I love The Stand. I know I've said it before! I dare say I will say it again!! The Newcastle Stand (our very own!!) will open in October (I knew it would be around then but it's good to know exactly when! I hope very much that it opens on or near my birthday: it will be amazing!).
But October is quite a while away. What's less far away is August - glorious month of Fringe-y fun. And today the Stand announced their Fringe line up: http://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe2011.aspx
It's very exciting! The best things are shows I all ready knew about: Stewart Lee, Bridget Christie and Richard Herring's podcast. Yes, yes and...yes!
There are some people you just expect to play the Stand (but it's still exciting to have it confirmed; some years people don't do the Fringe at all so you never know for sure): Simon Munnery, Andy Zaltman (and his presence means Political Animal too), Bob Doolally (who I don't think I'd ever bother seeing but my dad loves him!), etc.
Phill Jupitus is a nice surprise! I'll definitely consider trying to fit him in to my busy trip. Tony Law (yay), Alun Cochrane, Stephen Carlin, Ava Vidal, James Dowdeswell, Tiffany Stevenson and Susan Murray are returning; I think a lot of performers like to play the Stand every year. Because it's quite simply the best.
The show I got most excited about is Robin Ince/Michael Legge: Pointless Anger, Righteous Ire 2: Back In The Habit. We missed their show last year as they only did two weeks (not the third one when we were there!) but oh, I love them both!!
I would also love to see Lloyd Langford (I still haven't!), Joanna Neary's new show sounds brilliant (Youth Club), I'd quite like to see Francesca Martinez's show What The Fuck Is Normal? I hadn't heard of Lee Camp but he sounds intriguing. I'd be interested to see a Fred MacAulay show. Mitch Benn's doing a short run. Oh, and there's Todd Barry (from Flight of the Conchords) and Omid Djalili is doing a few dates before his UK tour.
I'm very excited indeed. The only thing is there's another month before we'll know the rest of the Fringe line up so we'll just have to hope that nothing sells out or take some risks in guessing now! It's tricky. I would imagine that not many people will be buying tickets this incredibly early!
I wonder how long until the Big Four release their dates. Have fun scheming and dreaming!
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Charlie's Comedians - A - Andrews, Will
Well, I must say Will Andrews does a very convincing North East accent! I honestly thought he was from up here...turns out he was born in Zimbabwe! Anyway, apparently he started off doing this Geordie character, Tony Carter. I haven't seen him do this but when I have seen him he's still had our accent! So, I'm a little confused about that. Nevermind.
I've only seen him twice and never for a full set; once was with Greg McHugh when they did about ten minutes as part of a Juppcast (in 2008) as Will and Greg, their sketch show.
The next time I saw him was at the very end of the Fringe in 2009 when he did a set for BBC Comedy Presents which included him playing the Dogtanian theme on his ipod and doing a bit of stuff based on that. R laughed for about ten minutes!
And the eternal question: do I fancy him? No, I don't think so!
I've only seen him twice and never for a full set; once was with Greg McHugh when they did about ten minutes as part of a Juppcast (in 2008) as Will and Greg, their sketch show.
The next time I saw him was at the very end of the Fringe in 2009 when he did a set for BBC Comedy Presents which included him playing the Dogtanian theme on his ipod and doing a bit of stuff based on that. R laughed for about ten minutes!
I'm not sure what a full hour of Will would be like - chaotic and a bit all over the place perhaps but with moments of surprising stuff relating to eighties cartoons. I honestly don't know but maybe one day I'll find out.
And the eternal question: do I fancy him? No, I don't think so!Friday, 22 April 2011
A Girl With A Radio Heart
I've just been to America for the first time. I spent ten nights in Los Angeles then four in New York. It was an absolutely amazing first trip to America and it definitely won't be my last. But I'm not going to be writing about that here today. Instead I want to celebrate a few of the bands and musicians that make where I live so great.
ONSIND - of course, ONSIND. It is hard to put into words how much they mean to me but it's loads. They're amazing. I made sure to see them just before I left and now that I'm back I'm eager to see them again. (Based on the very little experience I have had gigs in Britain are so so much better than in America!) The last time I saw ONSIND they played with Fashanu (who you should also listen to!).
