So today was cheap Tuesday. I'd forgotten that. I really had. So i had to wait in a line to get tickets. The people at the box office were great, they kept us moving and i got tickets for the show i wanted, and cheap, and to what became a sold out show.
Josh Earl is a 27 librarian from Tasmania, who now lives in Northcote, and doesn't drive.
He's not an adult.
Either, according to his list of things, am I.
Interspersing songs and slides, his on the pulse humour is wry and gentle, his manner disarming. He connects well with the crowd, even though there is little audience interaction and he spends most of his time standing behind his guitar.
Josh Earl is XXVII leads us through a musical explanation as why he's not an adult, a definition given to him by a child that he works with. Interspersing tales from his childhood and teenage years, anyone in their 20's will find something to identify with. From jinxed sexual exploration and the moment he was when he found out Kurt Cobain was dead, Josh is a likeable and accessable performer who should be on your list to see this year.
Go if you're a child of the nineties and laugh at references to Happy Pants and Brashes stores. His final song "kids have it easy these days" could have been lifted from a number of conversations i've had with my friends of late, lamenting the fact that although these kids are technically gen Y, they didn't have dial up, so they wouldn't know.
Oh, and be sure not to be drinking anything when he explains why he got engaged. It was perhaps the highlight of my festival to date.
Its still making me chuckle.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
My third night: 10/4/09: Matt Keneally, Daniel Moore, Neil Delamere
So friday night was my first night at the fest with my original fest bud Sarah. Now, she'd had her bag stolen that morning, so was a bit out of it. We'd originally planned to go see Matt, Dan and Adam Rozenbachs, but Adam was sold out, so we reshuffled and ended up with Neil. Which i am eternally thankful for. He was amazing.
Now, we'll start at the start. Matt. Saw him last year, he told me i had to go shoot Britney Spears. It was good. On ball political humour. This year? hmmmm. He had a warm up guy. A warm up guy who was NOT funny. At all. I can't even remember what he talked about or even his name, hjust that he was not funny at all. Matt came out, and it picked up a bit. Starting with a war on Telstra, ending with observations about whether Barak can save us or not. He had some good bits, his observations about the "violence problem in Melbourne" were wry and funny. And you always known what side you're on when it comes to Team Outrage, or Team Calm Down. Matt made me laugh, but not enough to sustain me, or enough to declare it as hilarious.
Sarah and i then walked to The Forum to see Daniel Moore. Or Denial Moore. Here's an interesting thing to note. The Day Planner on the festival website says you can't do a 6pm show followed by a 7:15pm show. You can. You can walk from the Vic to the Forum, and buy the tickets to the forum show, easily. in like 10 minutes. Providing your 6pm show is like an hour long. Ours was 55 minutes. It was easy.
Daniel is in the Carpet room of the Forum. Its cozy. Hold about 30 people. Intimate would be a good way to describe it. There were about 10 people there when i saw Daniel. It was nice. He's nice. And not that pathetic "nice" but a genuine, down to earth, would love to hang out with him, kind of nice. He's a combination of my cousin Phil and Hamish Blake (not that that helps you at all). He has an intriguing approach, using a musician Emma Heeney for background music and the occasional song. It adds gravitas and mood to a show, that's not usually there. Like Matt, Daniel has some good moments and some that are a bit flat. Unlike Matt, Dan comes away likeable and genuine, not a performer. You can see the ADD pouring off him in moments, but thats not a bad thing, it just makes him more accessible.
Go see Daniel. He is honest and engaging and you'll enjoy it.
Finally, after much ruling out of people and over wedges at the Welcome Stranger, Sarah and I saw the word "Irish" and went for it. Neil is in the Council Chambers, which on its own is recommendation enough to see a show. Its an odd venue, stately and with amazing ceilings. You sit in the councellors seats.
Neil has a great show. He uses alot of his audiences stories and lives to weave into his own stories. Don't go if you don't like colourful language, he swears alot, but in an Irish Accent, you don't really notice so much. Stories of being thrown out of places, treating women right, having sex with really tall sweedish women. I laughed alot. Genuine, belly laughs. Most of which came from the approach he took with his audience. It felt like i could see him again and again and it would be a different show based on the audience that was there.
See him. He's the guy i'm pushing this Fest.
On a small note, can i point out to the girls who sat behind me at Neil, it IS NOT OK to take pictures of yourself during a show. Its rude. Like answering the phone rude. Or turning up drunk rude.
Don't do it.
