Not Really A Palindrome really is it? More of a freaky looking cat.

I had no idea, but apparently today is 01 – 11 – 10 in the US. Always brings a smile to myface. Speaking of Pallindromes, here’s a poem from the fantastic Demetri Martin that is a Pallindrome. Very talented young man he is too (have you not seen his TV show – Important things? – do it now please).

“Dammit I’m mad.
Evil is a deed as I live.
God, am I reviled? I rise, my bed on a sun, I melt.
To be not one man emanating is sad. I piss.
Alas, it is so late. Who stops to help?…
A loss it is alas (sip). I’d assign it a name.
Name not one bottle minus an ode by me:
“Sir, I deliver. I’m a dog”
Evil is a deed as I live.
Dammit I’m mad”

You can read the whole thing here

What Have I been doing? Not a lot – got far too interested in Key, Basden, Wolf, Steffan and the Cowards in general, had another listen to all the fantastic Ianucci ‘Charm Offensive’ stuff (might revisit “on the hour” soon) and watched loads of nature documentaries in HD. Also, planned my new life (like Shaun of the Dead but with less zombies i.e. Shaun.).

In other news, Boing Boing blogged this video, and I don’t know what it is – perhaps the hypnotically beautiful animation, a catchy pop hook or a woman with three tits – but I love this video. Sort of one that goes on in your head only for the lyrics to not quite match up, and so ends up looping as the last line becomes the first line. Still, very good. Enjoy.

Apologies for not posting in a while (last post was in the build up to the festival, though I think you find my suggestions were some of the creme…, including the winners of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, one show which has since transferred to the west end, and a few other crackers..), but things have been getting very busy!

The website will be changing a little in the next few weeks, mostly to give me practice with my coding skillz, but also it will become a new space where I can publish poems and other writings, provide news of upcoming gigs and so on.

Anyway, that isn’t really important and will all be very clear as and when it happens.

But for now, enjoy the rest of the bank holiday and I will hopefully see you in the New Year!

What is it?

Silly sketches and stuff from one of the UK’s top sketch troupes.

Why Should I Care?

They’ve done a pilot for channel four as part of Comedy Lab, and if that went well they may be doing more TV soon. Plus, they’re planning to do 200 sketches in on ehour to break a world record… even if they are hit and miss, thats 100 hit sketches. Can’t say fairer then that!

And they’ll be on the radio 5 pm on the 5th August on Fresh Air! Here’s a video of the first part of their recent TV pilot — yes, yes yes NO!

What is it?

A Chigaco based singer/songwriter who, sings viols and whistles through a plethora of beautiful music.

Why Should I Care?

Each year the Edge Festival goes through an overhaul and tries to make its place in the fringe calendar – but beside the big name acts like David Byrne and te Streets are some hidden gems. Andrew Bird is, I think, the perfect balance between obscurity and brilliance. Though I admit that I have only just discovered him through spotify, his career is four albums strong already and each one is superb. With a sound like his, live performances can be either dull or invigorating, and from what I hear,  Bird’s camp is the latter.

To hear him on spotify, click here.

What is it?

A biography/drama produced by Guy Masterson.

Why Should I Care?

I don’t think there is a single show produced by Guy Masterson that I have seen and not been affected by – his shows are always proffessional , well acted and funny.   But a play based on the life of Eric Morecambe, one of Britain’s most loved comic performers, has an added allure  that has been missing from other Mastersn shows I have seen – for once it is a theme to a Guy Masterson show that I know something about and know I will enjoy before hand.

To book tickets now click here.

The Hotel

What is it?

According to the website it is ‘Installation art meets promenade theatre meets comedy in the boldest show on the Fringe.” What that means is anyone’s guess, but

Why Should I Be Excited?

Though not made by the exact same company as a similar venture to perhaps the best show at last year’s festival ‘The Meeting’, the two I would argue will be closely linked. Both are made by talented individuals, both are somewhere between pretentious site specific theatre and sitcom, but both no doubt are very very funny. And that’s without mentioning it is being directed by former footlight and Mr. Fringe himself, Mark Watson.

To Book Tickets, click here.

Here’s a video of the same sort of guys doing their we need answers show from last years Fringe (and subsequently on commisioned for BBC4)

I couldn’t get it onto the page, but click on here, and check it out, it’s lovely.