The Casual Terrorist - who I last saw play dressed as a bear at his and Daniel's house show (for Cosmo Jarvis who I really enjoyed!)
Daniel Versus The World - who is amazing. I love pianos so so much. Everyone should listen to him!! (I last heard him play at his house show too.)
Andrew Lips - (also played at the house show) Andy's not technically local music but his heart is entirely here and his songs celebrate the people he loves up here and he's great.
On Wednesday Daniel and I went to a benefit at The Cluny (which is a lovely little venue in the Ouseburn Valley in Newcastle, only slightly spoilt by having a weird split-level thing going on which means people often talk in the higher up bit where the bar is - grr!) for the Japanese Tsunami Appeal. It was really cheap (only a tenner) and I'd have gladly paid more not only is it a highly deserving cause but the entire night was a treat. We saw:
Michael Littlefield - a nice, young guy who played Blues covers. I'm not really into the Blues generally but he did what he did really, really well and I always admire that!
The Lake Poets - brilliant! Martin has such a great voice. Apparently he played Split last year! I've just located my Split programme and it seems he was in the acoustic tent (we did keep popping to the acoustic tent but it was never anyone good, stupid bad timing!!). I really enjoyed his set and will be sure to see him again. He played a new song he'd written about his grandad who'd died recently who built ships. I couldn't not think about my wonderful grandad who also made ships and who was one of the best people in the world.
Grandfather Birds - a really cool band. I really recognised the lead singer but I'm not sure where from (another band or another gig probably; it's quite a small world.) I'm getting quite concerned about the amount of people I'm having to add to the 'will have to see again' list! (I'm trying to save money!)
Adam James Cooper - I knew this was going to be good when I saw proper instruments! As much as I love the usual guitar-bass guitar-drums set up, I am a huge fan of orchestras and strings especially. So I was overjoyed: mandolin, guitar, violin, cello, double bass (played by a very cool guy in a hat!). The music was soaring, powerful and made me truly happy. Very, very enjoyable!
The Futureheads - hurrah for the Futureheads!! I got into them very late (last year's Split Fest) but had always enjoyed them when I heard them (at Uni "Hounds of Love" playing at the Waterfront would always remind me of home). I was very excited to see them again, having got into them properly and bought all their albums, etc!
This was an acapella set - just the four boys and one guitar (which Barry played). They started with "Heartbeat Song" but they didn't just play their hits, they did some folk songs: "The Keeper" ("let's go back to the 17th Century", Barry said), "The Old Dun Cow" which is a mad old drinking song which we all joined in with, lots of fun. They played this amazing song called "Bee's Wing" which is (I've looked this up) by Richard Thompson and they sang it a round then did some cool bits where Ross would say "break it down" then they'd do some barbershop quartet-style bits which were just breathtaking. I was so impressed.
They all sing so well (especially Barry and Ross) and their own songs have such amazing vocals which meant that without the drums, bass, etc meant you just heard the raw talent. Everything was sung even guitar solos. It was so interesting hearing how they sang bits that were usually very loud guitars/drums. They played an amazing 'Russian' version of "Struck Dumb" where they did the opening guitar bit by going; "Raa-daa-daa daa-da-da-da-da" (so it sounded Russian?!). They did a heartbreaking version of "Thursday", a very upbeat "Heartbeat Song", "Skip To The End" which is great, "Decent Days And Nights" (I love that one too!) and of course they ended with "Hounds of Love". Surprisingly, they didn't play "Acapella"! I would have loved for them to play "Jupiter" but it didn't matter too much. Maybe next time...I just hope next time is very soon!
It was a wonderful set - intimate, special and somehow quite old-fashioned. It was fascinating to see another side of them. I really loved the whole evening and it certainly looked like they were having a lot of fun too! There is a lot of talent around and I'm so happy to be home.
ONSIND - of course, ONSIND. It is hard to put into words how much they mean to me but it's loads. They're amazing. I made sure to see them just before I left and now that I'm back I'm eager to see them again. (Based on the very little experience I have had gigs in Britain are so so much better than in America!) The last time I saw ONSIND they played with Fashanu (who you should also listen to!).
