Jz69Ijx3ZmR0RgQeM8/s200/lou+cradles.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Then it was time to head upstairs to see the often unpredictable <a href="http://twitter.com/lousanders">Lou Sanders</a>, with "Excuse Me, You're Sitting On My Penis Again" telling her story of trying to get a place at Eton School for Boys. A few people arrived halfway through and Lou quizzed them to try to find out which comedian's show they had decided to leave. One man didn't look like he was enjoying himself so Lou ended up cradling him on her knee for a while. I quite enjoyed watching the woman at the end of the front row who spent most of the gig with her hand over her mouth and her eyes wide open, as she had clearly seen nothing quite like this before! Lou spotted me in the audience and said "Oh do you remember when I was on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsv0EO8WIak">Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast</a> and the whole audience looked at me like I was mad?" And I did! Go and see Lou any time you get a chance guys!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2EIw33IQPrRfNTAEgGh_pj1pVCdyHMneJ2TalvQBqniLFgSzbWwoYx2VojV_VEqhGWB2CLCus-iHBD5UBOQBs2jAMJrZ3uekpmMqwMqaSc7NeODGKBidwEiqcaSe_L5DeQ0xg9MWDRM/s1600/legge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2EIw33IQPrRfNTAEgGh_pj1pVCdyHMneJ2TalvQBqniLFgSzbWwoYx2VojV_VEqhGWB2CLCus-iHBD5UBOQBs2jAMJrZ3uekpmMqwMqaSc7NeODGKBidwEiqcaSe_L5DeQ0xg9MWDRM/s200/legge.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Legge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Neal and I bumped into <a href="http://twitter.com/michaellegge">Michael Legge</a> as we were heading downstairs to see his show, and he told us that he had dumped his entire show this very morning and started to write a new one by hand. You might have thought this would have been a terrible idea, but Michael managed to write a whole lot of stuff on stage, including getting the entire audience to clap along to his improvised "It's Good to be Alive" song. Michael is a superb improviser who hates improv, and both of these facts really showed here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX0nsD9lD0_iBz_bb9FI9C4Yo08L-x9Tz5W0BtSKM_B4li8khueDWwpEdQjUaRdSwpOlwBfjUI4ifRjcS0KTN7ALSqPJa_5a5kNhU9PCLnUBS0fAahELqdA-r0i_RXge_CTeHzDkjvJ8/s1600/bridget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX0nsD9lD0_iBz_bb9FI9C4Yo08L-x9Tz5W0BtSKM_B4li8khueDWwpEdQjUaRdSwpOlwBfjUI4ifRjcS0KTN7ALSqPJa_5a5kNhU9PCLnUBS0fAahELqdA-r0i_RXge_CTeHzDkjvJ8/s200/bridget.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridget Christie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My Acaster and Christie dilemma was solved,. I decided, just like that, to <br />
stay on for <a href="http://twitter.com/bridgetchristie">Bridget</a> and even though Acaster is a genius and never has a bad gig, I think I made a great decision. Bridget has yet another great show ahead of her, continuing on with her feminist themes, and this time is exploring the issues of race and transgender issues as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHadzWVpPCKPCZk7QVwN-tvyUP3BE1hTdBob8sI3vDCH4u0vrfOhWnbLw-2CwDQp9L2gDKwOtEEOd60TgtgycLVJuQmHwJhxdqgmkSMhn12Cc_nX-3a540_pYhCL0zUXVyPb6iBuIvlg/s1600/nish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHadzWVpPCKPCZk7QVwN-tvyUP3BE1hTdBob8sI3vDCH4u0vrfOhWnbLw-2CwDQp9L2gDKwOtEEOd60TgtgycLVJuQmHwJhxdqgmkSMhn12Cc_nX-3a540_pYhCL0zUXVyPb6iBuIvlg/s200/nish.jpg" width="119" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nish Kumar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had another dilemma with <a href="http://twitter.com/mrnishkumar">Nish Kumar</a> and Aisling Bea. I asked Misha who I passed on the stairs to make my decision and she tossed a coin inside her head and said "Nish". I found out that the Aisling Bea show was packed anyway so it was a good decision. I had seen Nish's show a couple of weeks ago and this show is pretty much ready to go. Normally I prefer my comedy to be a bit raw, and dare I say it, shambolic, but Nish has such a well written, and unashamedly intelligent show, packed with jokes. I shouldn't like it as it is so polished, but this is at least the second genuinely brilliant show in a row from Nish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gNg4gZ90Q8R-6oiaoeGyuNS3uq7ZW_nWm-7L3XPZt5su4_-euXEm49R9Ia0Ol4WzJVvmNJCHUG1GqOoYXNaWvunU3-b5TJ_wStx2lZ_bf821782TJzzSZF8yHNHZ5Lpc7kohtD8dtPk/s1600/ivo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gNg4gZ90Q8R-6oiaoeGyuNS3uq7ZW_nWm-7L3XPZt5su4_-euXEm49R9Ia0Ol4WzJVvmNJCHUG1GqOoYXNaWvunU3-b5TJ_wStx2lZ_bf821782TJzzSZF8yHNHZ5Lpc7kohtD8dtPk/s200/ivo.jpg" width="113" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ivo Graham</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Eton School For Boys provided a running theme today as the young <a href="http://twitter.com/ivograham">Ivo Graham</a> took to the stage and spoke about whether he was a man or still a child. Lou ended up on the front row beside me (was she taking notes?!), and her laugh is always such a great sound! I've seen Ivo before, and like Nish before him, he is completely unapologetic, but this time about his poshness, though he does feel the need to make sure we know he voted Labour! (but then tops this with a great joke as to why).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjwZ6wUXm8wTQUkrqG5_2K_91Xi0ob4dcfXrqcXWpCZDBYuLYgYtHs71wTwsEYxCXuw0YuqMKM2P-GzK0HwN88Ysr1cVpCVANDdW1YqiNtb31Q1f3SYWpP85LojpoKgvLwyQ3rEYGDV0/s1600/munnery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjwZ6wUXm8wTQUkrqG5_2K_91Xi0ob4dcfXrqcXWpCZDBYuLYgYtHs71wTwsEYxCXuw0YuqMKM2P-GzK0HwN88Ysr1cVpCVANDdW1YqiNtb31Q1f3SYWpP85LojpoKgvLwyQ3rEYGDV0/s320/munnery.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon Munnery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next was a choice between Mark Watson, Simon Munnery, and Bec Hill. I chose Munnery, and was so surprised to find a much smaller audience than i expected. His show is in the fairly early stages, and spent some time telling us about different ideas for show openings that he has. The one with the piece of rope tied to his ankle is my favourite. I won't say any more in case he uses it! He spoke manly about the absurdity of houses, and digressed into a story about visiting Substation (don't look for it; it's not there any more) to see if he was gay or not, and then quite a few slightly uncomfortable stories about the current state of his marriage. You can never really go wrong with Munnery, but you can be taken to very strange and unusual places.<br />
<br />
To finish the festival I decided to go to Joke Thieves. What a great concept for a night. We had 4 comedians; Lou Sanders, Al Lubel, Jenny Collier and Paul F Taylor. A guy in the front row was asked to pair them up (so we knew it was the real deal and not worked out in advance). The comics all had to do 5 minutes or so of their own stuff, then after they had all done so, to swap sets.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigGoaqiupCkcRSu9D3bVdT8_OZkqMbTbvpym-bbU28EV1jRclp_zF2MaOQDp8T-t7wLWAvmCY_53FEZOw0uumWB1T70d-DTi2C-_TRV0SYTcmiuWgaJWi1IgzhyMaMHzaitEtQLJHnzc/s1600/thieves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigGoaqiupCkcRSu9D3bVdT8_OZkqMbTbvpym-bbU28EV1jRclp_zF2MaOQDp8T-t7wLWAvmCY_53FEZOw0uumWB1T70d-DTi2C-_TRV0SYTcmiuWgaJWi1IgzhyMaMHzaitEtQLJHnzc/s320/thieves.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joke Thieves: Al, Lou, Jenny and Paul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lou and Paul were paired up and this was lots of fun, with Paul using new material hoping that Lou could workshop it for him, but for me watching Jenny do Al Lubel's set (wher he repeats his own name well over 100 times) and vice versa was brilliant. Al deciding to forego the material and speaking about Jenny's humble stage presence. After this I found out that Pappy's were on an interval so I headed through to see them, where by this time in the evening I was happy just to sit at the back and chill out,<br />
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So another great ARG. Big thanks to James Lowey and the team for all their hard work yet again, and roll on 2016!<br />
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What? you fancy finishing this blog with Pappy's doing a song about gloves? OK sure, let's do it!<br />
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-36765311388740330002014-12-07T11:42:00.001+00:002014-12-07T12:26:51.072+00:00ManBuyCow - LIVE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdk_w4H0ixUaQa8bP0EnX9jCaDIo7UYT_oG95n0nvEJeXE-meFf4ZUJm7MKHvdbtjKJDFzz80kIXblkuoB2N5AJNg5HecFRWLZ0VZxuqPjHSnQF7fZ0XUFHbzpOcS1Qiw2JnKmYzGePU/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdk_w4H0ixUaQa8bP0EnX9jCaDIo7UYT_oG95n0nvEJeXE-meFf4ZUJm7MKHvdbtjKJDFzz80kIXblkuoB2N5AJNg5HecFRWLZ0VZxuqPjHSnQF7fZ0XUFHbzpOcS1Qiw2JnKmYzGePU/s1600/011.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
The majority of you that follow me on Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook will have seen an increase in the rate of posts involving <a href="http://manbuycow.weebly.com/the-manbuycow-podcast.html">ManBuyCow</a> and have either ignored them or have been curious about what ManBuyCow means but have been too shy to ask. Well read on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChoKVzvPL_9FAbicVPUYhGMkL6vx83QeDQ8cC5NpXLEXjTs1GqKOeaQPYmaacnFniu3ixIVfmY0sfqbyRp8upDYDk75ap-nEv8n4JeoWSFFrz7W8mAa1c9fan9CpVFnsZ9BhjHy9dCV8/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChoKVzvPL_9FAbicVPUYhGMkL6vx83QeDQ8cC5NpXLEXjTs1GqKOeaQPYmaacnFniu3ixIVfmY0sfqbyRp8upDYDk75ap-nEv8n4JeoWSFFrz7W8mAa1c9fan9CpVFnsZ9BhjHy9dCV8/s1600/004.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Baker Doctor Who</td></tr>
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I got introduced to their podcast just over a year ago and was instantly hooked. <a href="http://twitter.com/manbuycow">Rufus and Howard</a> bring us a mixture of chat, sketches and characters all making their mad little world come to life. They have done two series now, with a third on the way, with the Grett Binchleaf portion of the show becoming a podcast in its own right. When they announced that they would be performing a full length show I snapped up my ticket quickly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ls07xVoauZhIi__5Bd-_E-pDn7WVN_wQjRhAuFG-sv1XRiq0xqiaeDLM76-GWV6egy_d9RUHBntrUprEgDP3b8Z0O89SZNuoaPWk7jmXTLqDEQSUPtr_PiUdZ_kGcnwoRCDEsakymc0/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ls07xVoauZhIi__5Bd-_E-pDn7WVN_wQjRhAuFG-sv1XRiq0xqiaeDLM76-GWV6egy_d9RUHBntrUprEgDP3b8Z0O89SZNuoaPWk7jmXTLqDEQSUPtr_PiUdZ_kGcnwoRCDEsakymc0/s1600/006.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1RNprN3GiSQjyL9rZAquOxo_R5edRhEMybDUDkgqGzE3yF3hM3XQGfclMwJrJelHyUaERHtFQXV2wyV3R5q_LxlIID_PRFBrOywnHQr7ZP7OKX8keHfde3uYV9ZGHsS8ACl_nio24R4/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1RNprN3GiSQjyL9rZAquOxo_R5edRhEMybDUDkgqGzE3yF3hM3XQGfclMwJrJelHyUaERHtFQXV2wyV3R5q_LxlIID_PRFBrOywnHQr7ZP7OKX8keHfde3uYV9ZGHsS8ACl_nio24R4/s1600/023.JPG" height="179" width="200" /></a>So I headed to Kentish Town and I met up with <a href="http://twitter.com/domminniti">Dom</a> and his lovely wife Verity at The Rose and Crown around 630 just as they had polished off a very well reviewed pizza. Verity was there as part of a marital deal which involves Dom having to go to Lord Of The Dance, so she is one up. We headed downstairs where we were met by Dennis Quaid*, harangued abot our names and frisked. We aimed towards the front but as Verity was a little shy we sat in the second front row. This was to know avail as Quaid* strongly suggested we sit at the front.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYfG3paZ21CryUeJhxmbYfkSXcDd5BZRu4wn616EydafR5RR7rKmEbRHa4xs29jHvMw7WEVVg6KLV4TIsCMsdJ6R_HaUJ54_-4y9dKt44_jgd7k6k1Nau4bzi8CsJ97GYDRDXBABMEsI/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYfG3paZ21CryUeJhxmbYfkSXcDd5BZRu4wn616EydafR5RR7rKmEbRHa4xs29jHvMw7WEVVg6KLV4TIsCMsdJ6R_HaUJ54_-4y9dKt44_jgd7k6k1Nau4bzi8CsJ97GYDRDXBABMEsI/s1600/012.JPG" height="200" width="153" /></a>Soon a newer longer version of the familiar theme music began and we were off. Our small but dedicated band of comedy nerds were getting all excited and at the point of no return. Rufus and Howard arrived and soon pronounced that Dom was their "Beryl" for the night. Tom Baker Doctor Who was soon up. Nomedy Closh was forever delayed for various reasons (being on the underground and up a tree), and we wondered if he would ever arrive.<br />
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There were guests too. The self-described geeky comic, <a href="http://twitter.com/thegeekycomic">Pete Dillon-Trenchard</a>, the easy to love <a href="http://twitter.com/joznorris">Joz </a><br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/joznorris">Norris</a> and towards the end of the show, <a href="http://twitter.com/bechillcomedian">Bec Hill</a> (ably assisted by Beryl). Of course Nomedy Closh did arrive and sang a song accompanied by Doggity Dog. Even Mr Fluck managed to sneak in an appearance when Rufus wasn't <br />
looking, and the Grett Binchleaf choose your own adventure book "Grett Binchleaf and the case of the missing leg" was fantastic, even though Grett died far more times than expected.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmTIsgauT2R6S9BmXagfQJM3dwFC50hg4y1G1o_kEu3Kp7ZWAryQCMTW4q-VZ9rbeIj9ysFPe7Ac_uPm7ETyw7yf2mmjlenyvxP_4k1ufkb70_uWKq9_LKfbdqyYsk-HBvBC0k0bGxF4/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmTIsgauT2R6S9BmXagfQJM3dwFC50hg4y1G1o_kEu3Kp7ZWAryQCMTW4q-VZ9rbeIj9ysFPe7Ac_uPm7ETyw7yf2mmjlenyvxP_4k1ufkb70_uWKq9_LKfbdqyYsk-HBvBC0k0bGxF4/s1600/030.JPG" height="200" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitler</td></tr>
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The end of the show involved the ManBuyCow fans favourite, Hitler^, and the "Everybody Loves Hitler, Hitler Is Our Friend" mass singalong was apparently heard in the main pub upstairs, which without context could sound a little bit naughty.<br />
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What a great night, and here's hoping that this becomes an annual pre-Christmas event.<br />
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So the moral of the story is a simple one. Listen to ManBuyCow. Now.<br />
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* Not the real Dennis Quaid<br />
^ Not the real Hitler.<br />
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-54904243663194232262014-10-01T10:18:00.002+01:002014-10-01T10:18:15.491+01:00Andrew O'Neill's History Of Heavy Metal aka "SIT DOWN LARS"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlTmPD2bo_ZWmbAhs4ipez63HtXrOGsGJ3qcjtZglNgWeuvngKIgbUCvqgcgqslAOLdfNGJE-r6wTMGXxvWy1JvhtfDMnZJoaiBfZqWLpPMbYokQAIsOEENeAR6nKxtII3OWwkVG7cgE/s1600/aon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlTmPD2bo_ZWmbAhs4ipez63HtXrOGsGJ3qcjtZglNgWeuvngKIgbUCvqgcgqslAOLdfNGJE-r6wTMGXxvWy1JvhtfDMnZJoaiBfZqWLpPMbYokQAIsOEENeAR6nKxtII3OWwkVG7cgE/s1600/aon1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c) Sophie Garrett - <a href="http://sophiegarrett.co.uk/">sophiegarrett.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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Back in the days <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5cQAK05fwA">when I had a band</a>, The Garage was home from home. I hadn't been for years until I went to ARGComFest in the summer and was all set to make another trip after such a short gap.<br />
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I met Neal at the pub over the road where he had been joined by a random woman who was going to another comedy show, and after a lot of detective work we worked out that it was at the Hen and Chickens round the corner. She was nice, but rather loopy. Anyway, we had a beer and headed to the venue, where luckily we didn't need to queue up. We walked straight in and found the room extremely busy already. I made the right decision of getting the first round in, which didn't take too long compared with Neal's round in the interval!<br />
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It was definitely more of a metal than a comedy crowd, and we were initially horrified at it being an all standing gig. We are very old. However I think it definitely gave it a much more rock'n'roll vibe, and of course meant they could probably fit everyone in, because before the gig started, the room was packed to the rafters.<br />
