Friday, March 12, 2010

LLC @ The Dog And Parrot 16th March 2010

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LLC @ The Dog And Parrot 16th March 2010

Another crazy night at the Dog and Parrot with George taking up the MC duties again. George started bantering with a fake Will Smith guy and talked about eating brains, as you do. Up first was Paul Gerrard. Commenting on his physical appearance and growing up, with his usual quick fire punchy jokes, with a mix of old and new. Then back to George and his showering habits. Steve Hesse stepped up to the mic next, his 3rd gig. Religious based material, even comparing Gordon Brown to Jesus. That’s quite a comparison. Wearing a target on his shirt, he talked of what flowed his juices and modern art. Very composed for his 3rd gig. Getting better every time he steps up. Break

After the break was Just another minute, with Carlos, Pete Thompson, Dave Macbeth and Callum Cramb. Lots of random banter from the panel, but Dave stormed it to win in the end with his impressive random twittering banter. Then another break.

George got lots of laughs when he wasn’t even doing material, which will confuse his over analylitic brain for weeks probably. He talked about women again his favourite subject of course. Next on stage was Bill Bradley – overweight he said it not me! Talked ladies and punchy observational stuff, travelled along way for what I think was his first gig, quite Impressive. Steve Robertson next, with his zany humour and his “this happened to me but it didn’t cos it’s a joke” lines. He was wearing.....well I’m not allowed to say I’ve been told off for commenting on acts clothes. Heavy punchlines and parental material.

Finally despite George saying it was the end of the night there was time for one more act a homeless Klingon! Yes you read it right and if you were there you’d probably be as baffled and as lost for words as me. Surreal to say the least and he didn’t even need a mic as he bellowed out his set. Sung us the original Klingon version of John Lennon’s Imagine. Did get a lot of laughs though, for whatever reason and it was certainly different! Another strange end to another odd night at the dog and parrot. Random rules!

Friday, March 05, 2010

LLC Review 9th March 2010

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9th March 2010

Another good size audience this week at LLC and plenty of comedy to be squeezed into the night, first up this week and new to stand-up was Rich Pullen, who discussed the dangers of allowing friends to assign you nicknames. Excellent stage presence from the new comer.

Next up, and just back from a successful comedy competition in London, coming in the runners up spot out of 15 in the final london heat was LLC familiar-face Carlos. Many of you who have seen Carlos before may have wondered, what takes place in the life of Carlos to allow for his dark and twisted style of comedy, this week in a group-therapy style of performance Carlos answered that question.

Closing the first section was Nathan Hudson, covering topics from homosexuality, serial-murder and terminal illnesses, all the classics, but then the theme for tonight was death, so we did ask for it.

First in the second section was Andrew Bremmner, another new kid on the comedy block who was able to share with us the mental trauma he had recently suffered following a conversation with his grandma he had never thought he would have. Good stuff.

Just before the second break was Lee Kyle, with more of his unique comedy style giving the front row this week, who may have missed him a few backs, another opportunity to inspect his underwear. The audience were once again unprepared for such events. Brilliant stuff.

Closing the night was Phil Buckley with 30 mins from his new show ‘Jokes not included’ Phil brought us into the world of the lonely Edinburgh comic, and was delighted with the warm response of our audience this week. He admits it was better than other gigs he has performed in which there was once one single audience member and on another occasion an entire front row of CID officers. Needless to say out of those two circumstances he got the better response from the single audience member.

Plenty more comedy ahead for the rest of March, we hope to see you all again soon.

Long Live Comedy @ The Dog And Parrot 2nd March 2010

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One of the biggest audiences we’ve had this year turned up, I hope it wasn’t to see sitcom legend Gary Colman, because it wasn’t him. It was Newcastle’s very own Gary Colman. George was MC for the second week in a row and you can tell he loves it. Starting off where we meant to go on with kiddie based puns from the audience and random filth. Gary came on first; he didn’t use the mic for some reason even though the room was full, so I confess I couldn’t really hear him. Maybe he’d heard about my reviews. Anyways he talked about being in a ropey play, gay guys in the gym and tried new stuff. Next was Paul Gerrard, with his quick fire pun age and bang on form tonight. The crowd lapped up his one liners. Good gig for Paul. Phil Golder on next...no one told him though so he was a bit startled, still he got his act together all the same and did observational humour, he’s not a rapist or a woman believe it or not. Decent set.

Up after the first break George was eating cake from a crowd member and talking on stage a combination that strangely worked. George tried to chat up a foreign girl, never one to let power go to his head! Next up Sharon Race on statistics and tried and tested stuff. Callum Cramb on next, who’s no stranger to controversy, with his dark surreal one liners, some new stuff and even a comment on the Chile disaster, a good mix of old and new stuff. Chris Errington next, with his off the wall edgy humour. Half of double act Pirate Chat, he talked in destiny child lyrics, games to play with taxi drivers, celebs the menace that is the BFG and what if computer games were films. Clever stuff.

After another break We had two more acts, Steve Hesse a graduate of George’s pre-gig workshop, only his second gig and he struggled a bit to be honest, but it’s early days and he shows great potential. Referenced Wikipedia, Justin Lee Collins, teenager’s counselling adults. George commented “completely mental as you see there”. Steve had a few stutters at the start, but regained it for the end. Like they said to Patrick Swayze, don’t give up the ghost Steve.

Last but not least was Carlos the night’s third skinhead, not that we are a neo-Nazi club or anything. More dark comedy from the one name act, comparing comedy to male fashion. Came on in a women’s coat, but apparently his cross dressing days are behind him now. Lots of one liner’s, some worked some didn’t, some even got big laughs because they spectacularly didn’t work. Get’s accused of being a bit gay but also looking a bit weird. Talked about music of today and he’s no spice girls fan either! He also talked about dead celebs of last year and more jokes based on current media stories. Apparently according to George, he reviews the gig afterwards as well. Here’s hoping he doesn’t review himself because that would be weird. George said he is “amazing” never short of sarcasm.

An Interesting night was had. Come back next week and see Phil Buckley off of the tele for only £2, bargain!

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