It was the hangover show. Some 40 odd people came to see our tuesday night extravaganza.
Al Dawes opened the show, displaying his love for the ale with a series of tales of drunken and hungover stupidity, and doing his damndest to warm up the lovely crowd.
The first section included Dave Howarth, who was interrupted a few times by the headliner, and lead with the interesting tactic of taking the piss out of the town he was visiting. A nice set though, and he valiantly did hangover material! The theme took off!
Ian Smith was up next, cute little thing. He's from goole, and he likes it. A little bit. Leading off with a joke about Downs syndrome, which he pulled off well, he pushed the envelope and won.
The second section included Pete Thompson as MC, and he introduced:
Former Bobby Richard Lakin, his material unsurprisingly was that of what went on when he was in the force. Waltzing around the stage, he told us all about the vindictive nature of your average bored policeman, and the embarrassing badges they wear.
Local promoter Neil Magee followed on, and did a short but very snappy set, full of gags. He was the first to really get the crowd going, and he really seemed to enjoy himself.
The third section had Callum Cramb in charge, former plonky and man with plenty tales of hangovers. The theme went well.
Carl Hutchinson came on to do one of his first ever gigs, and the crowd gave him a lot of support. He marvelled at the odd boasting of newcastle drinkers.
John Scott closed the night for us with a great 20 minutes of material, with liberal use of the 'c' word, which he assures us is just punctuation where he comes from. John took us to the middle east, and back, the british legion. A great performance from an LLC regular, and you get all this for just £2.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
21st Oct - A Scott In Newcastle
‘Among the top five new comic talents in Scotland’ - The Guardian
‘A grungy mix of Billy Connolly and Aragon, never hits a dry patch, never puts a foot wrong!’ Evening News.
See... he is good. But Al and Pete missed the show and no one else could be arsed to write a review.
If you saw the show, and can be arsed to write a review, please add it as a comment to this post.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
20th Oct - A brief history of Scotland
Vladimir McTavish arrived on stage eventually to the strains of the proclaimers, with an expectant air from the audience. It seems he has been mucked around a little - we all thought he was starting at 8:30, but some of the festival publicity stated 9, and one girl even saw it advertised as 7:30! Still, that's nothing compared to the soccer themed night the day before. In the centre of Newcastle, on the same night as a Newcastle United european game, which was at home, and on the telly. Such are the vagiaries of promotion.
Despite the truncated start to the evening, Vlad took us on a tour of Scotland, from ancient times to present day political scandals, and stopping in to Newcastle for a pint. If it wasn't for the thick coating of gags, you could almost call it educational! The insights of a Scotsman, enjoying the absurdities of his own culture, and taking us on a tour while he does it. This was his sold out Edinburgh show from 2005, and it won plenty of critical acclaim.
It most likely he won't get much aclaim this time, but that is nothing to do with the performance. There was a reviewer in, and he was a complete tool. Scrounging cigarettes from the Students, and oozing twat, he didn't really endear himself to anyone. He left after Vladimir McTavish, maybe he knew what was coming next...
Bob Doolaly, unimpressed by having to miss the football the night before, came back onto stage to have another chat. Sinking vodka as if it was water, and carving the long departed reviewer to pieces with his very Scots brand of wit (he was a c**t!), I feel warm inside that he considers me a close personal friend of his. Some great tales of his friends in and out of football were dished out with inebriated vigour. It is an act, but it takes the smallest jump of faith to imagine him in the dugout. An old fashioned drunk idiot. The crowd adored him.
Despite the truncated start to the evening, Vlad took us on a tour of Scotland, from ancient times to present day political scandals, and stopping in to Newcastle for a pint. If it wasn't for the thick coating of gags, you could almost call it educational! The insights of a Scotsman, enjoying the absurdities of his own culture, and taking us on a tour while he does it. This was his sold out Edinburgh show from 2005, and it won plenty of critical acclaim.
It most likely he won't get much aclaim this time, but that is nothing to do with the performance. There was a reviewer in, and he was a complete tool. Scrounging cigarettes from the Students, and oozing twat, he didn't really endear himself to anyone. He left after Vladimir McTavish, maybe he knew what was coming next...
Bob Doolaly, unimpressed by having to miss the football the night before, came back onto stage to have another chat. Sinking vodka as if it was water, and carving the long departed reviewer to pieces with his very Scots brand of wit (he was a c**t!), I feel warm inside that he considers me a close personal friend of his. Some great tales of his friends in and out of football were dished out with inebriated vigour. It is an act, but it takes the smallest jump of faith to imagine him in the dugout. An old fashioned drunk idiot. The crowd adored him.