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This was the first time Andrew had done this show with a live band (the guitarist, bassist and drummer from Reprisal). They took to the stage first and were eventually followed by Andrew, striding on to the stage with his flying V ready for action.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4JwrGVelTpmnssL1VPWv_OuYjEzbWqijMZhgrHPfP6bFjQ0YF0s7cfoi3_A02fK3RvhXTadLwr_JAHrlc1-51oWjzrweLOiRlx_tkl9-3ZIk1s50ZI8zAx__yG0egISJNNCkglaW8hc/s1600/AOn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4JwrGVelTpmnssL1VPWv_OuYjEzbWqijMZhgrHPfP6bFjQ0YF0s7cfoi3_A02fK3RvhXTadLwr_JAHrlc1-51oWjzrweLOiRlx_tkl9-3ZIk1s50ZI8zAx__yG0egISJNNCkglaW8hc/s1600/AOn2.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c) Sophie Garrett - <a href="http://sophiegarrett.co.uk/">sophiegarrett.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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The gig was fantastic, starting out with the most famous metal riff of all, from the opening song, "Black Sabbath", from the Black<br />
Sabbath album by Black Sabbath, running through classic riffs from Motorhead to Slayer and Metallica. The show took the form of a history lesson, starting back in the proto-metal bands such as The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, through Sabbath, on to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Venom, then on to Metallica and the big four of thrash and on towards death and black metal, punctuated with riffs and short versions of classic songs, mainly with altered lyrics. The vocals could have been louder as I missed a few of the gags during the songs.<br />
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Andrew joked about Sabbath's rhyming structures, Rob Halford hiding in plain sight before he came out, Slayer opening their classic album with the word "Auschwitz", Dave Mustaine's vocal style and of course, Lars Ulrich constantly standing up. The crowd were noisy, but fun, and only once did Andrew have to tell someone to use their ears more than their mouth.<br />
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I didn't stay for the Reprisal set after the show (my back was killing me. I am old.) but left satisfied that I had seen the best show of 2014 so far. This is a show that needs to be filmed and put out on DVD (or that new fangled Blu-ray) as it could easily reach a much bigger audience.<br />
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Andrew will be doing more of these so keep an eye out. And don't worry if you're not a heavy metal fan. It doesn't matter. It helps, but it doesn't matter. It's a brilliant night out! And remember, what do we shout next time Metallica's drummer stands up behind his kit?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"SIT DOWN LARS!"</span></div>
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This gig was dedicated to Jeff Hanneman 1964-2013<br />
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@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-49865104004541748002014-07-08T09:00:00.002+01:002014-07-08T09:53:37.578+01:00ARGComFest 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://argcomfest.com/">ARG</a> has quickly become one of my favourite weekends of the year and I had been looking forward to this day for a long time. (You can read my blurb about <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/argcomfest.html">ARG<u> 2012</u></a> and <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/argcomfest-2013.html">ARG<u> 2013</u></a> by clicking the links) I had spent quite sometime looking at the schedules and had quite a bit of difficulty in deciding what to see. Eventually I came up with a definitive list (subject to change on a whim) and off I went.<br />
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<b>Saturday:</b><br />
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I started the day in Wetherspoons with one of their cheap and crappy breakfasts along with one of their cheap and surprisingly nice lattes before heading to the queue to get my wristband strapped on.<br />
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In the queue I met <a href="http://twitter.com/h2osarah">Sarah</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/nealp55">Neal</a> and we were soon joined by <a href="http://twitter.com/twonrue">Twon</a> (who had to leave pretty early cos the poor lamb was suffering with some sort of lurgy. He did promise to be there on Sunday though.). Eventually the queue started moving and I saw my first comedy moment of the day. A woman approaching the queue to see what was going on, then getting her heel stuck in the pavement and doing a lovely little dance. It was hard to stop myself laughing and I didn't. She was nice though.<br />
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We were near the front of the queue so I headed to the bar and got served quickly. I turned round after hearing my name and it was <a href="http://twitter.com/domminniti">Dom</a>, a reasonably new Twitter friend who had trekked down from Hull. He had brought his friend Michael along, who wasn't particularly a comedy fan. I could eventually see this due to his different reactions to the straight forward stand ups and the more left field acts.<br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/ladycariad">Cariad</a> and Paul were on first. They were an improv pairing who built a story up around many scenes, the first of which was based on a one word suggestion from the audience. Cheese. This eventually meandered through pig slaughter, poison production, and a true love story, ending up with the death of Cariad's boy character, Meaty, and ended on Halloumi, bringing us back to where we started.<br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/andrewismaxwell">Andrew Maxwell</a> was arguably the biggest name act of the Saturday and he didn't disappoint. There was a serious looking security guard in the corner who Andrew spotted smiling at one of his gags and from then on kept referring back to him and how cute he looked when he smiles like a chipmunk. He spoke about Scottish independence and wasn't scared to take the piss out of the SNP. It will be interesting to see how this goes down at Edinburgh festival.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ADCPcvpicQAPvKujj2wUJpuvHN6lspATh4fAelIS2s3HK5kNKqpJVlXH6Jy-swc4HIkVFZatgEINmbmuskdHmHmZpNd48fCBFKGiWUJCOIPRXxR6zBQXPngDXZ1UmYZDJdOs8AWTS3Q/s1600/IMG_6871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ADCPcvpicQAPvKujj2wUJpuvHN6lspATh4fAelIS2s3HK5kNKqpJVlXH6Jy-swc4HIkVFZatgEINmbmuskdHmHmZpNd48fCBFKGiWUJCOIPRXxR6zBQXPngDXZ1UmYZDJdOs8AWTS3Q/s1600/IMG_6871.JPG" height="206" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Riches and The Great Popcorno (aka Dom)</td></tr>
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I had never seen <a href="http://twitter.com/tigcoriches">Adam Riches</a> before, but had heard lots of good things about him. I headed upstairs for the first time and found the room packed with people watching Liam Williams. I caught the tail end of his set but not enough to work out what was going on! Adam came on as Sean Bean first, and unveiled a few different characters along the way. As Sean he brought on his chair/horse and asked one of the audience members to bring their horse up too. This culminated with 4 men sitting between each others legs and playing each others hair as a musical instrument.<br />
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He was a mixologist and he pointed to Michael's and my drink. Dom had to open his mouth and we each poured a little of our drinks into his mouth before Adam garnished it with a banana and a couple of straws. Later Dom was called up to be The Great Popcorno, which involved him lying mouth open in front of a popcorn machine. Unfortunately the machine was faulty and we never got to see its full glory.<br />
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A latecomer was brought on to the stage to be tattooed by Adam (with electric toothbrushes and crayons strapped to his hands and ended up over Adam's knee as the "blood" spurted everywhere. Sometimes audience participation is terrifying, but Adam, who uses it a lot, knows exactly what he is doing. The whole thing is pure fun and joyous without any humiliation. Well, apart from to Adam of course!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGePNxBoFz0Q3TbpEg-GKfxQP_ErYeCGmqKPgyQWSwaR1bnZsatFHZZRAxCjoA0ZOSt6KBW2jdJ6RAo-8qa4xrxqYdC6zLZDMKM3HHxaHjlfu755S1TPq1MISmLZoho-FB7vtPhfg2U9A/s1600/IMG_6878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGePNxBoFz0Q3TbpEg-GKfxQP_ErYeCGmqKPgyQWSwaR1bnZsatFHZZRAxCjoA0ZOSt6KBW2jdJ6RAo-8qa4xrxqYdC6zLZDMKM3HHxaHjlfu755S1TPq1MISmLZoho-FB7vtPhfg2U9A/s1600/IMG_6878.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Luke Roberts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Back downstairs we saw <a href="http://twitter.com/joeldommett">Joel Dommett</a>. I had seen him a couple of times before and it's hard not to be drawn in to his cheeky smiley face. He, perhaps foolishly, gave an audience member the remote control to his confetti cannon, and freedom to choose exactly when to set it off. Now there was some peril. And did the audience member choose the right moment? Well... no not quite!<br />
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Joel's face was also a delight when he played us some of the recordings by his old band Psirus, as well as a rap that he had written at the worrying age of 20. Psirus were partially reunited using an audience member in a boiler suit / balaclava combination as a replacement for their drummer who they don't see eye to eye with.<br />
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I'm a big fan of The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society (ACMS) which is run by <a href="http://twitter.com/turlygod">Thom Tuck</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/jlukeroberts">John Luke Roberts</a>, and it was these two we went upstairs to see next. Thom's new show touches a lot on maths and is called the square root of -1. Thom tries to speak to all the audience at this show which was rather impossible today due to the larger audience than normal. Perhaps he should restrict it to the first two rows/ Anyway we had to complete the sentence "I am...", which then gives Thom the freedom to riff on however we choose to describe ourselves.<br />
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John Luke, with no beard and no glasses these days looks a lot younger than when I last saw him.<a href="https://t.co/KyvuwiLtfk"> He recreated his girlfriend splitting up with him</a> by having the front row swear, slap and shout at him before throwing a glass of water in his face. Covering his wet face with flour he clambered amongst the audience, bemusing and scaring them all at once, before finally getting an audience member to clean his face. Then the dinosaur appeared and things got weirder! Go and see Thom and John Luke. They are a lot of fun!<br />
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The day was nearly ending and we had two more acts to go. I got a front row seat for <a href="http://twitter.com/jonnydonahoe">Jonny</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/jonny_baptists">the <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTTk6kUD23r3hJ2kHR0GI29pOTj8Seb5bhQZQbOaBkLJCtw5ge4gsOohO5GrZzde8PgCcDp6GAtBrFPityXfSYbvMMZ7IG5-ZENBgZqgDa1tF_4354nkGI5qMkvl0sgRCNVVBnlEAOdI/s1600/jbap.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTTk6kUD23r3hJ2kHR0GI29pOTj8Seb5bhQZQbOaBkLJCtw5ge4gsOohO5GrZzde8PgCcDp6GAtBrFPityXfSYbvMMZ7IG5-ZENBgZqgDa1tF_4354nkGI5qMkvl0sgRCNVVBnlEAOdI/s1600/jbap.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonny & the Baptists</td></tr>
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Baptists</a> who, to me, are a cross between Tenacious D and Topping and Butch. There was a lot of UKIP material which went down well, where we learned an alternative meaning of the word "Farage" (with emphasis on the first syllable) There were also regular reprises of their short and filthy "Buckets..." song. They ended the gig to a massive round of applause with their song "Boom".<br />
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I decided to stay downstairs for <a href="http://twitter.com/nishkumar">Nish Kumar</a>, and what a show it was! I have never seen Nish be this funny before and the whole room was absolutely loving it. Again he got the security guard involved in the show and spoke about his old manager asking him not to speak about race so much in case it alienated the crowd. The show ended by... actually I won't tell you cos I think it's a pretty nice surprise when you see this in Edinburgh.<br />
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We had a brief chat with Thom, <a href="http://twitter.com/matthewcrosby">Matthew Crosby</a>, Nish and <a href="http://twitter.com/jamesacaster">James Acaster</a> and I headed home for some rest before doing the WHOLE THING again tomorrow.<br />
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Blog paused.<br />
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Blog continues!<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday:</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSuQ0i9CnKe0tCemjFuI-EieQfyhaqQpB6MJBh-lNhP4yVUYs1XBbaljB9rtDNmcmGsQunBC6nF2he75LApKpIbT9N3WDG5OGbp1dv15UIqqFtajzXdcFxn9l_PFbYZFWz4VK02GYgTQ/s1600/rachp.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSuQ0i9CnKe0tCemjFuI-EieQfyhaqQpB6MJBh-lNhP4yVUYs1XBbaljB9rtDNmcmGsQunBC6nF2he75LApKpIbT9N3WDG5OGbp1dv15UIqqFtajzXdcFxn9l_PFbYZFWz4VK02GYgTQ/s1600/rachp.PNG" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel Parris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>After meeting Dom at Wetherspoons for a massive breakfast we headed back to The Garage for another day of ARGing. We reunited with Neal inside and got a seat at the front for <a href="http://twitter.com/iamrachelparris">Rachel Parris</a>. I have seen her a number of times and she has always been ace. I'm not particularly a musical comedy fan, but she has framed the show in Vegas and has a host of characters performing in the show. There has been a lot of thought gone into this as well as talent! She played a liberal country and western singer, a middle-class mummy's boy "Coldplay" type, and the beautiful diva headline act which climaxed with her song "I'm amazing"<br />
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We moved upstairs and saw <a href="http://twitter.com/lucybeaumont">Lucy Beaumont</a>. She was probably a more traditional comic who reminded me a little bit of Victoria Wood, with her world of characters (or perhaps real life friends, it was hard to decide). She comes from Hull and plays a lot on the difference between life in Hull and life down south. <a href="http://twitter.com/lousanders">Lou Sanders</a> was compering this section which is always a blast, and she regaled us with her erotic stories, and eventually her fruit and vegetable calendar she has produced to fund her Edinburgh show.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart Goldsmith</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We heard <a href="http://twitter.com/michaellegge">Michael Legge</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/robinince">Robin Ince</a> arrive before we saw them, as is often the case. I could over hear them bellowing at each other at the back of the room (the show hadn't yet started) as a situation was developing at the bar between a very arrogant barman and a girl who was rightfully complaining that her coke was flat. "That's how we serve it" said the idiot bar man. Anyway, Robin and Michael's arrival cheered me up from this boring and we retook our seats. Some of the audience suggestions tonight were slightly over ripe avocados, atriums, and of course <a href="http://michaelleggesblog.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/brown-blues.html">Mrs Brown's Boys</a> made an appearance due to O'Carroll's defence of his Mr Wang character. I always love this show (Pointless Anger, Righteous Ire, not Mrs Brown's Boys). It's so remarkably silly, and I also love the idea that some people might come along because they are science geeks and have heard Robin with his other double act partner, Brian Cox, and are expecting an intellectual show, whereas instead they get an hour of constant exaggerated fury! Boys, it would be great if these could be put out as podcasts!<br />
<br />
Many of you will listen to the brilliant <a href="http://www.comedianscomedian.com/">Comedian's Comedian podcast</a>, presented by <a href="http://www.comedianscomedian.com/stugoldsmith">Stuart Goldsmith</a>, where he chats in depth to comedians about their writing processes and such like. Well he was on downstairs next and the compere eventually managed to get the crowd to move to the front. I still don't know why comedy audiences (especially proper comedy fans) still seem scared to sit at the front. Anyway he spent a lot of the time speaking about his broodiness and eventually dedicated the show to his Scottish granny who keeps going on no matter what life throws at her. We did get a little secret bit that Stuart says won't go into his show cos it is too hacky, but he has worked out which combination of people he looks like. A mixture of a children's TV presenter and "your brother's friend". Great stuff!<br />
