Some of this week's performers - (sorry you're not all in -we can only have 5 pics) Phil Buckley. Don Barr. Pedro Stonehouse. Claire Morgan aka Domain Jane and mother. Scott Tyrel.
Another great night! We must have been missed in the two weeks when we were gone, because -by heck- there was a big crowd tonight. Sorry for those standing at the back - we'll try to find some more chairs if we can.
Callum took over all the hosting duties tonight, and as he'd been in Edinburgh checking out the festival, he gave us his impressions of Scotland. Including how their big issue sellers are still fairly obviously drunk, and the impressive levels of threats 'I'll fckn melt yer, yer basser!'
Our own Al Dawes was on first with a set of greatest hits, preparing for an Edinburgh appearance himself in the ' So You Think You're Funny?' competition. Good stuff and good luck!
Next was Pedro Stonehouse. An energetic comic who blagged his way on an already full bill with tales of his many appearances in America. But after desperately lying his way on stage, he changed his mind and with a minute to spare told us he didn't want to do it. 'Too late' declared Al - and Pedro was forced onstage, to not a bad reaction. He got by on his furious energy and the comic value of a plastic sword that made its own sound effects.
Keith -was called 'Flint' in our advert, but apologies to anyone who was expecting the guy from the prodigy - the name was a mistake, we know not from whence it came about. Another first time performer who almost bottled it, but rallied and made a resepectable first performance.
Claire Morgan gave us one of her many comic characters - two actually as we finally got our first ventriloquist act. Stories of trying to stay sane when you live with your mother in New York's finest fish and chip shop. (New York -Noth Sheilds that is.) You lucky punters saw this for the last time before it hit the edinburgh festival.
Don Barr gave a fine performance, explaining how an hum-drum day can be transformed by judicious use of the words 'little did he know.' He also complained about those who make the sign of the cross before they run onto the football pitch - it's just wasting God's time.
The audience comp this week was 'Fisherman's Song Book' entries included- 'the dace of spades' and 'Sitting on Haddock at the bay.' The winner was Regan, a young man so photogenic and 'with it' that Callum had earlier mistaken him for one of the monochrome pop-star prints that now surround the room.
Phil Buckley gave us a great set including a twist on the old chat up line 'Your father must have been a thief - because you look like a pikey.'
Scott Tyrel gave a wonderful finale to the night. Scott's recently returned to the North East so he's a newcomer at LLC, but he's an accomplished performer with a style reminiscent of Eddie Izzard (When he was still good). He pondered why kids feel the need to put on a bad American accent when playing with action figures, and if American kids do the opposite - 'I say Chewbacca, care for a spot of tea?' He finished on a delightful poem about the perils of trying to continue a lovelife with young children in the house.
A night to remember all in all. Hopefully we have turned the corner and it will be full every week, but please god, not fullER - we need some breathing space.