Still on my list this fest:
Tim Minchin
Josh Earl
David O'Doherty
Adam Hills if i can get tickets for my parents and me (oh yeah, he's hardcore)
Now, we'll start at the start. Matt. Saw him last year, he told me i had to go shoot Britney Spears. It was good. On ball political humour. This year? hmmmm. He had a warm up guy. A warm up guy who was NOT funny. At all. I can't even remember what he talked about or even his name, hjust that he was not funny at all. Matt came out, and it picked up a bit. Starting with a war on Telstra, ending with observations about whether Barak can save us or not. He had some good bits, his observations about the "violence problem in Melbourne" were wry and funny. And you always known what side you're on when it comes to Team Outrage, or Team Calm Down. Matt made me laugh, but not enough to sustain me, or enough to declare it as hilarious.
Sarah and i then walked to The Forum to see Daniel Moore. Or Denial Moore. Here's an interesting thing to note. The Day Planner on the festival website says you can't do a 6pm show followed by a 7:15pm show. You can. You can walk from the Vic to the Forum, and buy the tickets to the forum show, easily. in like 10 minutes. Providing your 6pm show is like an hour long. Ours was 55 minutes. It was easy.
Daniel is in the Carpet room of the Forum. Its cozy. Hold about 30 people. Intimate would be a good way to describe it. There were about 10 people there when i saw Daniel. It was nice. He's nice. And not that pathetic "nice" but a genuine, down to earth, would love to hang out with him, kind of nice. He's a combination of my cousin Phil and Hamish Blake (not that that helps you at all). He has an intriguing approach, using a musician Emma Heeney for background music and the occasional song. It adds gravitas and mood to a show, that's not usually there. Like Matt, Daniel has some good moments and some that are a bit flat. Unlike Matt, Dan comes away likeable and genuine, not a performer. You can see the ADD pouring off him in moments, but thats not a bad thing, it just makes him more accessible.
Go see Daniel. He is honest and engaging and you'll enjoy it.
Finally, after much ruling out of people and over wedges at the Welcome Stranger, Sarah and I saw the word "Irish" and went for it. Neil is in the Council Chambers, which on its own is recommendation enough to see a show. Its an odd venue, stately and with amazing ceilings. You sit in the councellors seats.
Neil has a great show. He uses alot of his audiences stories and lives to weave into his own stories. Don't go if you don't like colourful language, he swears alot, but in an Irish Accent, you don't really notice so much. Stories of being thrown out of places, treating women right, having sex with really tall sweedish women. I laughed alot. Genuine, belly laughs. Most of which came from the approach he took with his audience. It felt like i could see him again and again and it would be a different show based on the audience that was there.
See him. He's the guy i'm pushing this Fest.
On a small note, can i point out to the girls who sat behind me at Neil, it IS NOT OK to take pictures of yourself during a show. Its rude. Like answering the phone rude. Or turning up drunk rude.
Don't do it.
Still on my list this fest:
Tim Minchin
Josh Earl
David O'Doherty
Adam Hills if i can get tickets for my parents and me (oh yeah, he's hardcore)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Comedy Fest night 2: 4/3/09: Festival Club at the hifi
I like to go to the festival club at least once a festival. If i can get it when Adam Hills and Jason Byrne are hosting, then thats a bonus.
Yesterday, i went to V fest, and then decided to go to festival club after. Saturday nights this season are being hosted by Adam Hills and Jason Byrne, and they have a weekly guest who does a full show, and then a range of other special Guests. On the bill last night, there was Clare Hooper, Tim Vine, Russell Kane and Randy the puppet. The main performer was american Mario Joyner.
The festival clubs is a unique experience. One that is hard to convey to other people how good it is, unless they're there. Situation humour.
I will say this, i feel so so sorry for Clare Hooper. This is the second time i have seen her in the festival club situation. And (i have to say this), She's just not that funny. She tries, she even probably has the material that is funny.... but maybe in someone else's hands. She just doesn't make me laugh.
Tim Vine is an interesting one. He doesn't do a routine like most people. His is more a series of Dad jokes. One liners. Stuff that is kinda funny to start with, but not hilarious or interesting enough to sustain my interest for a long time. Others must disagree, his shows have been sold out every time i look at the board (and even i can admit that i wanted him to get the pen behind the ear).
Randy the puppet was hilarious. You forgot that he was a puppet and just listened to the stories. Please note, the language isn't for the faint hearted.
But really, the star of this show is Adam and Jason. I could happily sit there and listen to hours of them just talking and being stupid. They connect with each other and the audience well, and are naturally likable and funny guys.
I have got to stop yelling things out in shows though.