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I headed back to 'spoons (as all the cool kids call it) and ordered a massive roast to see me through the rest of the day. Of course it was awful, but but was cheap and big. This led me to miss most of <a href="http://twitter.com/sarapascoe">Sara Pascoe</a>'s set which was a shame. I joined Dom, Neal and Michael at the back and really enjoyed the last 10 minutes anyway!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvJ592UlX-DF2Un2ia0b2V-kS0CRX5Yk-PwoSv8Lq-Y55yu-vnR7J-xzI3NFsxnQdcc4GzV6d6KxjHvVUox7W9zLrwnKrFB33riOaK_Qsubv5TZ2IhitY_styFTHoTeoYSagP0NO8pUU/s1600/long.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvJ592UlX-DF2Un2ia0b2V-kS0CRX5Yk-PwoSv8Lq-Y55yu-vnR7J-xzI3NFsxnQdcc4GzV6d6KxjHvVUox7W9zLrwnKrFB33riOaK_Qsubv5TZ2IhitY_styFTHoTeoYSagP0NO8pUU/s1600/long.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josie Long</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have seen <a href="http://twitter.com/mistertrent">David Trent</a> a couple of times before now doing sections of his show but as yet haven't seen more than 20 minutes at a time so I was really looking forward to this. For those who don't know, David is <a href="http://twitter.com/thenickhelm">Nick Helm</a>'s hairy guitarist. This is a very visual show with most material being projected. He deconstructs Blurred Lines brilliantly as well as looking at the work of hype man DJ Lock from Rudimental. But the highlight for me is his commentary over Nick Griffin's BNP cookery show. It almost didn't need any input from David at all!<br />
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We spotted a lot of off duty comics arriving. <a href="http://twitter.com/nickdoody">Nick Doody</a> (who ended up performing at ACMS later), Nick Helm, Henning Wehn and Matt Kirshen were hanging out. Dom and I ended up chatting with Helm about his upcoming TV show "Heavy Entertainment" which I have seen two recordings of. And guys it is going to be <i>amazing</i>!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/bridgetchristie">Bridget Christie</a> was the first comic to use the main higher stage as she believed that audiences don't like<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1bK55Ncis5Uy2EQ_mjMSzMOZXWaKXFWZ4b9kWinScrV9tCvrZuM96_76YcCniDEJRUEkhjVCqoWuhrcjlF5MxcnsqR_yINAM_GNnw846Ez4k5HuTm-jZbHbdBwnegCqlvdPzeT2x6As/s1600/dood.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1bK55Ncis5Uy2EQ_mjMSzMOZXWaKXFWZ4b9kWinScrV9tCvrZuM96_76YcCniDEJRUEkhjVCqoWuhrcjlF5MxcnsqR_yINAM_GNnw846Ez4k5HuTm-jZbHbdBwnegCqlvdPzeT2x6As/s1600/dood.PNG" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Doody</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
being lit. It wasn't that she wanted to be far away from us. This led her to having to clamber onto it like a toddler which made for a great entrance. Her new show "An Ungrateful Woman" looks like a natural follow up to last year's award winning show, and although still in primitive form at the moment is shaping up to be another great one. As often is the case with Bridget in preview she ad-libbed a lot of lines, and when they worked she would suddenly look delighted and take a few seconds out to scribble them in her notes. The almost throwaway line where she calls her husband a racist was one of the funniest individual lines of the weekend.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UxlkCYAJrHy4Fx5M63r9-DjkDzkIideAE8626kEAo59al7HtcbW4KR1x3YHFB18KKYGVz8IbLB5eYqGQeWMlBNZqz8S2GYXkYk9lnDyc0VB1vwcYoF6RlDG7Os82rgIlSB_84LS7tN4/s1600/thmo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UxlkCYAJrHy4Fx5M63r9-DjkDzkIideAE8626kEAo59al7HtcbW4KR1x3YHFB18KKYGVz8IbLB5eYqGQeWMlBNZqz8S2GYXkYk9lnDyc0VB1vwcYoF6RlDG7Os82rgIlSB_84LS7tN4/s1600/thmo.PNG" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thom Tuck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To end the night we had <a href="http://noblefailure.org/">ACMS</a> (The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society). This is usually hosted by John Luke Roberts and Thom Tuck but tonight Thom couldn't make it so Jonny and the Baptists took his place. Lou came on to do her erotic stories and fruit and veg calendar material again. She asked for people's birthday's and read out the entry in the calendar for that month. She hadn't pointed out it was a fruit and veg based calendar which led to some confusion though, so I felt the need to point this out (even though it was not on the list of permitted heckles)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lou Sanders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nick Doody did a few minutes about the perils of buying a hammer and how to transport it home if you don't have a bag and <a href="http://twitter.com/alex_edelman">Alex Edelman</a> joined us for some experimental stuff. By this time, Thom arrived, resplendent in his cricket whites, fresh from the match that he had (genuinely) played. We got more short sets from <a href="http://twitter.com/josielong">Josie Long</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/grainnemaguire">Grainne Maguire</a>, and soon ARGComFest 2014 was at an end.<br />
<br />
Big thanks to <a href="http://twitter.com/jameslowey">James Lowey</a> and the ARG team for putting this show on. Since it started in 2012 it has grown <br />
from year to year. This was a nice sized venue though and hope to be back here next year.<br />
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The McH award this year goes jointly to Adam Riches and Robin Ince & Michael Legge. There is no money or trophy involved, but give yourselves a pat on the back guys! Of course we are all winners here, so don't be downhearted if you didn't win this esteemed award this year. Roll on 2015!<br />
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-36984214746147150762014-06-24T11:22:00.001+01:002014-06-25T21:07:34.173+01:00Good Evening, My Name's Rik. Rik? What Is It? What's Going On?<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I found out that Rik was going to perform at Ayr Odeon in 1985, and instantly snapped up a ticket. Ben Elton was his opening act. I think this was before Saturday Live, and the only thing we knew about Ben Elton was that he co-wrote the Young Ones so I was tremendously excited. I had never been to a comedy show before and it was only the bloomin' guys who wrote The Young Ones!</div>
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I decided this was something I wanted to keep forever, so with great ingenuity and illegality, I looped a belt through the handle of my Aunt's cassette recorder she had in the kitchen, got a microphone (one of the ones with 2 pins to connect it: one short and one long) and put that down my jacket sleeve and off to the gig I went.<br />
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Ben Elton was superb, and this was the first time I heard his "Double Seat" routine. But Rik then came out to huge cheers. "It's lovely to be here in"... <i>he looks at his pen marks on his hand</i>... "Ayyuugh. Ayuugh!? What kind of fucking name is that for a place?" He started performing as The Young Ones' Rick, then came on as Kevin Turvey. I had missed Turvey the first time round, but I think I bought a VHS tape by then so I was familiar with him, and then came on later as himself, explaining that his friend and colleague Adrian Edmonson had written a joke for him. "I'm going to do Ade's joke" he announced. "No not an AIDS joke! That would be awful!", he berated a non-existent heckler.<br />
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My friend George and I played that tape over and over and over and over again until we knew Ben and Rik's sets word perfectly. This would have been an ideal day to upload it to Soundcloud, but alas, it has been lost for many years. And now Rik has been lost too.<br />
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Anyway, this blog is really just an excuse to post lots of ace clips of Rik. I hope you enjoy them!<br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Rik and The Young Ones on Comic Relief</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b>The Dangerous Brothers</b><br />
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<b>Rick finds a lady in his bed (The Young Ones)</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Filthy, Rich & Catflap</b><br />
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<b>Bad News Tour</b><br />
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<b>More Bad News</b><br />
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<b>Kevin Turvey - The Man Behind The Green Door</b><br />
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<b>Bottom - Live</b><br />
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And finally this. Rik receives an honorary doctorate from the University Of Exeter and gives a fantastic rousing speech to the students. A speech that they will remember for the rest of their lives.<br />
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-45174874659577247682014-04-15T19:14:00.001+01:002014-12-07T09:20:12.762+00:00A taste of ManBuyCow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a rather good comedy week last week. It started with a gig at The Old Queens Head with Pappy's and Badults star Matthew Crosby, followed by Aisling Bea, Lou Sanders and Scott Capurro. I was slightly told off by Matthew for standing at the bar rather than sitting down, and I tried to explain that my back was sore and standing was probably better. Aislng Bea was mad as ever, comparing her look to a prostitute in an oppressive regime.<br />
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The second half started and I realised my choice of standing was not a good one and I moved to one of the comfier sofas. Lou read us some extracts from her books (which is one of my favourite sections in her Fubar Radio show she hosts with Richard Herring) and the gig finished with Capurro who I had not seen before. It's a rare treat to hear lines that make me take a sharp intake of breath and wonder if I should be laughing at them! After the show, Lou decided to introduce me to Scott by saying "Hi this is Andy. He's a homosexual."<br />
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Bridget Christie and Nick Helm are here in May and I have already rounded up a posse for that. I don't know if there are tickets left, but get them quick if you want to come. And how could you justify missing them?<br />
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The following evening I met up with Rose, Sir Bob, Twon and John. We started at Millers, where I met John and one of his friends from school. We headed to "Drink Shop Do" where Lou Sanders is hosting a monthly event with Rachael Stubbings. It's a tiny venue that we were lucky to escape from alive. One spark and we would all have been toast. Richard Herring was headlining where he was trying out new material for his as yet unwritten "Good and Evil" episode of RHMOL. The alternative 10 commandments were a particular highlight as well as some other stuff he had cherry picked from Christ On A Bike. Richard was chatty after the show and I stood back this time and let John do all the talking. This way I know I am safe from making myself look like a dick.<br />
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But you know all about these guys. I really wanted to talk about the following night where I went to, what I think was my first open mic night where about 10 comics took to the stage in 5 minute sets. This was at The Torriano in Kentish Town, and it is organised by Rufus and Howard, the guys behind the magnificent ManBuyCow podcast. These guys remind me a little of The Trap, and I think you should all stop reading this for now and go and download the first 2 series of their podcast. But start from episode 1 otherwise it may get very confusing.<br />
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I got there around 730 and headed downstairs. I said hello to Rufus and Howard and took a seat at the back, slightly raised on a bar stool. The acts were a mixed bunch. The compere was a beatboxing guy who reminded me of the bragging kid from the Inbetweeners, but he was funny and very talented at what he did. The opening act was older, and reminded me of Harry Hill a little, and it was a good start to the show. I got distracted by a guy to my right who kept wandering around and jumping up and down as if he was about to have a boxing match. I don't like to be unkind in these blogs, so it's probably best I don't mention his act.<br />
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Rufus and Howard did around 10 minutes at the start of the second half, with Howard asking Rufus's advice on how to talk to a woman, and finishing with the superb 80s themed "Woman Girl".<br />
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I spent a little time afterwards chatting with Rufus and Howard and they are pretty groovy guys. Weirdly, Rufus recognised my voice from an old AIOTM! They are joyful, silly, and naturally funny guys, and not enough of you are listening to their podcast, so get downloading now!<br />
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@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-913888615522849182014-01-21T10:26:00.002+00:002014-01-21T10:26:54.325+00:00Where Have I Been?So I've just written a post about the gig I went to see last night and realised that this was my first blog post in 6 months, so I shall try to vaguely bring you up to date...<br />
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August was a quiet month for me as all the comedians were up in August, so it was nice to have some time off! In September a friend and I went to a recording of Newsjack. I'm not a huge fan of TV and Radio recordings, but as he had tickets and Maragret Cabourn-Smith was in it I had to go.<br />
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I went to a couple of RHLSTPs in September and October and in November went to one of my locals to see Richard Herring do a preview for his Meaning Of Life show. I saw the first episode being recorded a couple of weeks later.<br />
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Not a lot happened in December, other than the recording of Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle where we saw 4 episodes being recorded. I'm really looking forward to the 3rd series being broadcast, and glad to hear there is a 4th series commissioned.<br />
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This month I went to a new comedy night at The Wenlock and Essex. Locally I have also been to a few nights at Angel Comedy which are totally free and always busy.<br />
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So, for 2014:<br />
<br />
Pointless Anger: Righteous Ire is back with Robin Ince and Michael Legge plus guests which take place at the Comedy Bar. I went to the first one and had a thoroughly great time. They are happening on the first Tuesday of the month.<br />
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Richard Herring's Meaning Of Life continues too. I went to a preview of the second show at the Old Queens Head (where I also saw Bec Hill and David Trent), but I can't make the show proper this time.<br />
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Other things for me to look forward to are a new series of RHLSTP. due to my rota I can only make the first show, which has an unnamed, but apparently big name guest. (Please be Rik Mayall. Please be Rik Mayall), Robin Ince's Dirty Book Club as well as the return of Los Quattros Cvnts, except this time they are now Los Quintos Cvnts, with the addition of a girl one. I know who it is but I'm not sure if it's meant to be a secret or not, so I'll leave you guessing.<br />
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I've got into a few newer podcasts. As well as my standard ones such as all the Richard Herring ones, The Bugle, Film Fandango, Comedian's Comedian, POTOm and People With Stories, I have also got into ManBuyCow, By The Way with Jeff Garlin, and Sean Hughes: Off The Radar. give them a go.<br />
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OK this blog has been a bit crap. (I did this, then I did that), but I just thought I would fill in the gaps.<br />
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I will try to remember to write more of these soon.<br />
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Andy x@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-1202984934445645042014-01-21T10:07:00.000+00:002014-01-21T10:07:43.785+00:00Bridget Christie - A Bic For HerI found a quietish spot in the Soho Theatre bar and leaned by the blackboard, waiting for <a href="http://twitter.com/col_bogey">Bob</a> and <a href="http://twitter%2Ccom/twonrue">Twon</a> to arrive. I played on Twitter for a bit then eventually read who was performing that night. Bridget Christie downstairs, <a href="http://twitter.com/johnsfurcoat">John Kearns</a> upstairs and in the main theatre, Tommy Tiernan. What a line up, and I really wanted to see all of them. However, tonight was a Bridget night.<div>