The Casual Terrorist - who I last saw play dressed as a bear at his and Daniel's house show (for Cosmo Jarvis who I really enjoyed!)
Daniel Versus The World - who is amazing. I love pianos so so much. Everyone should listen to him!! (I last heard him play at his house show too.)
Andrew Lips - (also played at the house show) Andy's not technically local music but his heart is entirely here and his songs celebrate the people he loves up here and he's great.
On Wednesday Daniel and I went to a benefit at The Cluny (which is a lovely little venue in the Ouseburn Valley in Newcastle, only slightly spoilt by having a weird split-level thing going on which means people often talk in the higher up bit where the bar is - grr!) for the Japanese Tsunami Appeal. It was really cheap (only a tenner) and I'd have gladly paid more not only is it a highly deserving cause but the entire night was a treat. We saw:
Michael Littlefield - a nice, young guy who played Blues covers. I'm not really into the Blues generally but he did what he did really, really well and I always admire that!
The Lake Poets - brilliant! Martin has such a great voice. Apparently he played Split last year! I've just located my Split programme and it seems he was in the acoustic tent (we did keep popping to the acoustic tent but it was never anyone good, stupid bad timing!!). I really enjoyed his set and will be sure to see him again. He played a new song he'd written about his grandad who'd died recently who built ships. I couldn't not think about my wonderful grandad who also made ships and who was one of the best people in the world.
Grandfather Birds - a really cool band. I really recognised the lead singer but I'm not sure where from (another band or another gig probably; it's quite a small world.) I'm getting quite concerned about the amount of people I'm having to add to the 'will have to see again' list! (I'm trying to save money!)
Adam James Cooper - I knew this was going to be good when I saw proper instruments! As much as I love the usual guitar-bass guitar-drums set up, I am a huge fan of orchestras and strings especially. So I was overjoyed: mandolin, guitar, violin, cello, double bass (played by a very cool guy in a hat!). The music was soaring, powerful and made me truly happy. Very, very enjoyable!
The Futureheads - hurrah for the Futureheads!! I got into them very late (last year's Split Fest) but had always enjoyed them when I heard them (at Uni "Hounds of Love" playing at the Waterfront would always remind me of home). I was very excited to see them again, having got into them properly and bought all their albums, etc!
This was an acapella set - just the four boys and one guitar (which Barry played). They started with "Heartbeat Song" but they didn't just play their hits, they did some folk songs: "The Keeper" ("let's go back to the 17th Century", Barry said), "The Old Dun Cow" which is a mad old drinking song which we all joined in with, lots of fun. They played this amazing song called "Bee's Wing" which is (I've looked this up) by Richard Thompson and they sang it a round then did some cool bits where Ross would say "break it down" then they'd do some barbershop quartet-style bits which were just breathtaking. I was so impressed.
They all sing so well (especially Barry and Ross) and their own songs have such amazing vocals which meant that without the drums, bass, etc meant you just heard the raw talent. Everything was sung even guitar solos. It was so interesting hearing how they sang bits that were usually very loud guitars/drums. They played an amazing 'Russian' version of "Struck Dumb" where they did the opening guitar bit by going; "Raa-daa-daa daa-da-da-da-da" (so it sounded Russian?!). They did a heartbreaking version of "Thursday", a very upbeat "Heartbeat Song", "Skip To The End" which is great, "Decent Days And Nights" (I love that one too!) and of course they ended with "Hounds of Love". Surprisingly, they didn't play "Acapella"! I would have loved for them to play "Jupiter" but it didn't matter too much. Maybe next time...I just hope next time is very soon!
It was a wonderful set - intimate, special and somehow quite old-fashioned. It was fascinating to see another side of them. I really loved the whole evening and it certainly looked like they were having a lot of fun too! There is a lot of talent around and I'm so happy to be home.
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Charlie's Comedians - B - Brigstocke, Marcus
All hail, the King!
Marcus looked especially good in Spamalot though he had a beard when I saw him in it last Summer. I was pleasantly surprised to see him act and hear him sing so well. Another annoyingly multi-talented person.