19th Oct - Bob Doolally's Soccer Balls
Bob Doolally, comic creation of Paul Sneddon, is one of Scotlands greatest player managers. He knows them all- name a player and you'll find he was 'a close personal friend' though 'sadly dead now.' This was the show for the football fans. Sadly, they were all out watching football- so Bob didn't have the audience he deserved. Still it was a great night, and even the non football fans loved it- i didn't get all of the references to teams and players, but it didn't stop me laughing all the time. An hour where Bob gets through 3 litres of vodka and enough expletives to fill an alternative dictionary, and still manages to discuss, footy, life, his 17 wives, and the smoking ban and drinking.
"They say you should have 18 units a week, fair enough... a bottle of wine? That's 1 unit, isn't it?"
Thursday, October 19, 2006
18th Oct - The One and a Half Man Show
Well, it started that way, but thanks to broken trains and a well connected headliner, this became Three Men and a Little Lady.
Another warm full room, albeit with a gobby bunch of students at the front. You wonder if they had ever been let out before.
The 'half' man of the show was Chris Martin, but he got stuck in the pennines and didn't get there until late, so the night was augmented by Stephan Peddie's mate...
Susan Calman was introduced by Al Dawes, and ripped into an unsuspecting crowd with some fine chat, aggressive but still friendly and quickly finding out who the troublemakers were. An incredibly confident performer who bought such presence to the stage that the night almost peaked too early. As a last minute addition, the crowd got excellent value for money.
Susan had to run around the corner to another night she was doing, and Chris was still on a train, so to try and calm the crowd, Al Dawes went back on stage, and reprised some of his show from the previous night. This was augmented by his insistance on throwing himself to the floor. He hobbled off the stage to welcoming cheers for...
A very out of breath Chris Martin charged onto stage, full of anger against the trans-pennine express. Chris is a story teller, calling fancy from all manner of directions and not light on the gags. Fresh from an Edinburgh run, his style and delivery were top class.
Finally, after some more falling over from Al Dawes, on came the big man of north east comedy...
Stephan Peddie eventually made it to the stage through the crowd. Fun and frolics with a dark edge from Steph caused the whole range of responses. The dangerous world of killingworth was opened up for all to see. It was like funny fireworks, with as many oohs and aahs as ha-ha-haa's.
Another warm full room, albeit with a gobby bunch of students at the front. You wonder if they had ever been let out before.
The 'half' man of the show was Chris Martin, but he got stuck in the pennines and didn't get there until late, so the night was augmented by Stephan Peddie's mate...
Susan Calman was introduced by Al Dawes, and ripped into an unsuspecting crowd with some fine chat, aggressive but still friendly and quickly finding out who the troublemakers were. An incredibly confident performer who bought such presence to the stage that the night almost peaked too early. As a last minute addition, the crowd got excellent value for money.
Susan had to run around the corner to another night she was doing, and Chris was still on a train, so to try and calm the crowd, Al Dawes went back on stage, and reprised some of his show from the previous night. This was augmented by his insistance on throwing himself to the floor. He hobbled off the stage to welcoming cheers for...
A very out of breath Chris Martin charged onto stage, full of anger against the trans-pennine express. Chris is a story teller, calling fancy from all manner of directions and not light on the gags. Fresh from an Edinburgh run, his style and delivery were top class.
Finally, after some more falling over from Al Dawes, on came the big man of north east comedy...
Stephan Peddie eventually made it to the stage through the crowd. Fun and frolics with a dark edge from Steph caused the whole range of responses. The dangerous world of killingworth was opened up for all to see. It was like funny fireworks, with as many oohs and aahs as ha-ha-haa's.
17th Oct - The Best of Long Live Comedy
It was a great night in the Dog and Parrot, and a chance for regular tuesday visitors to see us do material that we take around the country, which is a hell of a lot better than the normal 'this is what I wrote this week' material that you get.
With the room bursting at the seams, and a warm friendly crowd, you knew an hour before it even started that the night would be a good one.
Callum Cramb opened the night, managing to weave his material into conversations with the crowd. Memories of childhood fears in an asian community and a genuine love for the charver underclass pepper his set.
Pete Thompson was next up, with a glitter ball that he spent all weekend making. He started strong with a song about how much he loves the laydeeez, and finished with a poetic lesson in scrabble. Inbetween any observers from Manchester will have recognised his 'Superb set' (as described by the Frog and Bucket) from Beat the Frog a few weeks back - where he won with style.
Al Dawes closed the night, a southerner lost in the north where he neither understands, nor is understood. He told tales of looking for love, finding it, and deciding he was better off without. And there was pipe-based philosophy.
A strong opening to the Comedy Festival Week in the Dog and Parrot, may it go from strength to strength.
With the room bursting at the seams, and a warm friendly crowd, you knew an hour before it even started that the night would be a good one.
Callum Cramb opened the night, managing to weave his material into conversations with the crowd. Memories of childhood fears in an asian community and a genuine love for the charver underclass pepper his set.
Pete Thompson was next up, with a glitter ball that he spent all weekend making. He started strong with a song about how much he loves the laydeeez, and finished with a poetic lesson in scrabble. Inbetween any observers from Manchester will have recognised his 'Superb set' (as described by the Frog and Bucket) from Beat the Frog a few weeks back - where he won with style.