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As you probably know, I adore Bridget and have seen 2 previews of this show before the Fringe. She then took it to Edinburgh and won the Fosters prize (still known to most people as the Perrier Award), quite shockingly becoming only the 3rd woman to win it. Her previous shows that I have seen (War Donkey and the one about A Ant) were allegories of feminism, but in this show she tackles the subject head on.</div>
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She seemed in a particularly jaunty mood tonight, shaking the front row's hands as she came on and beginning the show by telling us of her previous shows that had always been rather sparsely attended, and told us of one show with only one woman in the audience of a show that required a lot of audience participation. A comedy show about feminism could be seen my some to be a bit boring, but even the biggest sexist couldn't accuse Bridget of that. Her Stirling Moss routine provides a combination of silliness and discomfort from some parts of the room, which ends up with her reading an email that Moss himself has sent her.</div>
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She responds to a non-existent heckle that Bob has apparently made about shy she doesn't tackle the bigger subjects such as FGM, and tells us of her one woman crusade to dispose of any lads mags she finds at a child's eye height, as well as handing out a "money prize" during the 30 second section of the show completely dedicated to the lads.</div>
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She goes on to talk about the eponymous "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/BIC-For-Her-Medium-Ballpoint/dp/B004FTGJUW">Bic For Her</a>" and argues that the lack of a ladies pen may be why the Austen sisters were so bad at writing. The show ends as a tribute to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malala_Yousafzai">Malala Yousafzai</a>, and Bridget reads from the speech she gave at the UN, but just as the mood starts to get too serious, she punctures it with a great call back to the ladies pen.</div>
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Bridget has already sold out two runs of this and will be back doing more in March so if you haven't seen this show, then please do try to get a ticket, but get one fast because the March run will obviously sell out too. I spoke to Bridget in the bar and asked her that as she is doing so many performances of this show, does she ever get bored saying the same things. </div>
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Immediately she replied "No, because I believe everything I say".</div>
@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-60676250910410711372013-07-09T20:43:00.001+01:002013-07-09T21:11:21.579+01:00ARGComFest 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So this was the second year of the Actually Rather Good Comedy Festival (ARGComFest), and I got tickets early for the whole weekend. I arrived a little later than expected but luckily the show didn't start on time. I checked out both the venues, but to be honest it seemed pointless as I had decided to stay downstairs pretty much all day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRpCVuyUlrC5oGclVOA3QfmiQpB03y-CGz3nmEUW4_QBRYNgwP9mmKI_aA4QlaJhzBb4c-sqPL3OPWsiu1TXMgIZvGUjY3b_RktSVP4bpE4sVYmDjIUliN8TiQMcFzOKTYjfU9myo-4U/s1600/2013-07-06+14.38.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRpCVuyUlrC5oGclVOA3QfmiQpB03y-CGz3nmEUW4_QBRYNgwP9mmKI_aA4QlaJhzBb4c-sqPL3OPWsiu1TXMgIZvGUjY3b_RktSVP4bpE4sVYmDjIUliN8TiQMcFzOKTYjfU9myo-4U/s320/2013-07-06+14.38.54.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Kearns</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Kearns</td></tr>
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I took a seat beside the ever lovely <a href="http://twitter.com/robsedgebeer">Rob</a> and Dan Cook came on in an orange jumpsuit<br />
and explained that doing this show was his punishment for throwing a quiche at a dog. A series of sketches followed which all pretty much hit the mark. He is very likeable, and I can see he's grown up watching Rik Mayall.<br />
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I spotted <a href="http://twitter.com/abrasiveshrub">Heather</a> and moved over to join her. I had never seen <a href="http://twitter.com/johnsfurcoat">John Kearns</a> before, and I'm so glad I did. He make Brian Gittins look almost normal. Coming on stage in a Bernie Clifton style ostrich outfit (but much cheaper looking) he terrified the audience into submission. We all felt for this strange man, and at the end of his set he (for no obvious reason) decided to get changed to look like a lovely lady. He got all the men on stage to perform a mime with him. And I'm not going to tell you what it was, other than it was ever so slightly distasteful! Go and see him!<br />
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I'm familiar with <a href="http://twitter.com/jlukeroberts">John Luke Roberts</a> through <a href="http://noblefailure.org/">ACMS</a> that he runs with the aforementioned <a href="http://twitter.com/turlygod">Thom Tuck</a>. Starting with his already legendary "Patricia Routledge" routine he want on to insult the audience indvidually with pre-written zingers. He even insulted an apple off a man's head.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Luke Roberts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Luke Roberts</td></tr>
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<a href="http://twitter.com/jamesacaster">James Acaster</a> absolutely nailed it. I watched him from the front row beside <a href="http://twitter.com/nealp55">Neal</a> as he explained in extremely minute detail why Yoko Ono was not to blame for the Beatles spiltting up. What a comic. I have only seen him a couple of times before. Why is he not massively popular? I had a break for lunch and came back to find <a href="http://twitter.com/daniel_simonson">Daniel Simonsen</a> on stage. I took a bar stool and watched from the back. He seemed a little more nervous than usual, but of course the crowd loved him. There's something about the way he holds himself, that makes it very hard to do anything but love him.<br />
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What can I say about <a href="http://twitter.com/wheeliemancrow">Colin Hoult</a> apart from he competely brought the house down. For me, he just edged out Acaster as the best act of the evening with his tall tales of Snottingham and The Carrot Horse. (though later quite a few people were raving about <a href="http://twitter.com/weemissbea">Aisling Bea</a>, who I unfortunately didn't see) One lad at the front was almost in tears laughing and Hoult used him a few times for audience participation. He was a little over keen though, but not to the point where the performance was being overshadowed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Simonsen</td></tr>
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<a href="http://twitter.com/edwardaczel">Ed Aczel</a> is an extraordinary comic. There are very little obvious jokes, and very little obvious charisma, but lots of flipboards and sideways writing. I had seen him before though and really wanted to see him again (hence missing Aisling Bea) and after the first 10 minutes when the audience were trying to work out what the hell was going on, they all bought into it, and the whole thing was a fantastic hour. I ended up on stage for what appeared to be far too long, answering various questions as part of his group therapy session.<br />
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By the end of the night I was getting pretty tired and joined Neal at the front to see Henry Paker. I didn't know too much about him. He was going down really well, and maybe it was just my tiredness that stopped me laughing as much as I should have. He was more traditional than the previous comics, and Michael McIntyre and Eddie Izzard seemed to be his main influences.<br />
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I snuck out early and headed home to my lovely bed. I slept like crap though, so not sure how today is going to go. It's a very strong line up for today with Tony Law, Michael Legge and Bridget Christie to look forward to as well as my first ever live Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown. I shall continue this blog when I get back tonight... See you later<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart Laws</td></tr>
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So the second day has finished and what a great one it was! I got there around 1:30 and caught the end of Chris Boyd upstairs, where he was talking about surviving natural disasters which involved covering the entire crowd with a tarpaulin. I had missed the start so I wasn't sure what was going on!<br />
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The first act I wanted to see was <a href="http://twitter.com/thisstuartlaws">Stuart Laws</a>. I had caught him at <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/argcomfest.html">ARG last year</a> and remember ending up on the stage to play the part of a mixing bowl. the mixing bowl routine made another appearance today but thankfully I could just relax in my seat. Most of the show was the same as last year but that's not a criticism. Stuart is a very likable guy who interacts with the audience as well as I've seen anyone do it. After picking out Rob as the alpha male of the group (on account of him wearing a loud shirt and having his own harem) he discussed who likes to be the big spoon and the little spoon, and it ended up with a <a href="http://twitter.com/tackline">twitter friend of mine</a> being invited on to the stage in order to avoid Stuart spooning him. All in all, very silly and a lot of fun!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx3IRfxKEgjBLE00AZPn39B6OOL6KZH2yiRd4K2p5B1Pr0M99F4Bp3a0fMhdLbmvgdOVDH1Syb38JrZkDLTcnoLo0P2yzuSI-1HtDgD77rwdqeUd4sZDyToSMhNOqtZ2U0S5g7qWECmc/s1600/2013-07-07+15.26.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx3IRfxKEgjBLE00AZPn39B6OOL6KZH2yiRd4K2p5B1Pr0M99F4Bp3a0fMhdLbmvgdOVDH1Syb38JrZkDLTcnoLo0P2yzuSI-1HtDgD77rwdqeUd4sZDyToSMhNOqtZ2U0S5g7qWECmc/s320/2013-07-07+15.26.25.jpg" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Legge</td></tr>
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<a href="http://twitter.com/michaellegge">Michael Legge</a> had kindly bought me a drink before Stuart's show so I decided to repay the favour by taking a front row seat with Neal. (Yes, yes, I know I would have been there anyway.) Anyway, Michael's new show "Free Wifi" is coming along really well, even though he doesn't seem to think so himself, and he got some of the biggest laughs of any comic this weekend. I'm currently enjoying his soon to be legendary routine about his frog, and his doorway drinking companion, known only as "Ha Ha AIDS". By August this is going to be such a top show and of course you should see him in Edinburgh. My brother and I are off to see Michael and Richard Herring do another preview in a couple of weeks, so I'm rather looking forward to that.<br />
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After a day and a half, it was finally time for me to venture upstairs. <a href="http://twitter.com/mrtonylaw">Tony Law</a> was on. And no one in their right mind can miss Tony Law. Tony's shows are always gloriously bamboozling in the early stages, and with many confusing historic references, this is no exception! I was puzzled for a while why Tony was telling one story in an New York Italian accent for some time, but it all became clear at the end. After the gig I bumped into Tony outside and he introduced me to his beautiful wife, Storm and asked me if I thought the show was good. I always find it amazing when a brilliant comic who has just done a great show seems to doubt themselves in any small way. But Tony has nothing to worry about, and of course this is another must see at Edinburgh.<br />
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I was planning on seeing a bit of Mae Martin before heading out for a little break, purely on the strength that <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony Law</td></tr>
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I didn't know anything about her, and it was too hot upstairs to see Joe Lycett in what I imagine would be another packed show so I decided to watch Mae's late replacement. I didn't catch his name, and I was rather enjoying him until he started talking about Scottish independence. Now, I'm Scottish, but in no way patriotic (especially as I don't get a vote) but when he came up with the line "The English laugh at the BNP and the EDL, the Scottish vote them in", without any sort of punchline I got a bit annoyed. He was actually comparing the SNP to the far right. Anyway, I finished my drink and went for a walk up to the Oxford Arms. It was lovely and cool. When I got back I chatted with the comic (and have completely forgotten his name) and voiced my concerns (like the dick I am), and he was very charming about it and we had quite a pleasant conversation. So it all ended well.<br />
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Back upstairs for another comic I can never miss. The adorably furious <a href="http://twitter.com/bridgetchristie">Bridget Christie</a>. I had seen her about a week or two ago do a preview but I couldn't resist another one. Neal and I were in the second row this time, and both ended up laughing like idiots throughout, even at the jokes we had heard last week. Her show is an unapologetic show about feminism, and even though to some ears that may sound like a bit of a lecture, in true Bridget style, it is mainly gloriously silly. She speaks about her new habit of throwing out magazines in shops that are placed on the bottom shelf instead of the top, and I won a brilliant prize in her competition just for the boys in the audience. I won't spoil the show for anyone else, but the prize is absolutely inspired.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0H8NNDrqiN_l5qVedyyREYJBIsKnSqetfleHBSpRPsbkiSZKP9U4g9Z-IGjDIH0VXvugWr_iWM4xZYa48qV0JgZwN8xmzsGSHj97HgLVG5IJfrYCEUHwtnXwmvTnCyK3-wOPWSibp9Q/s1600/2013-07-07+20.43.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0H8NNDrqiN_l5qVedyyREYJBIsKnSqetfleHBSpRPsbkiSZKP9U4g9Z-IGjDIH0VXvugWr_iWM4xZYa48qV0JgZwN8xmzsGSHj97HgLVG5IJfrYCEUHwtnXwmvTnCyK3-wOPWSibp9Q/s320/2013-07-07+20.43.54.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridget Christie</td></tr>
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By this time I was getting rather tired and planned to watch half of <a href="http://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/flatshare_slamdown/">Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown</a>, and then catch the end of Simon Evans. Pappy's live podcast is even sillier in the flesh (Flesh being the operative word for Lloyd Langford and Tom!). By the time I got downstairs though, Simon had finished his set so I headed back upstairs for the end of the podcast.<br />
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I had one more drink with Heather and her friend then headed off to find we had missed the last tubes. Normally I would be really annoyed about this but today I was calm, relaxed and philosophical as I fired up Citymapper to find where the hell my bus stop was.<br />
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Well done ARGComFest for a brilliant weekend.<br />
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The Comedy Crawl is dead (hopefully.) Long live ARG !<br />
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-16931654433940881222013-06-14T00:02:00.001+01:002013-06-14T01:05:47.706+01:00Oh Cana-DUH!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjRZBsU_7bx8EcoDtAKWvwSIEsnuHjOWuCIVuxfUOSBLSMXEzFGB6EiTLDX5UIMKZS1Rzq8IBwLdRD-UJ3qponx9W33RIyZO3T6ivsl_m3cdGTH-j-sfkqRgCWT7S5qeOZhUvvqlQ1e4/s1600/baconface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjRZBsU_7bx8EcoDtAKWvwSIEsnuHjOWuCIVuxfUOSBLSMXEzFGB6EiTLDX5UIMKZS1Rzq8IBwLdRD-UJ3qponx9W33RIyZO3T6ivsl_m3cdGTH-j-sfkqRgCWT7S5qeOZhUvvqlQ1e4/s400/baconface.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I had been looking forward to seeing <a href="http://twitter.com/baconfacer">Baconface</a> ever since I heard he was visiting the UK for the first time. Baconface has been performing in Canada for many years, since the early 80s I believe, and credits himself for being one of the greatest innovators in what we now call alternative comedy.<br />
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I met Sarah in the Soho Theatre bar and we headed downstairs and got a nice front row seat. Soon Baconface was on stage. He is quite a striking sight, and within the first few minutes one rasher fell to the floor. Not to worry, Baconface had brought a whole pack of spares just in case this situation happened and soon a new piece was applied.<br />