I first saw him in Edinburgh (when I saw The Early Edition in 2007 http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=9091849463703342279&searchType=ALL&page=1). I knew him vaguely at that point from The Late Edition which I'd watched a few times with R. I liked him but I was too bothered until I saw this - it was great!
At some point I bought R MB's DVD Planet Corduroy and that was good - funny, clever but not life-changingly special.
In 2009 I saw him host another Early Edition (in which he gave us free shortbread and Buck's fizz as it was the last show; he bemoaned being an tee totaller allergic to sugar). Like the time before we eneded up seeing the final show of the run so the guests were numerous and there was an end-of-term feel to the proceedings. I liked it but the first one remains the best.
However, on our first Edinburgh night of 2009 we saw his solo show Dog Collar which I loved. It was meaningful, brilliant and very funny (especially when the lights kept going off - as if he'd angered God with his agnostic show). It was a show that made fun of us atheists as much as any religion. It had a lot of sadness in too as it was about the recent death of his best friend who he missed.
And finally, back to Spamalot - brilliant! He really impressed me as did the musical on the whole - and I was skeptical as I love Holy Grail (it's my favourite Python film) but he did everything wonderfully. Speaking of Arthurs, it still makes me sad that I'll never meet Graham Chapman.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Breaking Up With The Good Wife
It's not you, it's me. I just don't have enough time to give you what you need (me watching you). I do want to see other people, yes. I think I'm going to miss you. But, at least for now, it's over.
I have no time! And loads of TV to watch. Grey's Anatomy is amazing (my current favourite), House is good too. I've got into Boardwalk Empire, I love The Big C. How I Met Your Mother and The Office are two of the best sitcoms of our times. 30 Rock and The Big Bang Theory are great! Modern Family and The Middle are fun and make me cry (what doesn't?). Being Human is the best British drama until Doctor Who or Sherlock return. Charlie Brooker's How TV Ruined Your Life is just perfect. 10 O'Clock Live isn't perfect but I like it - CB and DM in one progamme (dreamy). True Blood is exciting, Glee is wonderful. Skins is mad but when it's good, it's very very good! And then there's thirtysomething which I missed first time around due to my being three and having more in common with little Janie than the sexy, sexy Hope and her friends. Unfortunately, Sky Atlantic are airing this daily. Too many shows! Big Love has returned. I watche the first season on Channel 5 about five years ago; they didn't buy the rest (how silly). I'm eager for more.
So I have to give up something. Brothers and Sisters is a likely candidate. It is a show that is populated by a wonderful cast given awful lines to say. Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths and Sally Field deserve better. The scary Uncle Saul (who terrifies me as he reminds me too much of Joel Grey as Doc in Buffy) is the attractive star of thirtysomething which makes me confused. Rob Lowe was brilliant but is now gone. B&S is soapy and silly in the extreme. I may drop it but I haven't yet. I know it's an insult to all that has gone before but it's easy and sometimes has moments where brilliance is hinted at. (I miss Six Feet Under and Brenda so much!)
So The Good Wife will be the first to be dropped. I haven't watched it very long and it's not my sort of thing genre-wise. Some of the legal stuff is depressing (not the good cathartic kind of depressing) and I'm not bothered about the main character. Poor Julianna Margulies (I gave up on ER too, sorry). I won't miss her or the children. But I will miss Christine Baranski who I grew up watching in Cybill but fell for entirely as Leonard's mother in BBT. Then there is Chris Noth (the reason I started watching the show - lovely Big). Josh Charles (from Sports Night and In Treatment), Matt Czuchry (who amused Jam in that episode of Young Americans and who annoyed everyone other than Jam, for some reason, in Gilmore Girls), Mary Beth Peil (Grams from Dawson's Creek) and the brilliant, inspiring, talented Alan Cumming (who I adore). I will miss them all. But what is clear is that you can't take people I love from things that have changed my life and lump them together and have an instant hit. But those elements have kept me hanging on for so long, hoping something would change, hoping for that perfect TV moment where you say the rare words: "This could be it. This could be the new Buffy."
Anyone else, I'm sure could come back to this show for meaningless hook-ups. But for me, once it's over I won't watch it for a second. All or nothing. It's the only way I know.