Al Dawes closed the night, a southerner lost in the north where he neither understands, nor is understood. He told tales of looking for love, finding it, and deciding he was better off without. And there was pipe-based philosophy.
A strong opening to the Comedy Festival Week in the Dog and Parrot, may it go from strength to strength.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
3rd October - Messing about in boats
Al tries a new style, Julie Dunstone on stage, guest compere James Christopher and the Scarborough visitors in full - Dave McCue, Julie and Dave Glover.
A return to the nice sized crowds we expect at Long Live Comedy saw an invasion from Scarborough. Lovely town, but the fact that they have a sea life centre made us feel a little competitive.
True to form, even though we have a theme every week (this weeks was messing about in boats), only a couple of people did anything boat themed. But that's fine, it won't stop us.
The show started with Guest Compere James Christopher, warming up for his own show which starts next week in the Black Swan in York. The comedy underground movement grows. Come the revolution etc etc. James has come up with a novel way of dealing with hecklers - he shoots them. It somewhat took the edge off when he had his 'bullets' quietly returned to him. Not so much ouch as awww.
Dave McCue opened the night, with some very informative tales of the secret danish plot to take over the north east. Salty dogs! Lovely guy, and he started off the night very well, with charm and no shortage of punchlines.
Next up Dave Glover, big lad, acres of comedy hidden around his ample beshirted body. Driving tales abounded, and one of the funniest spiderman lines I ever heard.
Callum Cramb compered the second section, chatting amiably with the crowd, and being constantly interrupted by a drunk man who wanted us to 'worship cheeses'. He apparently came close to wetting himself, sadly that was nothing to do with the comedy.
Pete Thompson entertained us with sporting tales of an Oxbridge Cox and a short extract from Wind in the Willows, where Satan sits with a baby otter between his feet whilst playing the pipes. Culture as well as comedy you see.
Julie Dunstone was next with a short set about fear of holidays and the inner workings of the male mind. She said after that she wasn't sure how her material would work with a 'young' crowd. She needn't have worried, it was a lovely punchy set with plenty to laugh about.
Al Dawes was in charge of the final section, and the big competition reveal. Though his Britney Spears impression was off key, he looked lovely with bunches. And went camp when he was buying cigarettes. Oooh, he likes them smooth.
Finishing the night was Scott Tyrell, a favourite of ours, who did plenty of new material about lord of the rings, and a classic story about prisoners sharing a moment of intimacy.
The competition was 'Sailors Songbook (or film guide or tv guide)', so you had to pick a pun with a nautical theme. Coming close was 'The Oars Whisperer', but the winner was 'The Lost Bouys'. It took a while for the crowd to get it, but get it they did.
A return to the nice sized crowds we expect at Long Live Comedy saw an invasion from Scarborough. Lovely town, but the fact that they have a sea life centre made us feel a little competitive.
True to form, even though we have a theme every week (this weeks was messing about in boats), only a couple of people did anything boat themed. But that's fine, it won't stop us.
The show started with Guest Compere James Christopher, warming up for his own show which starts next week in the Black Swan in York. The comedy underground movement grows. Come the revolution etc etc. James has come up with a novel way of dealing with hecklers - he shoots them. It somewhat took the edge off when he had his 'bullets' quietly returned to him. Not so much ouch as awww.
Dave McCue opened the night, with some very informative tales of the secret danish plot to take over the north east. Salty dogs! Lovely guy, and he started off the night very well, with charm and no shortage of punchlines.
Next up Dave Glover, big lad, acres of comedy hidden around his ample beshirted body. Driving tales abounded, and one of the funniest spiderman lines I ever heard.
Callum Cramb compered the second section, chatting amiably with the crowd, and being constantly interrupted by a drunk man who wanted us to 'worship cheeses'. He apparently came close to wetting himself, sadly that was nothing to do with the comedy.
Pete Thompson entertained us with sporting tales of an Oxbridge Cox and a short extract from Wind in the Willows, where Satan sits with a baby otter between his feet whilst playing the pipes. Culture as well as comedy you see.
Julie Dunstone was next with a short set about fear of holidays and the inner workings of the male mind. She said after that she wasn't sure how her material would work with a 'young' crowd. She needn't have worried, it was a lovely punchy set with plenty to laugh about.
Al Dawes was in charge of the final section, and the big competition reveal. Though his Britney Spears impression was off key, he looked lovely with bunches. And went camp when he was buying cigarettes. Oooh, he likes them smooth.
Finishing the night was Scott Tyrell, a favourite of ours, who did plenty of new material about lord of the rings, and a classic story about prisoners sharing a moment of intimacy.
The competition was 'Sailors Songbook (or film guide or tv guide)', so you had to pick a pun with a nautical theme. Coming close was 'The Oars Whisperer', but the winner was 'The Lost Bouys'. It took a while for the crowd to get it, but get it they did.
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