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I do wish I was Canadian like Sarah, or the other lady in the front row who understood a lot more of his local references, but I got the basic gist! The other Canadian lady was told off for yawning in his eye line, and the audience who joined in with the traditional response to his catchphrase "It's all bacon - EAT IT!" were chastised for patronising him.<br />
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The hour long set that Baconface played was much longer than any North American comedian had performed before, as he reminded us more than once, and it went by all too quickly. He criticised the press adoration of Louis CK, spoke to us about Bigfoot, Neil Young, and his home town of Chilliwack, impressing the Canadian audience members by not changing any of his reference points in the British run of this show. He also attempted to speak about his comedy philosophy at some length too, but we didn't quite find out what it was.<br />
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He did speak about what he had found out since he had been in the UK including the love the Scots have for eating haggis, and the love the British have for eating horses, and his attempt at an English accent was hilarious. All American comics think they can do this, and of course, none of them (barring Tony Law) can.<br />
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Tony got a mention in a long story involving bears and bacon and we found out how to release a bear's mouth from your penis if your hands are trapped under the bear's hind legs.<br />
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On the way out, we saw a few people coming out of the show including Ed Gamble, Ben Goldacre and Stewart Lee, who we had a brief chat with, and mentioned how much we enjoyed it. He said that he would pass this message on. It seems Baconface is certainly pulling the crowds in as he has caused quite a media stir lately, but I imagine there were a few people in out of sheer curiosity too.<br />
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He is taking this show to Edinburgh, so I advise you to book a ticket if you are going, especially when he pointed out that just because we didn't laugh at a joke doesn't mean he is going to drop it from the show.<br />
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It's all bacon.<br />
Eat it.@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-87560729634142563702013-06-05T01:12:00.000+01:002013-06-05T01:19:18.778+01:00Richard Herring's Leicester Square Podcast: A Bit Of Fry And Herring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have tickets to all 6 RHLSTPs this season, and having attended the <a href="http://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/richard_herring_lst_podcast/episode_17_chris_addison/">first very funny and rather silly episode with Chris Addison</a>, where the focus was on who had smashed the kitchen cupboards in the flat they shared with Stewart Lee, Dan Antopolski and Richard Thomas in 1992, which has been an ongoing mystery for a number of years, this week's show was the one that I was so looking forward to seeing. The wonderful Stephen Fry.<br />
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Trusting Richard's bookings, I blindly bought all my front row seats. I know that next week I'm seeing Mary Beard and John Lloyd, but still don't know for sure who will be the final 3 guests.<br />
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I met up with my new Twitter friend <a href="http://twitter.com/johngalantini85">John Galantini</a> (who does<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-john-matt-podcast/id648685563"> his own podcast</a> which is worth listening to) at The Imperial, where we were soon joined by his fiancee Mary, as well as Sarah and a couple of her friends.<br />
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We headed to the venue and took our seats. Soon Richard was on stage to do his mainly improvised warm up. This was one of the best scriptless sets I've seen him do, even though he told us very early on that he was worried because Stephen Fry still hadn't arrived. it was mainly good-natured audience banter with a pair of butlers, a nuclear physicist, and two odd lads who had taken their seats in Row B rather late. He spoke to "I Love London", as he soon became known due to his hat, and this lad was desperate to be ignored. his coat was buttoned up, he had pulled his hat down, and of course this intrigued, and slightly worried Richard. His friend was a little more chatty but there was still something odd about his demeanour that Richard or the audience couldn't put their fingers on. As Richard chatted to the physicist, pointing a handheld camera at him, demanding that he tell him how to make a nuclear bomb, a huge cheer erupted. Stephen was in the building! By the way, you can listen to this stand up set by searching on iTunes for RHLSTP <a href="https://soundcloud.com/britishcomedyguide/richard-herring-lst-podcast-18b-standup-bonus">or clicking this link here.</a><br />
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We took a short break where i paid my traditional visit to the Burger King toilets. Before I went I was chatting with a girl outside and we saw "I Love London" and his mate leave the venue, clearly with no intention of returning. This was both disappointing and a huge relief.<br />
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Stephen Fry has long been a hero of mine, and I have loved virtually everything he has done from when i first saw him (probably on Saturday Night Live, I'm not sure) through A Bit Of fry And Laurie, to QI and the various documentaries he has presented.<br />
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I'm not going to go into much detail about the content of the show. You can listen to the audio for free, or spend £3.50 and <a href="http://www.gofasterstripe.com/podcasts">download the video from Go Faster Stripe</a>, and I really recommend you do so. It's such an astonishing interview in many ways.<br />
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Richard and Stephen had never met, and Rich seemed very nervous about meeting and chatting to his hero. However Stephen was as gracious, funny, warm and wordy as you would expect. We found out if Stephen had ever tried to suck his own cock, as well as if he would choose to have a ham-hand or an armpit that dispensed suncream. Stephen told us of his terror at performing at Sydney Opera House with no material whatsoever, and the irony of the show going so well that a second night was booked. Names were dropped, literary references abounded, and we got to hear a long discussion about 12th Night. Richard was getting more confident and challenged Stephen on the time-anomalies of his book "Making History" as well as dropping enormous hints about all the quite interesting facts he knows, which Stephen took in great fun,<br />
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Chris Evans (not that one) who runs Go Faster Stripe has a 12 year old son, and Richard decided to use some of his questions to ask Stephen. One was simply "What's it like being Stephen Fry?" Fry thought about this and explained that it is generally a pleasant experience, as people tend to be nice to him, and he gets to travel so much and do things that he would never be able to do if he wasn't Stephen Fry. Then candidly, and with totally brutal honesty tells us about the part of his life that is not so much fun. Stephen has been open for some time about his struggles with manic depression, and tonight his honesty and sincerity stunned the audience into complete attentive silence. There was a revelation that caused an audible gasp, and I think I will be thinking about this night for quite some time to come.<br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/kiphakes">Kip Hakes</a>, his mate <a href="http://twitter.com/dannyuk">Danny</a> and I hung around with Richard's web monkey <a href="http://twitter.com/robsedgebeer">Rob</a>, and his wife <a href="http://twitter.com/catiewilkins">Catie</a>, hoping to get our picture taken with Stephen. We saw him briefly as he came out of the dressing room with Richard, but only had time for a brief chat with Catie and he was off into the night. I didn't think it was appropriate to badger him for a photo.<br />
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Catie's brother was also here, who I had drunkenly flirted with about a year ago. He asked for a cigarette and we went outside. I decided to deflect any awkwardness by apologising for my embarrassing actions last summer, but damn it! He didn't remember. Now I've just created awkwardness where there was none. Anyway, after a short chat with Richard it was time to go.<br />
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What.<br />
A.<br />
Night.<br />
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-17891784499384704012013-05-07T20:19:00.000+01:002013-05-07T20:19:01.719+01:00Zaltz And The City<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDtJF0om0TXN-t8aEARNFKEHpJAmyeqGpz1pzk-qAH7QJJgxey8Y-ruMbLnTXMld254hyT5jVB3U8ucFQ3Z5I2m2eKBe-0Gxvlk98rxhlRKkFOybwP_SJnK-mZiCjQTU00k_NzBrgthI/s1600/2013-05-02+18.58.53.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDtJF0om0TXN-t8aEARNFKEHpJAmyeqGpz1pzk-qAH7QJJgxey8Y-ruMbLnTXMld254hyT5jVB3U8ucFQ3Z5I2m2eKBe-0Gxvlk98rxhlRKkFOybwP_SJnK-mZiCjQTU00k_NzBrgthI/s320/2013-05-02+18.58.53.png" width="320" /></a>I have been a fan of <a href="http://thebuglepodcast.com/">The Bugle podcast</a> for quite some time now. It's an unmissable combination of bullshit, puns, 80s rock singing, and jokes hosted by The Daily Show's <a href="http://twitter.com/iamjohnoliver">John Oliver</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/hellobuglers">Andy Zaltzman</a>. I have managed to get my non-comedy fan friend into this podcast too and when I found out that Andy was playing a gig on a boat moored off Canary Wharf I immediately purchased two tickets.<br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/tiernandouieb">Tiernan Douieb</a> was hosting the show and had mentioned on Facebook that there was an issue with the alcohol license so we would have to bring our own drinks. That was a result. It makes a fun night cheaper.<br />
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After getting lost in the strange confusing geography of Canary Wharf looking for an off license, I finally met Tesco where we bought 4 warm beers each and headed to the boat, only to find there was some weird token system. We bought a £5 token each and I exchanged mine for the smallest bottle of Magner's I have ever seen. I made sure I took a glass and we sat on the deck. I snuck to the loo, filling my glass with contraband Strongbow and we headed downstairs. It didn't take long till all secrecy was abandoned and all the audience were swigging straight from their cans.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1csoA_rfjXy9IRZ9Pxa4UyQcTJFqpcTC8fAR4FXN626KGdd0ur0AqGFlwUFIfa1O3goygwZrClQMdTxhjczkLlM5qbmmI0McKtn3m_YxCRtydVvj5WlCcei6RiaXjg7gSYjMXH8Gkzo/s1600/2013-05-02+21.32.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1csoA_rfjXy9IRZ9Pxa4UyQcTJFqpcTC8fAR4FXN626KGdd0ur0AqGFlwUFIfa1O3goygwZrClQMdTxhjczkLlM5qbmmI0McKtn3m_YxCRtydVvj5WlCcei6RiaXjg7gSYjMXH8Gkzo/s320/2013-05-02+21.32.19.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We got seats at the front and slowly the small venue eventually filled. Tiernan came on and chatted to the crowd. He is a warm and funny man and is a great compere. He introduced our first act of the evening, "Upstairs Downton". They are an improv troupe who set their scenes in the Edwardian world of Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs. It didn't matter I hadn't seen these shows, we all know what they are like. After choosing a name for the main character and a plot (standard improv stuff) we settled back to watch the story unfold. At first I was a bit worried about a Downton Abbey improv show, but they were pretty good, even if the set went on a little long.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HljY-0Ne55nIw_-K_bFGSW0V_VTlO6JMt5gGe3UmhxjHde4mMGSf-ZKNDyoP9B7W0efDlsnBuP7dkaRAVUuPGybEpv4B8Q1n8gCi-v0hnBp2OfZ4vKDOITiUVl3FRxFqaaeWL3IHPNc/s1600/2013-05-02+23.01.23.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HljY-0Ne55nIw_-K_bFGSW0V_VTlO6JMt5gGe3UmhxjHde4mMGSf-ZKNDyoP9B7W0efDlsnBuP7dkaRAVUuPGybEpv4B8Q1n8gCi-v0hnBp2OfZ4vKDOITiUVl3FRxFqaaeWL3IHPNc/s320/2013-05-02+23.01.23.png" width="180" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mrtonylaw">Tony Law</a> was on next. Tony is in the early stages of writing his new show after last year's huge success, and for me, this is the really fun part. Tony riffs, comments on how he is doing, critiques himself and he totally baffled my mate who asked afterwards when we were back on deck what that was all about. I don't think he was for him, but I and everyone else thought differently. Tony is one of the best comics around at the moment and I urge you to see him. Tony had to leave fairly quickly as I imagine he was heading to another show, and said hi to me as he left. My mate was quite amazed it just how normal he seemed off stage, and to be honest, it still catches me off guard too.<br />
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For fans of Penn & Teller's "Fool Us", the next act was a treat. Piff The Magic Dragon. Piff is an incredibly skilled magician who dresses in an extremely cute dragon outfit, and is accompanied by his chihuahua, Mr Piffles. He chose a volunteer to join him on stage and alternated between flirting with her before playfully knocking her back. This was only the 2nd magician I have seen live, other than Pete Firman and he was superb. Incidentally magic fans, I also listen to <a href="http://pennsundayschool.com/">Penn's Sunday School</a>, a podcast released every week featuring <a href="http://twitter.com/pennjillette">Penn Jillette</a> and discussing magic, scepticism, atheism and just general funny chats.<br />
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Here is a clip of Piff on "Fool Us"<br />
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The backdrop of The City of London was perfect for Zaltzman. He is a fantastic performer, and it was great to see my mate's face who up until today had only heard Andy's voice, as he has a rather striking appearance! His set revolved through the current economic situation: not a subject on many comics sets, but Andy with his enthusiasm and well crafted and torturous puns made it a great night.<br />
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My mate pointed me towards a quick way home. I was aiming for the DLR and he told me to go to a different station. I didn't really know where I was going and after a long painful walk ended up on the Jubilee line. I got home in the end though, extremely satisfied.<br />
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Just to finish this off, I was in the pub with a mate the other day which had the snooker on in the background. To my surprise, Andy's unmistakable face appeared. When I got home I found the clip, and it should be found just underneath this writing...<br />
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-18961661759251469052013-03-06T14:32:00.003+00:002013-03-06T14:54:45.018+00:00Peter Buckley Hill - The Albums - FOR FREE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I ended up at The Phoenix last Sunday to help Peter Buckley Hill celebrate his 65th birthday. The gig lasted from 2pm till 9pm and then they were heading off to the pub afterwards for more drinks. I watched quite a few comics, some who I didn't know as well as bigger names such as Phill Jupitus, Thom Tuck and James Acaster.<br />
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Peter organises the Free Fringe in Edinburgh each year which keeps costs down for both audience and performers and he is thought of rather highly in the comedy community. I had first become aware of him at a couple of Robin Ince's Godless shows then again last year when <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/all-day-edinburgh-benefit-for-pbhs-free.html">Michael Legge's All day Edinburgh</a> raised funds for the upcoming Fringe.<br />
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Peter sang a few short catchy comedy folk songs from his 2006 album and afterwards encouraged us to take his CDs for free as they were cluttering up the space under his stairs. Afterwards I suggested uploading them to Soundcloud. OK, it won't help getting rid of the physical CDs, but it does just help to get the stuff out there. Peter thought this was a great idea so this is just what I have done. So visit these links for all of PBH's recorded output. You can download them too.<br />
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<a href="http://tiny.cc/pbh-songsof2006">The Songs of 2006</a></div>
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<a href="http://tiny.cc/pbh-2006outtakes">The Songs of 2006 - Outtakes</a></div>
