I know, I did a little happy dance when I saw that The good press we have been getting seems really unreal - it makes me feel like a fraud and at any moment people are going to find us out!

OK, highlights in May and June include Simon Munnery, Richard Herring, Craig Campbell (again, he was amazing last time) and Tom Wrigglesworth.

I also loved Janice Phayre last time she supported.

Make the effort, why don't ya?

June 10th looks like a great line up, I've seen Mick MC and he was excellent.

I'm a big fan of Ray Peacock, and he was on Russell Howard's Good News Extra last week, which I recommend you watch if you haven't already

Ray Peacock Stand-up

He's very funny, and the levels of mischief described are all true. I once went for lunch with him and he started pulling his trousers down on the way to the toilet.

I went to see Michael Legge trying out some new material last night. He's very funny (always), but I don't think I've ever seen him flustered or nervous before. He should have more confidence in himself, because he's a master of storytelling and his unecessary padding meant he only got through about 3 of the 6 pages he wanted to try out. The stuff we did get to hear was great.

He was followed by a half hour preview of Andrew Collins 'Secret Dancing' Edinburgh show. I have to admit to being wary about seeing him attempt stand-up, and would never have paid to see him perform had Michael not been sharing the bill. My fears were largely unfounded as he's very good at delivering his material on stage, years of broadcasting have given him effortless confidence and he had a few very good punchlines. The titular secret dancing was also very funny, especially with audience participation, though I have to admit I've always assumed everyone is doing that on public transport (I know I am). However, some of the material isn't as strong as his delivery and the show could have easily been retitled 'Andrew Collins: I don't understand Metaphors'.

On the whole, a very enjoyable Sunday evening from two very different comedians. Yes, Collins must finally stop claiming not to be a comedian and embrace his admirable attempt at a career tangent. He deserves congratulating.

EDIT: At Kings Place last week. Jim Tavere was as good as you'd expect, and his musical comedy is beyond compare. Nick Helm did pretty much the same 20 minutes as last time (it's an AMAZING 20 minutes) but to a near indifferent reaction from the crowd. He changed nothing, therefore making it brilliant. Screaming 'cunt' at someone for not joining in a singalong is even funnier to no reaction at all. Go and see him, he's great.

Heheh. Just taken a gander at that linky - very funny guy indeed. I saw Simon Munnery at a recording for Genius a couple of years back and he was very funny too, so I'm very seriously contemplating trekking down for the 6th May show. Plus it's Election Day, which might lend the evening a little added frisson of excitement. Leave work, cast vote, drive, comedy, woot.

I completely forgot I'm going OWTH! on Thursday. No drinkage though. No Money. Boo.

DO IT!

OKAY!

Zoe!

According to a friend, Sarah Millican is stuck in Australia, is Thursday still
going ahead without her then?

No news yet, I'm aware of the situation.

It will go ahead and you will receive details if we have to replace the headliner

Ah okay, cheers!

And Peter Kay's tour begins.

First review:

http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/tour/p/1774...snt_tour/review

Sounds like it's exactly what you;d expect. Same old, same old.

Still, he should get at least 5 more DVD's to release out of this.

Saw Ricky Gervais on his 'Science' tour last night. Generally great stuff, though his stance on not conforming to overly political correctness seems to have gone a bit far and I imagine there were a fair few people who were offended by some of the material. I think this is right at the start of the 'Science' tour though, so I'll be interested to see how it evolves when the DVD comes out.

He's been doing the Science tour quite a long time now, Llams, I saw it towards the end of last year, so I imagine it must have evolved quite a bit since then. I found it very funny but, you're right, some of the jokes did verge over those borderlines a little, even for him! He absolutely knows this, though, and his manner and methods of delivery cleverly allow him to 'get away' with things to a certain extent. He is often like a naughty schoolboy or annoying little brother seeing what he can get away with or what reaction he will provoke but you always get the impression that nothing he says is ever meant it malice or prejudice. Like you said, I would be interested in seeing what makes it to dvd though!

Oh right! I didn't realise it had already been running. He said something to us about it being near the start so some of the jokes would be exclusive to us... but they'd be the shit ones, so I just presumed! Yeah, he's got it quite well worked out with regards to 'getting away' with it, and I think to a large extent he's successful because a majority of his audience would know him well enough to realise that he's not really that malicious, as you say.

Did he do the bit about spiders being ready in all directions at all times at your gig? "Like the fucking Matrix!" And what was with the cum video at the start!

Ross Noble's new tour dates go on sale today, I'm off to see him in December.