Go to the festival club. Check the board to see who's there. But if you go, aim for a Saturday night so you get Adam and Jason.
Yesterday, i went to V fest, and then decided to go to festival club after. Saturday nights this season are being hosted by Adam Hills and Jason Byrne, and they have a weekly guest who does a full show, and then a range of other special Guests. On the bill last night, there was Clare Hooper, Tim Vine, Russell Kane and Randy the puppet. The main performer was american Mario Joyner.
The festival clubs is a unique experience. One that is hard to convey to other people how good it is, unless they're there. Situation humour.
I will say this, i feel so so sorry for Clare Hooper. This is the second time i have seen her in the festival club situation. And (i have to say this), She's just not that funny. She tries, she even probably has the material that is funny.... but maybe in someone else's hands. She just doesn't make me laugh.
Tim Vine is an interesting one. He doesn't do a routine like most people. His is more a series of Dad jokes. One liners. Stuff that is kinda funny to start with, but not hilarious or interesting enough to sustain my interest for a long time. Others must disagree, his shows have been sold out every time i look at the board (and even i can admit that i wanted him to get the pen behind the ear).
Randy the puppet was hilarious. You forgot that he was a puppet and just listened to the stories. Please note, the language isn't for the faint hearted.
But really, the star of this show is Adam and Jason. I could happily sit there and listen to hours of them just talking and being stupid. They connect with each other and the audience well, and are naturally likable and funny guys.
I have got to stop yelling things out in shows though.
Go to the festival club. Check the board to see who's there. But if you go, aim for a Saturday night so you get Adam and Jason.
Comedy Fest night one: 3/4/09 Danny Bhoy
To kick of my comedy fest this year, i spontaneously decided that my friend and i would go to Danny Bhoy. We'd both seen him on previous occasions, and loved him. I had put off seeing him in more recent years, as i do with many comedians, as i don't want to hear old stuff. I'm not like some people. i really like new stuff. I can watch scrubs again and again, but most repeat stand-up shows don't get me the same way they did the first time.
So i waited.
And i was rewarded with just over an hour's new stuff from the very likable Scot. Sitting up the top of the Athenaum, he delievered a wide reaching show based mainly around his journey's around the world on tour. Backed up by his lack of success with women, and the ecxpereinces in rural Australia, I came away from Danny's show wanting to simultaneously give him a hug, find him a girlfriend and sit there for another hour listening to him talk.
Like many Stand-ups, he jumps from one topic to the other, often in the middle of a story, but he, thankfully, went back to finish all of his stories.
While one moment made me laugh till i cried, it wasn't a massively hugely fantastic show. Funny, Yes. Nice, Yes. But did i walk away raving about it like i did last time i saw him? No.
So i waited.
And i was rewarded with just over an hour's new stuff from the very likable Scot. Sitting up the top of the Athenaum, he delievered a wide reaching show based mainly around his journey's around the world on tour. Backed up by his lack of success with women, and the ecxpereinces in rural Australia, I came away from Danny's show wanting to simultaneously give him a hug, find him a girlfriend and sit there for another hour listening to him talk.
Like many Stand-ups, he jumps from one topic to the other, often in the middle of a story, but he, thankfully, went back to finish all of his stories.
While one moment made me laugh till i cried, it wasn't a massively hugely fantastic show. Funny, Yes. Nice, Yes. But did i walk away raving about it like i did last time i saw him? No.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Web site active
The comedy festival website is up and running, allowing you to browse the list of shows for this year.
The physical guide will be available this thursday in the Age.
You can also start dreaming up your 25 word answers for the Funny Tonne, a competition that allows you to see as many shows for the festival as you can, the record being 123, a far cry from my measly 23 from last year.
On my list already?
Josh Earl
Danny Bhoy
Adam hills (whom i'm also buying my parents tickets for)
The physical guide will be available this thursday in the Age.
You can also start dreaming up your 25 word answers for the Funny Tonne, a competition that allows you to see as many shows for the festival as you can, the record being 123, a far cry from my measly 23 from last year.
On my list already?
Josh Earl
Danny Bhoy
Adam hills (whom i'm also buying my parents tickets for)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
09 MCF lineup
There has already been a number of shows announced for the 09 MCF, many you can already buy your tickets for, if you want to plan your life out three months in advanced.