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tiny.cc/pbh-2006outtakes</div>
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<a href="http://tiny.cc/pbh-bucketswithinbuckets">Buckets Within Buckets</a></div>
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<a href="http://tiny.cc/pbh-officialbootleg">Official Bootleg</a></div>
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tiny.cc/pbh-officialbootleg</div>
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tiny.cc/pbh-tornbetweentwoplovers</div>
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<a href="http://tiny.cc/pbh-tubularbrains">Tubular Brains</a></div>
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tiny.cc/pbh-tubularbrains</div>
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@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-47791360475817461232013-02-20T23:28:00.000+00:002013-02-20T23:28:25.130+00:00The Brits Are Pointless After This...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-9055536331673627182013-01-22T17:18:00.004+00:002013-01-22T17:19:45.562+00:00Chat Show Roulette<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After hearing about the line up for Chat Show Roulette, I decided I couldn't not go: <a href="http://twitter.com/bigedwards">Justin Edwards</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mcabournsmith">Margaret Cabourn-Smith</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/ladycariad">Cariad Lloyd</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/realmattlucas">Matt Lucas</a> and others were to perform for us at the gorgeous little Hen and Chickens Theatre. This is one of Ben Walker's projects, the technical wizard behind the likes of <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/aiotm-66-last-one-ever.html">AIOTM</a>, <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/rhlstp-rhlstp.html">Richard Herring's Leicester Square podcast</a>, Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown and the fantastic <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/do-right-thing.html">Do The Right Thing</a>.<br />
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I roped in <a href="http://twitter.com/chardhollis">Richard Hollis</a> and we met up at the bar below the theatre around 645. Justin took to the stage shortly after 730 and explained how the evening would work. it was an improvised chat show, and he nor any of the guests knew who the characters would be that he would be interviewing. We had all filled out slips containing places, items, celebrities and such like and the subjects would be taken from these.<br />
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Just to digress quickly, this is a great chance to show you a video of Justin's alcoholic children's entertainer Jeremy Lion. It's nothing to do with this show, and it's not Christmas any more, but watch this and enjoy.<br />
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Anyway, back to the evening. The show still hadn't started and Justin worked his way down the front row asking for first names, surnames, names of favourite teachers and pets until we had all the character's names who were to be interviewed. These ranged from the rather sweet William Hunter to the fantastical Thumper Mitchell.<br />
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The pianist played on the first guest, played by Alex Lowe. As luck would have it he turned out to be a famous fitness guru who had operated gyms in places like The Natural History Museum, and he and Jeremy reminisced over his career.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yCBvQTuQhY4BX_CM13uB2V0mPOvQptwmnxVCkB4L_yYA6ZltuR_SsNawH-fMZ4niwBNFWnkLg7jI79GkQZDCphHzWhggpNQhJwTzYfuOVa30gR-OZmnQAXCmWCt5Jjf_lJui6ZUGxPQ/s1600/2013-01-21+21.01.12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yCBvQTuQhY4BX_CM13uB2V0mPOvQptwmnxVCkB4L_yYA6ZltuR_SsNawH-fMZ4niwBNFWnkLg7jI79GkQZDCphHzWhggpNQhJwTzYfuOVa30gR-OZmnQAXCmWCt5Jjf_lJui6ZUGxPQ/s320/2013-01-21+21.01.12.png" width="179" /></a>Second up were Ceebeebies stars played by Mike Wozniak and the magnificent Cariad Lloyd. I would direct you to a Cariad Lloyd video on Youtube, but unfortunately my account has sort of been deleted. On the plus side, I have two more in it's place: one for music (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MrAndyMcH">MrAndyMcH</a>) and one for comedy (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/leeherringfan">LeeHerringFan</a>). Anyway, I had never seen Mike before but he played opposite Cariad brilliantly. especially once it had been revealed that Cariad and he were no longer together and we could see occasional glimpses of Cariad's jealous fury through her fixed children's presenter smile.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX1vWnkaK8i0VKmHlYqIJLFwkuNCtqrVrz_7jj5uuV6_l4PT5wMvxxZtM9kNgiig5PMz7nbgTA8rBpngBIOpZQFcPYzbIhVUeZQa7fsaKk_-LuzGb0YHXUYM3BPtSk7v0evrGhk0ie2s/s1600/2013-01-21+21.00.24.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX1vWnkaK8i0VKmHlYqIJLFwkuNCtqrVrz_7jj5uuV6_l4PT5wMvxxZtM9kNgiig5PMz7nbgTA8rBpngBIOpZQFcPYzbIhVUeZQa7fsaKk_-LuzGb0YHXUYM3BPtSk7v0evrGhk0ie2s/s320/2013-01-21+21.00.24.png" width="179" /></a>Next up was Margaret Cabourn-Smith. I know her mainly as the team captain opposite Michael Legge in Do The Right Thing, and occasional contributor to the Dave Gorman radio show, but you probably know her as Alison in Miranda. She was a British hero who had saved the nation with an undisclosed deed in Mozambique, and this also involved her face painting a lovely ladybird on the pianist's face. Margaret is always rather lovable on stage, and somehow reminds me of Kat Bjelland from Babes In Toyland. (I'm not really sure why)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfRK-J1EAUJbcfqWYP45oZBL-hbG5hxxPiBd8djsGOcfwfPtwFrozmBAZvnzhRn5Cs0vR8erwmxtfMLcQtXLpQnv3XRkUtEupJOrGFG4waMOC_gVQK9mJA8qnepELweEfVoO-WnWYIMM/s1600/2013-01-21+20.59.24.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfRK-J1EAUJbcfqWYP45oZBL-hbG5hxxPiBd8djsGOcfwfPtwFrozmBAZvnzhRn5Cs0vR8erwmxtfMLcQtXLpQnv3XRkUtEupJOrGFG4waMOC_gVQK9mJA8qnepELweEfVoO-WnWYIMM/s320/2013-01-21+20.59.24.png" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06saLyKBUAJIli8N7QRSFjzBDPUMt2_a5hm3KQqdJxqY6ioAyzI33NnigaA1nIAmXBgilN_YQiQuFz7X9Gigl6xMqCb5OKLlyYfENQjPRzJk7vzhzZnQbNOtcgNgsp9MRNED0MlznH8E/s1600/2013-01-21+20.59.36.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06saLyKBUAJIli8N7QRSFjzBDPUMt2_a5hm3KQqdJxqY6ioAyzI33NnigaA1nIAmXBgilN_YQiQuFz7X9Gigl6xMqCb5OKLlyYfENQjPRzJk7vzhzZnQbNOtcgNgsp9MRNED0MlznH8E/s320/2013-01-21+20.59.36.png" width="180" /></a>Finally Matt Lucas's character got called to the stage. He did not appear, and Justin seemed genuinely confused by this. He went to the audience where he had been sitting and discovered him limping bizarrely down the aisle just so his short journey to the chair took almost 3 minutes. I'm not a huge Little Britain fan to be honest, but Matt's improvising was amazing, creating a great character who turned out to be a Mastermind champion who is more than a little racist, which Justin tried to steer him away from as any old school interviewer would.</div>
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After the show we had nachos and a beer and had a brief chat with the lovely Margaret and just as lovely Cariad. The evening ended with slight embarrassment outside when I said hello to Matt and mentioned out of courtesy that I would put a picture on Twitter if he was OK with it. I think he misunderstood and I was immediately stood next to him with my arm round his shoulder like some immature fanboy (WHICH I AM DEFINITELY NOT!)<br />
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The guys are recording a pilot for both radio and TV and are doing these little shows just to keep practised and their improv skills sharp. If you get a chance, go and see this the next time it is on. It's a real fun night out.</div>
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And is it improv or impro?</div>
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Improv?</div>
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Impro?</div>
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Impro?</div>
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Improv?</div>
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I'm going to keep saying Improv until proven otherwise.</div>
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-58035919722520226512013-01-08T08:46:00.001+00:002013-01-08T08:46:32.910+00:00Bowie!Nothing much was happening at 5:00am this morning. What ever happens at 5am on any day ever? Well, Duncan Jones sent the following collection of tweets:<br />
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<a class="s-quote-author-name" href="http://twitter.com/ManMadeMoon" style="color: #256bbe; display: block; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Duncan Jones</a><a class="s-quote-author-username" href="http://twitter.com/ManMadeMoon" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">@ManMadeMoon</a></div>
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So who wants to know a secret? ;)</div>
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So... First off, its midnight in NY. That means, a HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY is in order to my very lovely, very talented dad!</div>
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Been ten years since his last album....</div>
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So you better get to itunes. ;)</div>
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Would be lovely if all of you could spread the word about da's new album. First in ten years, and its a good 'un! <a href="http://www.davidbowie.com/the-next-day" rel="external nofollow" style="color: #256bbe; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank" title="Open this link in a new window">davidbowie.com/the-next-day</a></div>
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Also, what better way to knock Taylor feckin Swift off the top of the charts! ;)</div>
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Well this is the best 5:00am I have ever had! It's now 8:40am, and it's rubbish in comparison.The album, <a href="http://www.davidbowie.com/the-next-day">"The Next Day" has a March 11th release day in the UK</a>. And even better, the new single "Where Are We Now?" is out right now! I never expected to hear any new Bowie material ever again, so this is a very exciting day for me. The song itself harks back to his Berlin period, and has an air of melancholy about it. It's, well, really lovely! Have a listen.<br />
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<a href="http://img.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/david-bowie-live-album__oPt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://img.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/david-bowie-live-album__oPt.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<br />@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-62708399015745690032012-12-18T10:00:00.000+00:002012-12-18T10:00:56.200+00:00A Letter From DadThis blog post is not one of my usual "Comedy Adventures". So apologies if you have come here to read about something funny that happened!<br />
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About 2 or 3 weeks ago, my friend's dad died. This was a catalyst to get in touch with mine as we haven't really ever had a good relationship. I moved out of home when i was 15 to live with my Aunt and Uncle, and when I was 18 or 19 I came out to my family and friends, via the old-fashioned medium of a hand-written letter. All the responses were fantastic, and pretty much what I expected. Most of my family have some sort of religious belief, but the majority of them were as good as i could imagine.<br />
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My dad, however, has somewhat more conservative religious views than most and sent me back a no-nonsense letter that I remember contained the line "If this was Biblical times you would be stoned" and also something about AIDS. Unfortunately at some point my cheap after shave (possibly Hai Karate or Blue Stratos) leaked all over it and ruined the whole thing.<br />
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I had met up with my brother (who is a Church of England vicar) a couple of years ago as he was in London for the day and we had a nice meal and a couple of drinks and enjoyed catching up with each other. I had told him that I was thinking about sending dad a letter to try and get back in touch, and the conversation we had made me decide it was the best thing to do. After all, he is in his 80s now, and even though we have a zero relationship, I feel that if he died before I tried to reach out to him, I would have a constant dull thud of guilt inside me.<br />
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I am quite lazy though, and bad enough at keeping in touch with family members that I like (i.e all of them!) so it took the death of my friend's dad to spur me into action. I got his address from my brother and typed the following letter and popped it in the post.<br />
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I decided to keep it non-controversial. I certainly didn't want to get into an argument or shouting match. In reality I didn't really expect a response at all. But a few days later, this arrived at my front door.<br />
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I have obviously removed his address and signature. I don't want to comment on it too much, but the opening line discussing my mum's illness and death showed me that the rest of the letter wasn't going to be too upbeat.<br />
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I shared this on Twitter and I was deluged with messages. A lot of them were asking if I was OK. Yes, I'm fine. After all I didn't expect some sort of reunion that would make the end of a Hollywood film blush. But your responses were much appreciated. In fact I got a little emotional as I was reading them on the walk down from Esher station to the pub where I was meeting my other brother.<br />
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I look back at myself when I was younger and almost see him as a different person. A couple of people remarked that it was one of the saddest things they had ever read. I agree. But I'm sad for the little boy that I used to be.<br />
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Another friend asked if I am going to write back. I had thought about it, but it is not going to gain anything. The ball is in his court, and I have done all I can do to try to regain some sort of civility. But he is not going to change. I am not going to change.<br />
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I guess I won't be inheriting the house.<br />
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@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-32046925434849524952012-11-01T11:43:00.000+00:002012-11-01T11:43:24.235+00:00Comedy Sale at The Star Of Kings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://twitter.com/sandersonjones">Sanderson Jones</a> has started a residency every Wednesday at this Kings Cross venue, and tonight was the first night. Comedy Sale is an interesting project where you have to arrange to meet Sanderson to buy a ticket for the show in person. No internet or phone or booking office sales. For these smaller gigs however you should hopefully be able to buy a ticket from him direct at the venue if you have met him before. <a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/comedysalecom.html"> He originally did this gig at the massive Union Chapel in Islington</a> and sold it out last year<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io57uP--5R8&feature=plcp"> before heading off to Australia</a>, performing the shows at all the major cities.<br />
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"But what's the advantage of Sanderson doing all this extra work?", I hear you cry. Well he then has time to do some research on the particular audience for the show, ploughing through their Facebook and Twitter feeds for comedy gold.<br />
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The show is based on his attempts to win his ex-girlfriend back, with many Venn diagrams, Pi Charts and other graph based nonsense along the way.The highlight (for me) of the show is "cockhunting" where he puts a backdrop behind a sexy girl or two and puts them on webcam on Chatroulette. As soon as he sees a guy masturbating, he drops the sheet and we all cheer him along! There will be a video below. Please do not click on it if you're at work, or indeed if you don't want to see a man masturbating!<br />
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At the end of the show he revealed that his next big project after selling out Union Chapel, is to sell out The Royal Albert Hall, again selling all tickets by hand! This is something so bonkers we have to get behind it! The Star of Kings show will soon develop into a night with other comics with internet based material, and I will try to get down there as often as work shifts and my bank balance allows.<br />