I have no time! And loads of TV to watch. Grey's Anatomy is amazing (my current favourite), House is good too. I've got into Boardwalk Empire, I love The Big C. How I Met Your Mother and The Office are two of the best sitcoms of our times. 30 Rock and The Big Bang Theory are great! Modern Family and The Middle are fun and make me cry (what doesn't?). Being Human is the best British drama until Doctor Who or Sherlock return. Charlie Brooker's How TV Ruined Your Life is just perfect. 10 O'Clock Live isn't perfect but I like it - CB and DM in one progamme (dreamy). True Blood is exciting, Glee is wonderful. Skins is mad but when it's good, it's very very good! And then there's thirtysomething which I missed first time around due to my being three and having more in common with little Janie than the sexy, sexy Hope and her friends. Unfortunately, Sky Atlantic are airing this daily. Too many shows! Big Love has returned. I watche the first season on Channel 5 about five years ago; they didn't buy the rest (how silly). I'm eager for more.
So I have to give up something. Brothers and Sisters is a likely candidate. It is a show that is populated by a wonderful cast given awful lines to say. Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths and Sally Field deserve better. The scary Uncle Saul (who terrifies me as he reminds me too much of Joel Grey as Doc in Buffy) is the attractive star of thirtysomething which makes me confused. Rob Lowe was brilliant but is now gone. B&S is soapy and silly in the extreme. I may drop it but I haven't yet. I know it's an insult to all that has gone before but it's easy and sometimes has moments where brilliance is hinted at. (I miss Six Feet Under and Brenda so much!)
So The Good Wife will be the first to be dropped. I haven't watched it very long and it's not my sort of thing genre-wise. Some of the legal stuff is depressing (not the good cathartic kind of depressing) and I'm not bothered about the main character. Poor Julianna Margulies (I gave up on ER too, sorry). I won't miss her or the children. But I will miss Christine Baranski who I grew up watching in Cybill but fell for entirely as Leonard's mother in BBT. Then there is Chris Noth (the reason I started watching the show - lovely Big). Josh Charles (from Sports Night and In Treatment), Matt Czuchry (who amused Jam in that episode of Young Americans and who annoyed everyone other than Jam, for some reason, in Gilmore Girls), Mary Beth Peil (Grams from Dawson's Creek) and the brilliant, inspiring, talented Alan Cumming (who I adore). I will miss them all. But what is clear is that you can't take people I love from things that have changed my life and lump them together and have an instant hit. But those elements have kept me hanging on for so long, hoping something would change, hoping for that perfect TV moment where you say the rare words: "This could be it. This could be the new Buffy."
Anyone else, I'm sure could come back to this show for meaningless hook-ups. But for me, once it's over I won't watch it for a second. All or nothing. It's the only way I know.
 |
| Not good enough |
Friday, 11 February 2011
Edinburgh 2008 - Day Three
Today seems like the perfect day to escape into the past and remember the day I will always regard the best ever Edinburgh Fringe day!
Tuesday 5th August 2008
It began, as so many good things do with Miles Jupp.
Lovely, isn't he?
First we saw The Guardian Podcast (which Miles Jupp hosted). As I've previously mentioned these podcasts were amazing and I don't know why the Guardian stopped doing them. On this particular day the guests were:
Sarah Millican - I saw Sarah Millican in the toilets of the Gilded Balloon and forgot I didn't know her and said 'hi'. Because to me she just feels like someone from home that I saw in a pub ages ago with my parents and their friends (and R). She's huge now, of course and that's amazing, but then she was pretty unknown. Three weeks later she would be leaving Edinburgh with the Best Newcomer Award. I'm pretty sure that podcast was the first ever 'Millican's Minute' segment which they did again in 2009; Miles and Sarah's relationship became really funny - both of them amping up the differences between them - Millican emphasising her North Eastern roots (she's from South Shields which is a nice beach nearish where I live), Juppy doing his usual priveleged stuff.
Jason Byrne - I enjoyed listening to Jason chat. This was the first time I'd ever seen/heard him do anything; I liked him. More on him a bit later!!