I've forsaken 1920s glamour for comedy on Sunday night, since some kindly gent put my name on the door.

Bill Bailey tickets booked.
This'll be the 5th or 6th time I've seen him... you lose count.

Yea! I'd forgotten about that! I have a terrible memory when it comes to exact material, would definitely like to see it again, but I do remember laughing til I was almost crying a couple of times.

Went to see Reg D Hunter last night. Very enjoyable.

Have my biggest gig yet at The Empire tomorrow night with Tony Law headlining. Exciting.

Ooh, best of luck, Rua!

Good luck!

Thanks.

Went well. They want me back for a 20 min support slot in the busier Autumn.

Tony Law was hilarious & a very nice guy too.

Nice work!

I'm off to see Brett and Jemaine tonight! Woot!

Edinburgh Preview Festival, you say?

Two full previews for a tenner?

Including the likes of Greg Davies, Richard Herring and Chris Addison?

Wow!

http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/spoken-word/comedy

Top work there!

As for OWTH!, Davies, Herring, Addison, are all seriously tempting.

Almost definitely going to go for Herring, as I'm up near Skegness when he's doing London. Laavely.

The Liverpool Echo gave us a nice quotable review from the show we did at Baa Bar on Monday

Nice! Well done.

I'm seeing them on Sunday! Ridiculously excited.

I'm seeing them Monday

They were absolutely fab! They were on stage, pretty much non-stop, for almost 2 hours, and did loads of classics as well as a bit of new stuff. I believe they're changing their setlist for each gig, which seems to keep it very fresh and even quite improvised at times (either that or they'd rehearsed their indecision very well!) and the interactions between songs were just hilarious. Brill stuff!

Am I correct in thinking you live in Blackpool melz?

If so, we are performing the zombie show upstairs (I think) at Who on 30th May. Would be good to meet you!

Jack Whitehall is very good live - I wasn't expect him to be half as good as he was.

I'm not the first person to say it, but that boy has a bright future. His stuff about Robert Pattinson (they went to school together) is sublime.

Really?
So far I can't stand him. Will have to take another look.

His delivery is just fantastic - he's an absolute natural on stage.

I'm on the fence - I saw him as a support-ish act back in 2007/8 before he 'hit the big time' and thought he was very good - his Bupa gag still makes me laugh).
But I saw him last year in a similar capacity (bigger venue) and it was almost the same act, only much angrier and splenetic. Not quite as good, neither.

I've only seen him on Mock the Week etc.

Thought the angry/nutty bit might get a bit grating at a normal stand up gig, but maybe not then!

Awesome! I'm there. That's a Sunday, right? As far as I can remember it's pretty cosy up there! Hehe. Let me know what time and if I need to get tickets or anything and I'll definitely come down. I'll even try and bring a few friends!

Flight of the Conchords were amazing last night. It was easily the best comedy gig I have ever been to. They were onstage for 2 and a half hours and included some real surprises, like Bret's karaoke song from series 2. They were on top form and seeing Arj Barker support them was a real treat too.

Here are some piccies (don't scroll down if you are seeing them tonight/tomorrow!!):

Arj Barker was brilliant, I was really pleased they used him in Sugarlumps and Too Many Dicks (On The Dancefloor). We didn't get Brett's kareoke song. There were a couple of songs I could have lived without hearing in place of a couple I'd have rather heard (no Albi the Racist Dragon ), but overall it was well worth it. I really hope they tour again even though they're not continuing with the TV series.

Yeah I heard that last night's set was half an hour shorter than Sunday night's. But at least you got to see them! I have a lot of very jealous and angry friends at the moment.

Looking at set lists for other shows I'm not sure they played any fewer songs, just perhaps less chat.

Yea, the show I saw they came on at 8:45 and finished just after 10.30. Might depend on the venue's curfew time, I don't know? Was disappointed there was no special guest at our show, anyone know what happened to Kristen Schall?

Ash cloud I believe. I thought she'd been replaced by another guy though.

Edit: I've just remembered that we got an impromptu version of Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush (mainly from Jermaine) when people were shouting out requests he thought someone asked for it.

Albi The Racist Dragon was the highlight for me.

Kristen Schall was meant to have been replaced by Eugene Mirman, wonder what happened there?

Yea, Eugene was there but just did a short support slot, which was good but he wasn't actually involved in their set or anything. Perhaps that was it. Just didn't really seem 'special' enough I suppose.

Oh Good Lord

MP turned comedian. Not good on paper, but who knows. Doing after dinner speeches and taking on Paxman isn't necessarily a sign someone can do stand up.

I repeat. Oh. Good. Lord.