Bonus Post: Barry and Stuart awesomeness!

Because it's April Fool's Day tomorrow I thought I would post an explanation of one of Barry and Stuart's online tricks. Try this on someone you know! If you go to www.bbc.co.uk/barryandstuart you'll find the trick itself.

A Brief History of Magic

Ok, the title is a little bit of a lie, it isn't about all of magic, but my history with magic. I wanted to call the post that because of The Big Pinks album! Anyway, I have mentioned why I love magic, but not really how I got into it. So, here we go.

Youtube post- Russell Howard

Lazy post as I've been busy. Here's a video from Mock the Week of Russell Howard discussing human behaviour.

People I generally like- Charlie Brooker

An admittedly late post for me, but I have been busy today attending job workshop things and filling out forms. Ho hum. Anyway, I really wanted to write about why I think Charlie Brooker kicks arse!

Barry and Stuart, Powered By Demons, Soho Theatre, 27/3/2010

Last night I saw the brilliant Barry and Stuart and now I'm going to attempt to review it.

Youtube post- Charlie Brooker

I'm still feeling lazy and uncreative but I wanted to do something to do with Charlie Brooker, so I'm posting his awesome Newswipe section on How to Report the News. I am definitely doing a proper post as I'm seeing Barry and Stuart tonight, so excited. Anyway, here's the video:

Youtube post- Jack Whitehall

Feeling rather lazy today, not feeling that well, so keeping post simple by posting a video up of Jack Whitehall from Mock the Week

Youtube post- Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala 2010

I saw Editors last night and they were brilliant (fire! confetti!). I'm not reviewing the gig, as I find trying to explain why I like bands really difficult and they'll be reviews elsewhere probably. So, as I'm tired I am keeping it simple and posting a couple of videos from the Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala that happen a few days ago and had a few brilliant comedians. 


Here's Sarah Millican's set:


Jon Richardson:



And Andrew O'Neill:



These videos are fab and they all have more videos online.

Up The Creek

Continuing my look at various venues that I enjoyed attending gigs at, I'm looking at my local venue Up The Creek. It is fairly large for a comedy venue at around 300 and has its own restaurant. I like it because it has a good atmosphere generally. They get good acts on regularly and I have seen Edinburgh previews from Rhod Gilbert and Stephen K Amos. My favourite night is Sunday Special, as they tend to get the best acts and the audience are generally chill. On Fridays and Saturdays you can get quite rowdy people in, a lot of hen and stag dos, which can be exasperating. However, I still like the venue, especially as I can walk or just get a bus, which is unlike any of the other venues I have mentioned here. If you're around Greenwich, check it out, especially as they have events on Thursday too.  

Youtube post- Russell Kane

Because I'm feeling crap and couldn't actually see the recording of Rhod's show (Damn SRO for over booking by a ridiculous amount- although they have promised priority tickets to see other shows inc Mock the Week which I adore, sliver lining), I've had to change what I'm writing about. I'm posting videos of Russell Kane doing Live at the Apollo.

Youtube post- David Mitchell

I had to post this video which is a collection of David Mitchell's rants on various programmes as they are just brilliant, accurate and most of all funny.

People I generally like- Richard Herring

Completing my double bill of these blogs, I'm now going to discuss why I like Richard Herring and how I got into him, as that is easier to pin point to me. I won't list all of his achievements as he's being doing comedy since before I was born, so there would be a lot to discuss. However, as well as being an Edinburgh stalwart, he has also written two books with a third to be published, done radio, TV and been a podcast revolutionary, doing both Collings and Herrin and As It Occurs To Me. So that's partly why he is awesome, we'll get on to what else after I have briefly looked at how I got into him.

People I generally like- Mark Watson

I thought I would start a little, probably irregular, series about people I like and why. I know these things do come out in the blog anyway, but some people I won't always be able to talk about regularly as I won't be seeing them live for a while and they have done so much stuff that it just won't get mentioned. This is certainly the case with Mark, which is why I'm starting with him.

Youtube post- Richard Herring

I was going to do a proper post about how I got into Richard Herring and why I like him but I've been out and started to feel ill, so I'm posting a video of him pwning a heckler instead

Youtube post- Pete Firman

This is much a lazy post today, I'm just putting up a video of Pete Firman, because he is pretty awesome. I'll hopefully have better ideas tomorrow.

Etcetera Theatre

I want to continue my look at various venues that I enjoy attending by writing about the Etcetera Theatre. It is above the Oxford Arms in Camden and is the smallest pub theatre in London. It is such a lovely place. It is its intimacy that really makes it. It can only accommodate 42 people and it really works for seeing fringe theatre and magic. I've seen Barry and Stuart there twice and it has really worked for them as you can escape into their world, which would be harder in larger venues. The pub below is really busy and quite noisy, which can be a problem as I found out when attending a preview of B&S's Seance show, but overall it is a nice venue to see comedy and theatre at and if you can go there do.  