Tina C - In 2008 Tina (aka Christopher Green) was running for the Whitehouse. I didn't see her show but I know it culminated in a huge rally. We kept seeing people in her show - it looked fabulous and I sort of wish we'd gone. She was great!!
Wilson Dixon - a country singer/comedian we kept seeing around that year. Haven't seen him since!
Paul MacInnes - a Guardian journalist who I remember very little about to be honest! I may have to listen again (always trying to hear me or Richard laughing in the audience).
I hadn't previously known who Miles Jupp was but he stole the show, my heart, etc! He was smart, charming, funny, sexy and amazing. I can't remember when exactly it transpired that we were going to see him again that day (in the play we'd booked to see only knowing that Stewart Lee had written it!) but when I did realise that it seemed like fate (that I don't belive in!). Maybe everything in Edinburgh feels fated as all things and people are linked - everyone knows each other, comedians are everywhere. It's bliss!
After that we met up with Nat (who'd been at a drama workshop) and then split up again (I think this is what happened!); she went to see The Butler Did It, The Musical! while Richard and I went to The Stand to see Andy Zaltzman Boldly Unbuttons The Cloak Of Civilisation, But Is Perplexed And Perturbed By What He Finds Lurking Beneath. Lovely Zaltz is definitely one of Richard's comedians. I liked this show but I didn't love it. It reminded me of Blackadder - that is to say it had a lot of really clever wordplay etc but wasn't quite my sort of thing. (Having said that I do enjoy Blackadder!) It had an interval where we had to do a quiz (a Zaltz trademark). The best thing about this show was that Richard finally got to see a full AZ stand up set!
Then we saw James Sherwood (who we'd loved at Political Animal) doing Songs of Music which I loved! There was a lot of stuff about grammar (which I love!) - David Cameron saying attorney generals rather than attorneys general. There was some stuff about cricket too! And his songs are really great. I love a piano!
Next was The Little Shop of Horrors - a really amazing musical I'd never seen before (Nat had seen it ages ago). It was a really great production. We were in the front row and it was staged in the round which meant they were everywhere, almost on our feet. Amazing songs, great cast, brilliant play! And the night wasn't over. The best was yet to come.
If you love Miles Jupp and love codpieces and you love dashing heroic Elizabethan explorers (and I do!) this show is for you! And that's not even mentioning the amazingly wonderful Simon Munnery. Yes, this was the unforgettable Elizabeth and Raleigh: Late But Live
This was a simply marvellous show (by Stewart Lee) that felt like a pantomime without all the stuff I dislike about pantomimes; it included potato throwing, ships on heads (signifying the Armada etc) and Simon Munnery - resplendant in regal drag, stomping over our seats as we stood up (because the Queen of England doesn't turn) - was amazing (this was the first of many, many times I saw him). Miles Jupp, I'd discovered, was a great host, here I found he was a brilliant actor (this role was perfect for him) - sexy, charming, bearded, he was Raleigh - later I'd find out his stand up is fantastic too. What a man!!
We had about twenty five minutes to get from the Cow Barn to the Stand. We decided to take a rickshaw. It was pretty fun! Nat got scared. We tried to take photos to capture the experience but only captured our driver's arse really. He was a nice guy but not a man who knew the streets of Edinburgh. Luckily we were able to direct him to York Place and eventually we got there to get seats right at the front (I think they were the last ones left!!) for The Honourable Men of Art.
The HMoA consisted of:
Daniel Kitson - this was my first ever DK experience and it was wonderful. I'd heard many good things about him but seeing him at last was the perfect end to an incredible day (and remains one of the best and most Fringe-y experiences yet). Because Daniel wasn't doing a solo show that year (he was doing 66A Church Road) this was just him larking about really. I knew I was going to like him when he came out with a cup of tea. He did a thing where he mocked as many audience members as possible in a minute. We played charades. Even when he was off-stage he was rarely off-mic and would interject from wherever he was standing. The rest of the HMoA had to finish off his sentences if he stuttered so they'd make him say racist things. What a man! Kitson remains one of my favourite stand ups and one of my favourite people - I love him!
Andy Zaltzman - our third Zaltz of the trip. He is mint. And him and Kitson together are amazingly funny.