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Join me!@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-14574896423937414582012-11-01T11:41:00.003+00:002012-11-01T11:41:55.145+00:00All Day Edinburgh - a benefit for PBH's Free Fringe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems amazing that it has been 2 years since<a href="http://andymch.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/all-day-edinburgh-benefit-for-shelter.html"> the first All Day Edinburgh</a>. While that one was a benefit for Shelter, this one is going towards <a href="http://freefringe.org.uk/faq">Peter Buckley Hill's Free Fringe</a>. Tickets were announced a few weeks ago and they sold out in half an hour. Luckily I got one of the 100 tickets available, as did a fair few of my comedy friends.<br />
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I got to the pub around 1230 and met <a href="http://twitter.com/nealp55">Neal</a> for lunch, soon to be joined by <a href="http://twitter.com/col_bogey">Bob</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/colonelhitch">Hitch</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/abrasiveshrub">Heather</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/sven945">Jack</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/h2osarah">Sarah</a> and others and got downstairs nice and early, in plenty time to grab a front row seat.</div>
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Anyway, the announced line up was ace, including <a href="http://twitter.com/robinince">Robin Ince</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/simondonald">Simon Donald</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mrtonylaw">Tony Law</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/turlygod">Thom Tuck</a>, Cariad Lloyd, <a href="http://mullone/">Liam Mullone</a>, The Trap, <a href="http://twitter.com/herring1967">Richard Herring</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/tiffstevenson">Tiffany Stevenson</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mattkirshen">Matt Kirshen</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/danantopolski">Dan Antopolski</a>, amongst others. It works out at around 25 acts for £20. I decided I would attempt to be relatively sensible as it was obviously going to be a long long day. I've decided not to write about everyone as this blog would be far too long, but concentrate on the acts that I loved the most.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFg3IKFi6TR49OQS72nY3f11zN4zQ61HU0MBXD8C9szf17eFUmDaupIpdiJjDuW7dJI9xEjAXMCbtJbPOfv7J8GFdKp0vJAqngRk-5P9PwJStBYxzeuFFfF-K2Kd5DOBErJoW8sjGcWk/s1600/IMG_3384.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFg3IKFi6TR49OQS72nY3f11zN4zQ61HU0MBXD8C9szf17eFUmDaupIpdiJjDuW7dJI9xEjAXMCbtJbPOfv7J8GFdKp0vJAqngRk-5P9PwJStBYxzeuFFfF-K2Kd5DOBErJoW8sjGcWk/s400/IMG_3384.PNG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Legge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIixMRmFMRu7BRxhEhjSlEnvXo-RDZ0qHt-h8TGT-St2Bs1iR8DR9VuSR0wzrS_d8t-OjXQco_QG2Tp1d7U7ZCgcbvXXzWUK6i4JfNOeZPvR2rZ27wfQOU0Z4O8VY3OzfdaY03Mo1PlfE/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIixMRmFMRu7BRxhEhjSlEnvXo-RDZ0qHt-h8TGT-St2Bs1iR8DR9VuSR0wzrS_d8t-OjXQco_QG2Tp1d7U7ZCgcbvXXzWUK6i4JfNOeZPvR2rZ27wfQOU0Z4O8VY3OzfdaY03Mo1PlfE/s200/IMG_3242.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt Kirshen</td></tr>
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The show started with <a href="http://twitter.com/michaellegge">Michael</a> welcoming us to the show, raging against the weak female comedians who were unable to come to the show as they were ill, before speaking about Kate Smurthwaite's accusation of Robin Ince's sexism for wearing a Hefner t-shirt. The phrase "paper mache bastard" was mentioned. Can anyone guess who he was referring to? After a short while he introduced us to the first act, Matt Kirshen.</div>
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Matt presents "<a href="http://setlistshow.com/">Set List</a>" which is an improvised show where comedians don't know what the topics of their set are going to be till they flash up on a screen. These have all been selected by the audience. Today Matt was going to do it himself with topics written by Michael, and on an appropriately low-tech sheets of paper. Most comedians say that Set List is a terrifying, but ultimately great experience where they are free to experiment even though the results can be very varied in quality!<br />
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Matt is a very likeable comedian whose baby face disarms you at first. He got through such topics as "fizzy houmous" and "what's the deal with airline foo" (no, I haven't misspelled it!) with the same expected mixture of success! We also learned what people on each side of the Irish divide call a vagina. Go and see Set List if you get a chance. I went to a recording a while back as they are turning it into a TV series.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1S5su-D__MqOQkRbPBCS3qQTdyOYiOa2LJVpjeXqGGrFEu-6_-P29RZnuB1YivuvW7V5Y6gGSuU4wL7danMKnZygnlz3y1T_oDZvTgPMDbnMHoAd7qCerkB7UnJuj9A9VJvqmLzxjZ0/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1S5su-D__MqOQkRbPBCS3qQTdyOYiOa2LJVpjeXqGGrFEu-6_-P29RZnuB1YivuvW7V5Y6gGSuU4wL7danMKnZygnlz3y1T_oDZvTgPMDbnMHoAd7qCerkB7UnJuj9A9VJvqmLzxjZ0/s200/IMG_3245.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan Antopolski</td></tr>
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Bravely stepping into the missing Nick Doody's shoes was <a href="http://twitter.com/mrplitchfield">Paul Litchfield</a>, appearing as his Sean Goldsworthy character. Sean has appeared a few times before, mainly as part of Los Quattros Cvnts (RIP) who is one of Somerset's leading online erotic fiction writers. Today, as it was so close to Halloween, he read us one of his erotic vampire stories, about Count Florentine Daggerpoke, trying not to corpse while uttering such ludicrous phrases such as "then the gong would be gonged" and "ofen he would take home a sack of tits as a doggy bag". There was to be more of Paul later as part of the amazing sketch group, The Trap.<br />
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Liam Mullone was on next. I had never seen him before but had heard a lot of good things about him. With his thick glasses and delivery style he reminded me of Harry Hill. He discussed how much hard manual labour his wife would have to do in order for him to be happy for her not to change nappies. He's definitely someone I would much prefer to see a full show from.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUZ1zDq80DxTTRV-CLpNT7Fj8RTC1Pv6vl59ENixm6TuhhRndUMCEvUR9zXFASqKjBDjqJXkBAYVI7n7Jb6Kv5t5ibkV210xxaW6AY_i5o0KVQMTiulXHkF-3vjFfbUAd8Aakg4PCf4M/s1600/IMG_3247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUZ1zDq80DxTTRV-CLpNT7Fj8RTC1Pv6vl59ENixm6TuhhRndUMCEvUR9zXFASqKjBDjqJXkBAYVI7n7Jb6Kv5t5ibkV210xxaW6AY_i5o0KVQMTiulXHkF-3vjFfbUAd8Aakg4PCf4M/s200/IMG_3247.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachael Parris</td></tr>
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Jigsaw couldn't make it, but we did her one third of them in the shape of Dan Antopolski. A very very funny man, with a combination of one liners and unusual thoughts. Some excellent thoughts such as "What do you prefer? Her bridal train dragged behind her like a prolapsed rectum.... or vice versa"! Dan is always guaranteed 100% funny and never seen him perform at anything less.<br />
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After a brief interval, it was time for <a href="http://twitter.com/iamrachaelparris">Rachel Parris</a> who gave Michael a bit of stick back for his comments earlier about the sick female comics! normally I dread musical comedy but Rachael is genuinely excellent. She did a great song that she has "submitted" to the new High School Musical, followed by the next X Factor winners song, which had all the cliches you would expect: the inspiring verses, the wobbly show off vocals, and the chorus "I'm Amazing". She also did a middle class blues song, which reminded me a lot of Diamanda Galas's blues vocal style. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon Munnery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiff Stevenson</td></tr>
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There was a new addition to the bill: the legendary Simon Munnery. I've seen Simon a few times now and he is one of the best comedians in the UK. He did his standard routines, nothing as experimental as some of his full shows, but as ever, totally on form, starting musical statues (which I ended up losing) then his "Stop the war" song. Another song ended up like a football chant from a Sainsbury's fan, railing against Tesco and Morrissons. Simon has been going for many years and still has a punk style to his comedy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart Goldmith and victim.</td></tr>
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Tiff Stevenson was up next . She hosts the Old Rope new material night at the Phoenix every Monday and came runner up in "Show Me The Funny" and is great fun. She can be pretty filthy (which we like) and spoke about cosmetic surgery, joked about people thinking she is pregnant while she drinks wine ("Don't worry, I'm not keeping it") and went down a storm, climaxing with shouting "Smash your back doors in!" to Sarah!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marlon Davie</td></tr>
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<a href="http://twitter.com/stugoldsmith">Stuart Goldsmith</a> came on next. I had seen him before at Michael Legge's Private Hell. He was another "Show Me The Funny" contestant too. He was trying to condense his entire Edinburgh show down to 10 minutes, and confessed it should be quite easy due to the amount of padding. Stuart does a great podcast called "<a href="http://comedianscomedian.com/">Comedian's Comedian</a>". It's not a comedy podcast as such but a podcast about comedy, focussing on established comedians speaking about their writing techniques and is aimed at up and coming comedians. But if you're a comedy nerd like me, it's worth a listen. He noticed that both Neal and I were in the front row again, and had to pick on someone in the 2nd row who after telling us about his lesbian hen night, proceeded to climb on his lap and caress him.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK6M79H3hvMvqRea8tIt5BI_cdG41NhZcjKYbAnxXQLCZJOmOjDEqQZRzG94LxNAq6Y0NcMlj1T024iH1B4IC1OhaxnvGHsPtwyOtxJXOPFNTIgy-KzmcNqicwSuIetVoMOKq-k6bsiw/s1600/IMG_3265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK6M79H3hvMvqRea8tIt5BI_cdG41NhZcjKYbAnxXQLCZJOmOjDEqQZRzG94LxNAq6Y0NcMlj1T024iH1B4IC1OhaxnvGHsPtwyOtxJXOPFNTIgy-KzmcNqicwSuIetVoMOKq-k6bsiw/s200/IMG_3265.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cariad Lloyd</td></tr>
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His set ended with the shortest ever Comedian's Comedian podcast with a 3 second interview with Michael. I hope this joke goes further than the gig and ends up being released. Stu assured me it will!<br />
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Marlon Davis is someone I had never seen before. And my, wasn't he lovely. He brought out my maternal side, He has a lovely smiley face, which he acknowledged doesn't give him any authority at all, along with his voice.<br />
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Cariad Lloyd came out as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXR4xSpsOfU">Joey Bechemal</a>. Joey is a kooky,clumsy and extremely annoying Californian girl. she broke character a couple of times just to make sure we all realised this. She took a liking to Hitch, bellowing at him "Are you hard yet?" as she tried to make herself unthreatening to the girls, but attractive to the guys. "I'm not a model, I'm a geek!" She left the stage, doing the "call me" mime to Hitch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QSSR9NyPPKYNDxhLjbRnR0uHQPcU9zeugP00nhR3zZI1KwXiZTjT34IEYuR6Y25x1P4L42PL-nkZ6mAB2lJUJuS0-D8ontrWUz1m58VyrvyOGNjD8Sll7BgZiLmovPqZlLsPMuMCTuo/s1600/IMG_3281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QSSR9NyPPKYNDxhLjbRnR0uHQPcU9zeugP00nhR3zZI1KwXiZTjT34IEYuR6Y25x1P4L42PL-nkZ6mAB2lJUJuS0-D8ontrWUz1m58VyrvyOGNjD8Sll7BgZiLmovPqZlLsPMuMCTuo/s400/IMG_3281.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Legge and Robin Ince</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw0_xV9-wxUn34-w8q1CEwzPKwCoGa9-2ITXRI8IMPI5rNR_qYJZAZ2B1-PzWiBrriFen5riRDUPvZ0WuaGFAFqYcbRQ-pKyENUsmVvkjr8jmXNJjHMUQYI0jUZPu7FV3sVcL5Df2x_Y/s1600/IMG_3291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw0_xV9-wxUn34-w8q1CEwzPKwCoGa9-2ITXRI8IMPI5rNR_qYJZAZ2B1-PzWiBrriFen5riRDUPvZ0WuaGFAFqYcbRQ-pKyENUsmVvkjr8jmXNJjHMUQYI0jUZPu7FV3sVcL5Df2x_Y/s200/IMG_3291.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Acaster</td></tr>
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Robin Ince joined Michael on stage to vent some pointless anger and righteous ire. Robin railed against Michael for looking so young. Well, he had shaved his beard off, and Robin was also furious about people who tell people to "grow a pair", James Dellingpole, before Michael shared his vegan sausage with him which tasted of the memory of gravy made be a relative with dementia. By the end though, Robin declared that Michael had made him happy again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI12gVX2-VDCBB9MQVLIvgdCgB1zDfpa8xyU8w3ET8pEfDbgE-BSITVd12Mq-cTZTJVtGJQ4pDGz-XRU2ONlyXhSCT2vUisRfLZtyKOHvN_oLZUnELyZJ22nvtle4w82uEWRVbBp81Io/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI12gVX2-VDCBB9MQVLIvgdCgB1zDfpa8xyU8w3ET8pEfDbgE-BSITVd12Mq-cTZTJVtGJQ4pDGz-XRU2ONlyXhSCT2vUisRfLZtyKOHvN_oLZUnELyZJ22nvtle4w82uEWRVbBp81Io/s200/IMG_3296.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon Donald</td></tr>
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Dab & Tench arrived to kick off the next section and gave us a quick acting lesson, wihch was very silly indeed. Then came <a href="http://twitter.com/jamesacaster">James Acaster</a>. He's a guy I've heard so many good things about but this was the first time I had seen him. He asked myself how many crumbs there were in a loaf of bread. I guessed 24000, but the next girl to guess got it spot on. (15000). I was mocked for getting this wrong. Then we had to guess how many breadcrumbs could coat a Scotch egg. Again, I got it wrong and my nemesis was spot on. The final question though I redeemed myself by getting it spot on and my competitor was humiliated. Go and see James Acaster immediately!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyFTY_B_YuQBGa4SIw_UmOGDw6N-rCHoj7Khx9f4SG8qJlIEe_ikr10zeFpU_wsqdwy6YbyxVaB7OisZXHXU0RmPiT1qll3TiU2-DMaZscCUH6UeTRTmw1ebGoo4V82x89TLEEQcw4a0/s1600/IMG_3317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyFTY_B_YuQBGa4SIw_UmOGDw6N-rCHoj7Khx9f4SG8qJlIEe_ikr10zeFpU_wsqdwy6YbyxVaB7OisZXHXU0RmPiT1qll3TiU2-DMaZscCUH6UeTRTmw1ebGoo4V82x89TLEEQcw4a0/s320/IMG_3317.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Trap (Paul, Dan and Jeremy)</td></tr>
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I'm going to a show in November where Michael Legge and Simon Donald (yes, him off Viz) are going to perform their 2012 Edinburgh shows. I got a taster of Simon Donald next where he discussed swearing in rather a lot of depth, which I guess wouldn't surprise you. He spoke about how adding the letter "e" to shit makes a whole new swear word up north and in Scotland, but doesn't necessarily work on other words. He also told us about Threadneedle Street, which in Victorian times, part of which was called Cuntgrope Lane, and ended up railing against the rise of the double negative. I'm looking forward to the main show already.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJTZ03FMDHT6wUgXZP6488FzmkSFP_m5NMtmhKzYO_Jw1-2bn0FA94LnzKDwe8-y0ggWQbcdfOe4XlVxKne963Za2y3qtL9lAoKYpnlGWFPCPkDs5ZaF38nupQGHyqEYvYqAyiIPMJk8/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJTZ03FMDHT6wUgXZP6488FzmkSFP_m5NMtmhKzYO_Jw1-2bn0FA94LnzKDwe8-y0ggWQbcdfOe4XlVxKne963Za2y3qtL9lAoKYpnlGWFPCPkDs5ZaF38nupQGHyqEYvYqAyiIPMJk8/s200/IMG_3337.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catie Wilkins</td></tr>
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You've heard about me speak about The Trap many times before, and after being introduced as "the fat ones from Los Quattros Cvnts" by Michael, they took to the stage where Dan Mersh explained their Bad Musical show that they were going to do a couple of excerpts from, and was keen to try to put it into context for us. They started with the "Touch In, Touch Out" song and ended with Paul singing a very emotional musical style song that went on for eternity as Dan and Jeremy looked on with increasing frustration.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9hkGWYh6-hDnC4SJvV9Q1w2OzTSaUl_73sH6QobiRjeMzpDSqWLCm8nmEnt8mjeGNp-MOXm-TmScnvvp3lYQxZyluMt_hIvSb6_6Zn1YGByLwPNZLVXTRO0-vFfbXoqm1z4rvrnP5Q4/s1600/IMG_3345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9hkGWYh6-hDnC4SJvV9Q1w2OzTSaUl_73sH6QobiRjeMzpDSqWLCm8nmEnt8mjeGNp-MOXm-TmScnvvp3lYQxZyluMt_hIvSb6_6Zn1YGByLwPNZLVXTRO0-vFfbXoqm1z4rvrnP5Q4/s200/IMG_3345.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aisling Bea</td></tr>