Here's the list of people so far announced on the MCF website
The GALA proudly supporting Oxfam
JUST ANNOUNCED - Allstars Speccy Comedy Supershow on Wednesday 1 April 2009
Tim Minchin
Danny Bhoy
The Great Debate
Dylan Moran, What It Is
Wil Anderson
Adam Hills
Stephen K Amos
Judith Lucy
Dave Hughes
Raw Comedy National Grand Final
Jack Druce
Absolutely Silly Old Buggers
Kent Valentine
Daniel Townes -
Arj Barker
I am Glace Chase
Late Night Impro -
Dylan Moran -
Michael Williams -
Best of Edinburgh Fest
Denise Scott
Celia Pacquola
David Quirk
Chopper's F**kin Bingo With Heath Franklin as Chopper
Ben Lomas
Dave Jory
Idio Clips
David O'Doherty
Mark Watson
Jeff Green
Jason Byrne
Josie Long
Reg D Hunter
Sarah Millican
Andrew Lawrence
Neil Delamere
Des Bishop
Jamie Kilstein
Nina Conti
Go to the MCF website for links to where you can buy tickets. I have already made a list of people i have to see, and people who are on my maybe list.
Have to see:
Tim Minchin
Danny Bhoy
Adam Hills
Still only a maybe see, but high on the maybe (mostly coz i saw them last year)
David O'Doherty
Mark Watson
Judith Lucy
Arj Barker
Dylan Moran
Here's the list of people so far announced on the MCF website
The GALA proudly supporting Oxfam
JUST ANNOUNCED - Allstars Speccy Comedy Supershow on Wednesday 1 April 2009
Tim Minchin
Danny Bhoy
The Great Debate
Dylan Moran, What It Is
Wil Anderson
Adam Hills
Stephen K Amos
Judith Lucy
Dave Hughes
Raw Comedy National Grand Final
Jack Druce
Absolutely Silly Old Buggers
Kent Valentine
Daniel Townes -
Arj Barker
I am Glace Chase
Late Night Impro -
Dylan Moran -
Michael Williams -
Best of Edinburgh Fest
Denise Scott
Celia Pacquola
David Quirk
Chopper's F**kin Bingo With Heath Franklin as Chopper
Ben Lomas
Dave Jory
Idio Clips
David O'Doherty
Mark Watson
Jeff Green
Jason Byrne
Josie Long
Reg D Hunter
Sarah Millican
Andrew Lawrence
Neil Delamere
Des Bishop
Jamie Kilstein
Nina Conti
Go to the MCF website for links to where you can buy tickets. I have already made a list of people i have to see, and people who are on my maybe list.
Have to see:
Tim Minchin
Danny Bhoy
Adam Hills
Still only a maybe see, but high on the maybe (mostly coz i saw them last year)
David O'Doherty
Mark Watson
Judith Lucy
Arj Barker
Dylan Moran
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Doing the Festival Right
I love stand-up comedy. Adore it. And i'm lucky enough to live in Melbourne (Australia), home of one of the best comedy festivals in the world (so i'm told, i haven't been to any other comedy fest to compare it to. Edinburgh is on my list, i'm getting to it). And i'm lucky enough in these "troubled times" or "times of crisis" to work a job that is pretty much as secure as you can get (teaching).
So this means i have the money to go to comedy shows in this years festival.
I begun going to the festival in 2004, when i was 19 and in my second year of uni. The first show i saw was Danny Bhoy, and it was hilarious. It was right before we were overwhelmed with him, before we'd ever heard him utter " Diddly-dee potatoes." It was possibly the best introduction to the festival, and to live stand up, a person could have. Because, of course, it wasn't my first ever intro to standup, we all grew up with the national broadcast of the Gala, and the Montreal Gala and bits on shows like Rove or Letterman. It was just my first intro to Live Standup.
And it was glorious.
I saw three shows in 2004. I don't think i went in 2005, and in 2006 i went to the Uni show (infamous for the intense heckling of Greg Fleet and the beginning of my crush on Charlie Pickering (oh the way that boy says Fallujah) ). 2007 was the year i saw Adam Hills.
Last year was the beginning of my real love of the Comedy Festival, and i have to thank my friend Sarah for opening that door to me. I think before that i went to the shows like a normal person. I picked one or two famous people to see, book 'em and see 'em.
Last year was different.
Last year was briliant.
You see, last year was the first year i was really close to Sarah, and she taught me how to really do the comedy festival.
And it goes a bit like this (go with me even if you think this seems a bit obvious to start with):
Very Early Planning: Start looking and thinking about shows now, April will be here before you know it. And things like the Gala have already sold out, so start looking now. The Comedy Festival website already has a list of Comedians that are performing at this years fest, of which tickets are already available. Remeber the really famous people will sell out quick, especially if they didn't perform last year (like adam hills and danny bhoy).