Alun Cochrane - I have mixed feelings about Alun Cochrane. I didn't love him on this particular night but I have been impressed by him on other nights. So I don't know! I haven't seen a full solo show as yet.
David O'Doherty - little did we know it then but this was to be the D'OD's year (he won the big award). I enjoyed his stuff (songs on a little piano) but it was Kitson and Zaltzman who made it a night to remember.
And then some sleep.
Tuesday 5th August 2008
It began, as so many good things do with Miles Jupp.
First we saw The Guardian Podcast (which Miles Jupp hosted). As I've previously mentioned these podcasts were amazing and I don't know why the Guardian stopped doing them. On this particular day the guests were:
Sarah Millican - I saw Sarah Millican in the toilets of the Gilded Balloon and forgot I didn't know her and said 'hi'. Because to me she just feels like someone from home that I saw in a pub ages ago with my parents and their friends (and R). She's huge now, of course and that's amazing, but then she was pretty unknown. Three weeks later she would be leaving Edinburgh with the Best Newcomer Award. I'm pretty sure that podcast was the first ever 'Millican's Minute' segment which they did again in 2009; Miles and Sarah's relationship became really funny - both of them amping up the differences between them - Millican emphasising her North Eastern roots (she's from South Shields which is a nice beach nearish where I live), Juppy doing his usual priveleged stuff.
Jason Byrne - I enjoyed listening to Jason chat. This was the first time I'd ever seen/heard him do anything; I liked him. More on him a bit later!!
Tina C - In 2008 Tina (aka Christopher Green) was running for the Whitehouse. I didn't see her show but I know it culminated in a huge rally. We kept seeing people in her show - it looked fabulous and I sort of wish we'd gone. She was great!!
Wilson Dixon - a country singer/comedian we kept seeing around that year. Haven't seen him since!
Paul MacInnes - a Guardian journalist who I remember very little about to be honest! I may have to listen again (always trying to hear me or Richard laughing in the audience).
I hadn't previously known who Miles Jupp was but he stole the show, my heart, etc! He was smart, charming, funny, sexy and amazing. I can't remember when exactly it transpired that we were going to see him again that day (in the play we'd booked to see only knowing that Stewart Lee had written it!) but when I did realise that it seemed like fate (that I don't belive in!). Maybe everything in Edinburgh feels fated as all things and people are linked - everyone knows each other, comedians are everywhere. It's bliss!
After that we met up with Nat (who'd been at a drama workshop) and then split up again (I think this is what happened!); she went to see The Butler Did It, The Musical! while Richard and I went to The Stand to see Andy Zaltzman Boldly Unbuttons The Cloak Of Civilisation, But Is Perplexed And Perturbed By What He Finds Lurking Beneath. Lovely Zaltz is definitely one of Richard's comedians. I liked this show but I didn't love it. It reminded me of Blackadder - that is to say it had a lot of really clever wordplay etc but wasn't quite my sort of thing. (Having said that I do enjoy Blackadder!) It had an interval where we had to do a quiz (a Zaltz trademark). The best thing about this show was that Richard finally got to see a full AZ stand up set!
Then we saw James Sherwood (who we'd loved at Political Animal) doing Songs of Music which I loved! There was a lot of stuff about grammar (which I love!) - David Cameron saying attorney generals rather than attorneys general. There was some stuff about cricket too! And his songs are really great. I love a piano!
Next was The Little Shop of Horrors - a really amazing musical I'd never seen before (Nat had seen it ages ago). It was a really great production. We were in the front row and it was staged in the round which meant they were everywhere, almost on our feet. Amazing songs, great cast, brilliant play! And the night wasn't over. The best was yet to come.
If you love Miles Jupp and love codpieces and you love dashing heroic Elizabethan explorers (and I do!) this show is for you! And that's not even mentioning the amazingly wonderful Simon Munnery. Yes, this was the unforgettable Elizabeth and Raleigh: Late But Live
 |
| "I am the Queen of England. And you are not." |
We had about twenty five minutes to get from the Cow Barn to the Stand. We decided to take a rickshaw. It was pretty fun! Nat got scared. We tried to take photos to capture the experience but only captured our driver's arse really. He was a nice guy but not a man who knew the streets of Edinburgh. Luckily we were able to direct him to York Place and eventually we got there to get seats right at the front (I think they were the last ones left!!) for The Honourable Men of Art.