Youtube post- Mark Watson

After yesterdays review blog, which was actually read by Chris and was lovely about it, adding to his awesomeness, I'm just posting a video. Mark Watson is a rather good comedian and I have had the good fortune in seeing him live a few times as well as to recordings of his TV shows. I'll do a proper post about him at another point as he has done so much for someone who has just recently turned 30, so I'll post a video of some of his stand up.

Chris Cox, Mind Over Patter, The Pleasance Theatre Islington, 14/3/2010

Last night I saw Chris Cox and his show Mind Over Patter.

Youtube post- Chris Cox

I'm seeing Chris Cox tonight, so I thought I would post a video showing his awesomeness.

Review tomorrow

Videos that are not specifically youtube clips but funny

I'm going to post links to cool videos from BBC Comedy Extra website, as I was having a bit of a binge last night and loving it. I won't embed as there are too many.

Why I love...The Now Show

Yay, I have managed to post today. Uber busy day, wasn't sure I was going to blog but here we are.
As it is The Now Show day today, I thought I'd do look at why it is awesome. 
It is funny, that much is obvious, but it also looks at news stories properly, taking the facts apart and getting more of the truth out and providing a different point of view from other programmes.
Marcus Bridgestocke is amazingly funny, cutting, angry but still maintains logic. Jon Holmes also dissects news stories expertly, Mitch Benn makes brilliant songs and Hugh Dennis and Steve Punt are great.
It's currently on Fridays at 6:30 PM, so check it out!

Youtube post- Ali Cook

Another busy day means lazy, slightly late post. I decided that I would post up some videos of Ali Cook, as he is cool. I'm posting The Enchanter as it is very funny and shows his magic skills off.

International Day of Awesomeness: Barry and Stuart

I found out that it was the International Day of Awesomeness (decided on as it is Chuck Norris's Birthday) and decided I would do a post on some people I found awesome, as the page of this day suggests. So I'm going to write about why I think Barry and Stuart are awesome.

Hen and Chickens

Ok, I was rubbish yesterday and didn't post. Combination of getting hair cut, getting back later than expected and having severe ankle pain caused me not to blog. Anyway, to make up for it, I'll do a double post today. First, I'll talk about one of my favourite venues.

The Hen and Chickens is a small pub theatre in Islington. The feel of the pub is comfortable and although it can get busy, it is not as insane as other pubs. The prices of the drinks are ok considering it is a London independent pub.

Theatre itself is a common venue for Edinburgh previews, as it is quite small, 54 people maximum. Frankie Boyle regularly practises his new material there for example. I have been there three times and love it. It is such a comfortable venue and staff are very friendly. The box office guy recognises me and my sister the last time we were there. The general audience that attends are also interesting. I have only seen magic there, and it is so funny the reaction of people to the tricks. I am seeing Barry and Stuart's new show there next and I cannot wait to see how people deal with the darkness of it all.

I'll do another post later

Youtube post- Rhod Gilbert

My brain can't think of anything interesting to write about today, it will be back again tomorrow, so I'm going with Youtube video. Anyway, I had an exciting weekend and more to come (I have actually booked to see Barry and Stuart later this month and in April, I am addicted!). I wanted to post about a comedian, and I decided I would look at Rhod Gilbert. I am on purposely avoiding his big video on Youtube, you can find that easily, and instead look at his most recent appearance on Live at the Apollo. Enjoy!

Barry and Stuart, Séance Show (preview), Etcetera Theatre, 6/3/2010

So, I saw Barry and Stuart last night and will now attempt to review the show.

Youtube post- Barry and Stuart

As it is a.) a Saturday and b.) I'm going out tonight and want to chill the rest of the day, I decided that I would keep today's post simple. I am therefore going to post a video of the mad fabulous Barry and Stuart, as I am seeing them tonight and am dead excited. I've chosen a video of their older tricks as I'm seeing brand new ones tonight. It's from a show Music Hall Meltdown, which was part of BBC4's Edwardian season a few years ago. Enjoy!

Mah favourite Podcasts

Today I felt like I wanted to talk about some of my favourite podcasts. I am avoiding the BBC ones that are just the best bits from their shows, as I'll end up talking about the shows in general later on. So, I'll focus on podcasts that are made for the internet.

Piff the Magic Dragon, Pifftacular, Canal Cafe Theatre, 24/2/2010

Finally I have gotten around to write another blog post. I have decided to review the most recent comedy show I have attended.

Finally an intro!

Finally, I have decided to post a blog. I generally find blogs hard to sustain, but don't go away! I hopefully found something that I can regularly post about. Rather than look at my personal life, I want to look at the entertainment I enjoy. I realised that I can write about all the things that I am passionate about and review things I have been to. My main loves are music and comedy, but I'll probably mention things I've watched on TV or read occasionally.It won't just be reviews but also posts about why I love things and a bit about how I got into them.

Although I've said this isn't about me personally, I wanted to mention a little about me to give you an idea about who is the person writing this stuff. I'm 22 years old, recent graduate and live in South East London within easy reach of the West End so I can go to gigs often. I won't mention my likes and dislikes here, hopefully that will come out over time.

I'll do a proper post tomorrow of a gig I went to recently.