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Just got back from seeing Phil Nichol at the Comedy Store...
...by accident.
So, we originally went into London to see Phil at the First Direct Dialogue Festival. Less than an hour before the show, he tweeted me (! -- he doesn't really @reply people, but I'd tweeted to say we were going and tagged him in it) to let me know it had been cancelled. We went to find the venue anyway, which in itself was hidden in a way which left us really confused, to see what was going on, and someone who worked in another part of the building said they hadn't sold enough tickets, so it had been called off.
At a loss for what to do, and not wanting to come all the way back to Brighton immediately, we decided to head down to Leicester Square and see if there was anyone giving out flyers for comedy nights (there usually is). By a massive, massive fluke, it turned out that Phil was also performing at the Comedy Store (as far as we can tell, he was aiming to do three, if not four separate shows over at least two, possibly three venues, tonight, because he's back on for the 11pm show and ran out of the venue with his guitar as soon as we'd got outside, apparently going somewhere).
We talked to the bouncer outside and by total luck, managed to get the last two tickets, which someone had left on the door for resale. We got in at the end of the first act, and got to see Jeff Innocent and the truly awesome Doc Brown before Phil came on.
He was absolutely brilliant. Some familiar material from older shows we'd seen before on YouTube and clips on TV, but live it brings a completely different feel to it. There was a point where he chased a man out of the room because he was going to the toilet during the show, and then when he came back, Phil climbed on his chair, sang him a song and put his crotch in his face. The man, brilliantly, started to undo Phil's jeans in response. By the end of the gig we'd all seen his rainbow-striped banana hammock, but after the dream sequence in Holy Flying Circus, I suppose it's a bit tame, all things considered.
I was amazed by his ability to get a room full of Brits to sing along to The Only Gay Eskimo. In fact, he got a retired (?) policeman who was there with his wife, daughter and son-in-law to get up on stage and sing a chorus solo. It was bonkers. But brilliant. And hilarious. And totally worth the fucking around with the Dialogue Festival.
All in all, an awesome day. Would totally go to see him live again.
Also, he looks rather attractive with a beard.
So, we originally went into London to see Phil at the First Direct Dialogue Festival. Less than an hour before the show, he tweeted me (! -- he doesn't really @reply people, but I'd tweeted to say we were going and tagged him in it) to let me know it had been cancelled. We went to find the venue anyway, which in itself was hidden in a way which left us really confused, to see what was going on, and someone who worked in another part of the building said they hadn't sold enough tickets, so it had been called off.
At a loss for what to do, and not wanting to come all the way back to Brighton immediately, we decided to head down to Leicester Square and see if there was anyone giving out flyers for comedy nights (there usually is). By a massive, massive fluke, it turned out that Phil was also performing at the Comedy Store (as far as we can tell, he was aiming to do three, if not four separate shows over at least two, possibly three venues, tonight, because he's back on for the 11pm show and ran out of the venue with his guitar as soon as we'd got outside, apparently going somewhere).
We talked to the bouncer outside and by total luck, managed to get the last two tickets, which someone had left on the door for resale. We got in at the end of the first act, and got to see Jeff Innocent and the truly awesome Doc Brown before Phil came on.
He was absolutely brilliant. Some familiar material from older shows we'd seen before on YouTube and clips on TV, but live it brings a completely different feel to it. There was a point where he chased a man out of the room because he was going to the toilet during the show, and then when he came back, Phil climbed on his chair, sang him a song and put his crotch in his face. The man, brilliantly, started to undo Phil's jeans in response. By the end of the gig we'd all seen his rainbow-striped banana hammock, but after the dream sequence in Holy Flying Circus, I suppose it's a bit tame, all things considered.
I was amazed by his ability to get a room full of Brits to sing along to The Only Gay Eskimo. In fact, he got a retired (?) policeman who was there with his wife, daughter and son-in-law to get up on stage and sing a chorus solo. It was bonkers. But brilliant. And hilarious. And totally worth the fucking around with the Dialogue Festival.
All in all, an awesome day. Would totally go to see him live again.
Also, he looks rather attractive with a beard.
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He had a beard that time too. Time before when I saw him he had been clean shaven and considerably skinnier!
Wish I had known you were in London!
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He does like to writhe around and pull his t-shirt up or drop his trousers, though. It's not the most intellectual material in the world, but I like short, chubby blokes, so... Not usually ones in their late-ish forties, admittedly. He definitely has a middle-aged belly now, but that's actually part of the appeal for me. TUMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIES!
Either he gets through a lot of toxic marriages, or he's full of shit, though. I know all comedians employ hyperbole to flesh out or humanise their material, but he was doing the same lead in to the Bitter Song in 2006 that he's doing now.
I'd like to see more of his rarer material, actually; I've heard when he does hour-long shows he has some great stuff, but a lot of what I saw tonight I know he's been doing for at LEAST half a decade.
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Comedians can't really do that much experimental stuff at paid gigs. Too risky. Maybe we can find out when the next Old Rope he is going to be performing at and go and see that. Or I could book him for my new night and tell him specifically to do new stuff and mess around!
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I'm actually still quite touched that he bothered to tweet me personally and let me know it had been cancelled, but then, I don't think he gets that much Twitter traffic. Seems like a really nice guy, though.
Mental, but nice.
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man, i haven't been to any comedy in AGES. disgraceful.
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Will keep an eye open and let you know if we hear anything - maybe we could meet up for a drink and a giggle when he's on.
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