The HMoA consisted of:
Daniel Kitson - this was my first ever DK experience and it was wonderful. I'd heard many good things about him but seeing him at last was the perfect end to an incredible day (and remains one of the best and most Fringe-y experiences yet). Because Daniel wasn't doing a solo show that year (he was doing 66A Church Road) this was just him larking about really. I knew I was going to like him when he came out with a cup of tea. He did a thing where he mocked as many audience members as possible in a minute. We played charades. Even when he was off-stage he was rarely off-mic and would interject from wherever he was standing. The rest of the HMoA had to finish off his sentences if he stuttered so they'd make him say racist things. What a man! Kitson remains one of my favourite stand ups and one of my favourite people - I love him!
Andy Zaltzman - our third Zaltz of the trip. He is mint. And him and Kitson together are amazingly funny.
Alun Cochrane - I have mixed feelings about Alun Cochrane. I didn't love him on this particular night but I have been impressed by him on other nights. So I don't know! I haven't seen a full solo show as yet.
David O'Doherty - little did we know it then but this was to be the D'OD's year (he won the big award). I enjoyed his stuff (songs on a little piano) but it was Kitson and Zaltzman who made it a night to remember.
And then some sleep.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Charlie's Comedians - B - Byrne, Ed
I've never seen Ed Byrne do a full live show. So everything I say about him could be totally wrong really; I truly think the only way to really judge someone is to see their proper show (as in a whole hour) in real life. However, obviously you can get a vague idea from other things.
I've only seen Ed Byrne once in fact - that seems surprising; I saw him hosting an Amnesty International Stand Up For Freedom gig in 2009. It was at midnight at the end of the rainiest, most horrible day in Edinburgh ever (still brilliant though, obviously!). And Ed was wonderful - dispelling our low moods and really making the night special.
Of course I've seen the old clips of him doing the Alanis Morrisette stuff that he became really well known for (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT1TVSTkAXg). I watched a recent show of his Different Class and wasn't amazed.
However, I still really like him - he used to live with Ross Noble and seems like a really nice person. He's not exactly my sort of thing but I always enjoy him hosting things and he's great on Robin Ince and Josie Long's Utter Shambles (some of my favourite podcasts). I also have a lot of respect for him as he does Robin Ince's Nine Lessons and Carols For Godless People - there's nothing as sexy as a clever, rational man. Having said that I think Ed Byrne is one of those comedians I don't fancy. Though he's lovely! I'm not sure about the name of his new show, Crowd Pleaser, I suppose he'll be doing something with the title though so I wouldn't like to judge too soon!
I've only seen Ed Byrne once in fact - that seems surprising; I saw him hosting an Amnesty International Stand Up For Freedom gig in 2009. It was at midnight at the end of the rainiest, most horrible day in Edinburgh ever (still brilliant though, obviously!). And Ed was wonderful - dispelling our low moods and really making the night special.
Of course I've seen the old clips of him doing the Alanis Morrisette stuff that he became really well known for (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT1TVSTkAXg). I watched a recent show of his Different Class and wasn't amazed.
However, I still really like him - he used to live with Ross Noble and seems like a really nice person. He's not exactly my sort of thing but I always enjoy him hosting things and he's great on Robin Ince and Josie Long's Utter Shambles (some of my favourite podcasts). I also have a lot of respect for him as he does Robin Ince's Nine Lessons and Carols For Godless People - there's nothing as sexy as a clever, rational man. Having said that I think Ed Byrne is one of those comedians I don't fancy. Though he's lovely! I'm not sure about the name of his new show, Crowd Pleaser, I suppose he'll be doing something with the title though so I wouldn't like to judge too soon!
There he is. And here's the wonderful Stewart Lee on the Big Brother Scandal of 2007 (Ed Byrne would probably rather forget that he was the voice of the Carphone Warehouse adverts): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IE0kSZmW6g
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