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Catie Wilkins finished this part of the show, and seemed a much less nervous as I've often seen her before. She spoke of herself as a "sex positive feminist on the go" and updated some Yo Mama jokes through the ages, and went on to speak about feminism ina genuinely funny way. Yes I know, I shouldn't be surprised by this, but her demeanour meant that there was no feeling of being preached at.<br />
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We were now on to the final section opened by the amazing Aisling Bea. Again, I've seen her before at Los Quattros Cvnts. She spoke about women dancing like men having sex and her theories of dancing. "Dance music is the easiest form of music to dance to as it is named after the main form of dance, which is dance". Unfortunately this wasn't as long as I had hped for as I think they were running over time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0mnUSNShzOlhYEUa0HI2vAWUE1ceFulx78VBrY9OURRXLl6I5qg1d2RBSpDSrHP7w_DKT0GP1FAujiw_qhaKmZyGnakUDYVr7tZXdxY14kmlQPv8Qpyl1HqDfMPI__CdUjmPirJvKkI/s1600/IMG_3351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0mnUSNShzOlhYEUa0HI2vAWUE1ceFulx78VBrY9OURRXLl6I5qg1d2RBSpDSrHP7w_DKT0GP1FAujiw_qhaKmZyGnakUDYVr7tZXdxY14kmlQPv8Qpyl1HqDfMPI__CdUjmPirJvKkI/s400/IMG_3351.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony Law</td></tr>
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Without further ado, Tony Law was introduced by a babble of Irish words by Michael. Tony tried to carry on the accent but gave up after a few moments thankfully. Tony is one of my favourite comics on the circuit today. he spoke about his part pirate part iking look, and about the times he spent on Viking raids and playing the old traditional game of scoopmud. His stream of nonsense was almost hypnotising as you became part of his extremely silly world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGujz2_2qnfb4zy5EI0hD4QkyTnc2_KDWejY4zPIF-WTg46SsZtHo0tXxCgPufPfy2MFuXtIS5xg6OsGY_U_1Sd5hy2XxbfBskzWbFRq6P3xheTTKiRl911ZAAxlDC8OZqZx2MoHFK20/s1600/IMG_3366.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGujz2_2qnfb4zy5EI0hD4QkyTnc2_KDWejY4zPIF-WTg46SsZtHo0tXxCgPufPfy2MFuXtIS5xg6OsGY_U_1Sd5hy2XxbfBskzWbFRq6P3xheTTKiRl911ZAAxlDC8OZqZx2MoHFK20/s400/IMG_3366.PNG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard Herring</td></tr>
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The penultimate act was one of my favourites, and the reason I got into the stand up scene in the first place, Richard Herring. I had hoped for the mini-RHEFP, but this was not to be. He gave us a short 10 minute section of his current show, Talking Cock, which I have talked about at length elsewhere. It's always good to see Richard, and looking forward to seeing him "interview" Dave Gorman on Monday at RHLSTP!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNMKX4FQ1fDYh_x3pRrW9fkaLkFwQFwUAvwNyWSEOt5a82pAJIaM-vhyphenhyphen9ww0cobRrOBiEUnJJBUkhsUVXwHG98hL47Kn7eg1xeCThHrQwMfb86FCNj9QYEY5QgSM75XHQTqx2lUtvJZU/s1600/IMG_3360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNMKX4FQ1fDYh_x3pRrW9fkaLkFwQFwUAvwNyWSEOt5a82pAJIaM-vhyphenhyphen9ww0cobRrOBiEUnJJBUkhsUVXwHG98hL47Kn7eg1xeCThHrQwMfb86FCNj9QYEY5QgSM75XHQTqx2lUtvJZU/s400/IMG_3360.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thom Tuck</td></tr>
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And finally we were here. the final act of the night. The Penny Dreadfuls closed the show 2 years ago, and tonight it was one of them, Thom Tuck that had the honour. Thom's stage persona of a rather posh ex-student is surprisingly likeable. He told us that Thom Tuck was his real name and he wasn't from a fairy tale as his name might suggest. His Tescometron joke was his opener (if you haven't heard it you won't get it) and spoke of his problems with coming across as masculine and his annoyance with the lack of semi-colon in cigarette packet warnings.<br />
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Soon it was all over, and Michael brought Peter Buckley Hill to the stage to say a few words. Peter is a lovely man, like your favourite uncle and I think anything people can do to support his free fringe is worth it.<br />
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A few of us stayed till the Phoenix closed, which was sooner than I thought. We headed to The old Explorer which also closed. Eventually Hitch and I went to a bar in Kings Cross I know and had a couple there. to be honest, things were getting a bit fuzzy by then.<br />
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Michael had earlier told us that he woldn't be doing All day Edinburgh again, as it is so hard to organise, but I for one am looking forward to All Day Edinburgh 2013. Bring it on!<br />
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@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-71567938088513572982012-09-27T10:20:00.002+01:002012-09-27T11:06:41.598+01:00Stewart Lee and Friends perform John Cage's "Indeterminacy"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had never really heard of John Cage. I knew two facts.<br />
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<li>He wrote 4'33", a musical piece with no sound other than the sound of the space it was performed in.</li>
<li>He was in The Velvet Underground.</li>
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That was John Cale. So out of the two facts I knew, one of them was wrong. I even originally thought J J Cale was in The Velvet Underground till I was forcefully corrected on Twitter.<br />
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I researched him (i.e. looked at YouTube) and found this marvellous piece from 1960.<br />
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My friend Mike told me about this show and I happily agreed to go with him. We met up at 7pm but were forced to sit in the cold with our beers outside as the musicians were soundchecking. The honks and parps echoed round Dalston. We got in at 8 and found a seat with a reasonable view (near the toilets - a good tactical decision) and awaited. Neither of us were sure what to expect, but after reading <a href="http://londonjazz.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/review-stewart-lee-works-by-john-cage.html">a review of an earlier performance</a> I was hopeful Harry Hill would perform Water Walk. Unfortunately it was not to be.</div>
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Things started off with a piano and trombone improvisation by Steve Beresford and Alan Tomlinson, which showed us the madness that was to come. It was instantly funny, but people seemed scared to laugh. People were giving the performance a lot of chin stroking respect, but as soon as Tomlinson honked a bicycle horn into the end of his trombone as he played, we all relaxed and realised that, yes, it's fine to laugh!</div>
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Tania Chen performed an off the wall piano solo on her "prepared piano" and as well as some traditional jazz stylings she ended up climbing into the piano and plucking the strings from the inside.</div>
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The highlight of the first half for me, though was the trombone solo. (There's a sentence I never expected to write in my life.) </div>
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Tomlinson explained Cage's unusual scorings, particularly the instruction to remove a piece of the trombone and use a particular mute, but as he explained, when you take that piece out, all the air goes out the wrong end anyway, so the mute would have made no difference. A little joke on Cage's part perhaps?</div>
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This was really odd. A lot of single notes at various volumes, pitches and timbres, evoking a didgeridoo at one point, and at another he span as he played, giving a slow phaser effect.</div>
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Here is a short clip. But I know it doesn't do it justice. I missed the funniest bits!</div>
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We had an interval and outside I overheard conversations about French philosophers and Becket. Yes, I was certainly in Dalston.</div>
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The second half started with Chen, Beresford and Lee sitting at a table with all manner of unusual instruments amongst them. The musicians would provide an improvised backdrop for Stew, who would read 40 of Cage's stories randomly chosen from selection of 90. Each one was read at different speeds in order to either fit them into, or stretch them out so they each lasted a minute.</div>
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It was a great 40 minutes. After a while the sounds sat in my head comfortably, but always surprising me, and I struggled to hear Stew on a few occasions when the sounds got louder, but this was the intention. We left the show happy and I had a quick chat with Stew at the end where I said that Tomlinson's trombone solo reminded me of Diamanda Galas's "Schrei X" and he said "Oh, I think he's played with her before"!</div>
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It's not a show I would normally go to, and naturally the draw for me was the always magnificent Stewart Lee, but hey, I'm a hipster now!</div>
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Thanks to @muzrobertson and @chillmaid for the live photos.</div>
@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-38705700247807755232012-09-24T20:52:00.001+01:002012-09-24T20:52:11.843+01:00Eddie IzzardI saw Eddie Izzard last month and forgot to finish writing this blog. The day was hard. I had been to see a Private Hell special the day before with Michael Legge and Stuart Goldsmith. Even though Stuart isn't the usual style of comedian I would go and see, I thoroughly enjoyed his set, and Michael's show was very nearly ready! I had a few beers with Michael and some of the audience afterwards and was planning on going home, but Nadia persuaded me to go to the other Phoenix to see Lou Sanders and Grainne Maguire. It was a great evening, but on the morning of Izzard, I had a brutal hangover.<br />
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I was excited about seeing Eddie Izzard, and have been for a while but 1115pm seemed like such a long way away. He was playing in the small room in Soho Theatre and it was a work in progress gig for next year's world tour, "Force Majeur". I have never seen Eddie before, but he is a true comedy hero of mine, up there with Billy Connolly and to see him in what I insist on calling The Gregg Jevin Memorial Room (ie a room with about 140 seats) is much more exciting than seeing him in a massive arena.<br />
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I left the house at 930 as I had arranged to meet my friend in The Soho Theatre bar at 1015pm. I thought it best to get there early in order to try and secure a good seat, but I guess in this room all seats are pretty close to the stage. We bumped into Rob Sedgebeer and his lovely lady and settled down to watch the show.<br />
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Eddie announced that there would be an opening act.A German comedian. Of course I instantly assumed it would be Henning Wehn. Eddie announced Michael Mittermeyer to the stage. I had never heard of him before and he had a few good lines, but most of the material was pretty hack, with talk of Germans getting to sun loungers first and the fact that the German language sounds aggressive rather than sexy. Things took a turn for the worst when speaking about the Beijing Olympics, which involved him speaking in a "comedy" Chinese accent for an extended period of time, which just ended his set uncomfortably. I had trusted Eddie to introduce us to someone amazing, but he let us down. I've never said this about any comic on this blog, but as I plan on avoiding seeing any more of his gigs in the future, I will. He was awful.<br />
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After a very short break, it was time for Eddie to take the stage. Now this is the embarrassing but of the blog. I thought I had written this and posted it 2 months ago. Turns out I hadn't. So I can't remember very much so the main part is going to be a little truncated.<br />
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He started a little unsure, as a lot of this was new material. I can't remember a great deal of it, but there was a fantastic truly improvised piece about opera singers microphone technique which made him laugh a lot as well as us. There was another part that I had seen before about the tigers massacring the animals on Noah's Ark. That's pretty much my memory of the gig. Sorry about that. Then we left into the cold dark night and had to get a night bus home as all the tubes were shut.@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005176893049629328.post-18239322536195571832012-07-29T09:22:00.000+01:002012-07-29T10:10:14.162+01:00Nick Helm - This Means WarI first encountered Nick Helm at The Wilmington Arms about a year ago when he, Michael Legge and Bennett Arron were previewing their 2011 Edinburgh shows. I had never heard of him before but he made a big impression on me. I was terrified. I remember saying at the time that he is the one comedian who I wouldn't sit in the front row for. At Edinburgh he was nominated for an award too and now he is getting a wider audience after closing each episode of Live At The Electric with some rocking tunes.<br />
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Here's a clip from Channel 4's "Comedy Blaps". The sheer desperation and self-pity is fantastic!<br />
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Next time I saw Nick was at Michael Legge's Private Hell and found out he was doing an hour at The Hen & Chickens each week so I decided to go along. </div>
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By this time I realised that Nick's onstage anger is mainly directed at himself (or the audience of course if they misbehave) so I decided to plump for a front row seat. I was the only one. Nick came on stage and immediately went to the back rows, ordering people to move to the front. They all complied. Of course they did. Only an idiot wouldn't!</div>
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This was just a preview so I'm not going to give much away, but the opening song, "This Means War" saw Nick ordering the front two rows on to the stage to sing along backing vocals. He berated us for not singing loud enough and then added more backing vocals from various sections of the remaining audience. It was a very inclusive way to begin and we all sat down with big smiles on our faces.</div>
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He launched into a selection of one-liners before some poetry. Don't worry about the "P" word. It's much more fun than it sounds! An extensive section about the best soft drink followed, along with some more songs. This is a show, that if I were going to The Fringe (I'm not), I would definitely go and see.</div>
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I decided to go and see him the following week too and he had an excellent new opening which didn't involve him saying or moving very much. The audience though were awful. There were 2 lads beside me who hadn't seen Nick before but had come because of Live At The Electric. These lads, however, were not awful. They were great, and one of them spent most of the show on stage with Nick, looking both embarrassed and proud at the same time.</div>
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A lot of the others though were chatty, interrupting dicks. Two walked out after half an hour or so, which was fine, but when a woman in the second row kept talking, he said that he wished it was her that had left. She left, to a round of applause by me! Dicks aside, it was a really fun evening!</div>
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Afterwards I had a drink and a chat with Nick. What a lovely man. He is surprisingly soft spoken, and generous with his time and conversation. Go and see it Edinburgh people. make sure it's on your list if you want to see lashings of impotent fury, self pity, self loathing and have a right good singalong. And the ever hanging threat of psychological violence.</div>
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<br /></div>@AndyMcHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340381064401475587noreply@blogger.com0