Early Planning: Get the guide from the Age when it comes out (i'll give you a date when i know it). Get a pen. Circle everyone you think looks interesting. Make a list of everyone you have to see.
Book a few shows: once you have your list of shows book the ones that you have to see.
on the night: on the night of the shows you have booked, go in early. like at 6. Go and look at the board at the town hall. Pick one or two extra shows that you think you might like. Ask the wandering age people for advice. Scam free or discount tickets.
Repeat. repeat the act of going to see one you've booked (or at least want to see) and adding one or two shows. You might find that the ones that you;d never heard of, or didn't plan on seeing turn out to be the best. Like the Great Myspace migration. or the guy who put me in charge of going to shoot Britney Spears (man, i wish i remembered who that guy was).
If you follow this rather straightforward procedure, you'll find yourself seeing like 25 shows in the festival. And you'll get to be in Melbourne on a cool Autumn evening, when the city is full and alive and fun. You'll get coffee from the street vendours, and end up seeing people at the HiFi at midnight for $10 and be there till 4am. and then accost Mark Watson at 3am to get him to finish a story that he didn't finish. Or be waiting outside a tent by the Yarra while a guy in a tux gets you to try and guess the songs that his megaphone plays, and then you later see him put forks up his nose.
So get on board the Comedy Fest. Make myspace friends with comedians and join their mailing lists to know who has shows when (and maybe score a discount).
I'll be bringing you my opinions and reviews of shows, and all the fun in the lead up to the Fest. Coz it is still months away afterall.
-mel
So this means i have the money to go to comedy shows in this years festival.
I begun going to the festival in 2004, when i was 19 and in my second year of uni. The first show i saw was Danny Bhoy, and it was hilarious. It was right before we were overwhelmed with him, before we'd ever heard him utter " Diddly-dee potatoes." It was possibly the best introduction to the festival, and to live stand up, a person could have. Because, of course, it wasn't my first ever intro to standup, we all grew up with the national broadcast of the Gala, and the Montreal Gala and bits on shows like Rove or Letterman. It was just my first intro to Live Standup.
And it was glorious.
I saw three shows in 2004. I don't think i went in 2005, and in 2006 i went to the Uni show (infamous for the intense heckling of Greg Fleet and the beginning of my crush on Charlie Pickering (oh the way that boy says Fallujah) ). 2007 was the year i saw Adam Hills.
Last year was the beginning of my real love of the Comedy Festival, and i have to thank my friend Sarah for opening that door to me. I think before that i went to the shows like a normal person. I picked one or two famous people to see, book 'em and see 'em.
Last year was different.
Last year was briliant.
You see, last year was the first year i was really close to Sarah, and she taught me how to really do the comedy festival.
And it goes a bit like this (go with me even if you think this seems a bit obvious to start with):
Very Early Planning: Start looking and thinking about shows now, April will be here before you know it. And things like the Gala have already sold out, so start looking now. The Comedy Festival website already has a list of Comedians that are performing at this years fest, of which tickets are already available. Remeber the really famous people will sell out quick, especially if they didn't perform last year (like adam hills and danny bhoy).
Early Planning: Get the guide from the Age when it comes out (i'll give you a date when i know it). Get a pen. Circle everyone you think looks interesting. Make a list of everyone you have to see.
Book a few shows: once you have your list of shows book the ones that you have to see.
on the night: on the night of the shows you have booked, go in early. like at 6. Go and look at the board at the town hall. Pick one or two extra shows that you think you might like. Ask the wandering age people for advice. Scam free or discount tickets.
Repeat. repeat the act of going to see one you've booked (or at least want to see) and adding one or two shows. You might find that the ones that you;d never heard of, or didn't plan on seeing turn out to be the best. Like the Great Myspace migration. or the guy who put me in charge of going to shoot Britney Spears (man, i wish i remembered who that guy was).
If you follow this rather straightforward procedure, you'll find yourself seeing like 25 shows in the festival. And you'll get to be in Melbourne on a cool Autumn evening, when the city is full and alive and fun. You'll get coffee from the street vendours, and end up seeing people at the HiFi at midnight for $10 and be there till 4am. and then accost Mark Watson at 3am to get him to finish a story that he didn't finish. Or be waiting outside a tent by the Yarra while a guy in a tux gets you to try and guess the songs that his megaphone plays, and then you later see him put forks up his nose.
So get on board the Comedy Fest. Make myspace friends with comedians and join their mailing lists to know who has shows when (and maybe score a discount).
I'll be bringing you my opinions and reviews of shows, and all the fun in the lead up to the Fest. Coz it is still months away afterall.
-mel
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