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  • NOW.. ONTO THE COMEDY
  • HUGS ACHIEVED
  • CONTACT
Hugging Comedians

now.. onto the comedy

Crab Lab Comedy, 25 January 2017

1/25/2017

 
In the lead up to the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), get in touch if you want your MICF show reviewed or if you want to sit down for a chat/interview about your show! Get in contact on Facebook, Twitter or through the website.
 
If you love comedy and you live in or are passing through Melbourne, you have to visit Crab Lab Comedy. The room consistently draws good numbers, which creates a great atmosphere for stand up. Seating is at a premium and I highly recommended you get there before 8pm to secure a seat for the 8:30pm kickoff. If you miss out on a seat, there’s still space to grab a drink and settle in for a great night of comedy.
 
With a loaded line up on 25 January, we saw (in order of performance) Ben Lomas (MC), Demi Lardner, Geraldine Hickey, Luke McGregor, Dane Simpson, Ben Knight, Fiona O’Loughlin, Clinton Haines, Danielle Walker and Cameron James. With no ‘standout’ performance in a fantastic 2 hours of comedy, below are some highlights and comments about the evening.
 
Ben Lomas kicked off the night as our MC with a solid and well-rehearsed opener. He delivered his set with more confidence and enthusiasm that I have seen previously, including an excellent moment of audience interaction. Ben is a passionate guy and he is particularly entertaining when he arcs up! Cameron James delivered a similarly strong performance, but in contrast he appears to perform best when he keeps his cool. He had crafted his set well and maintained a comedic flow as he covered some lighter issues about growing up.
 
The charming Ben Knight tried to be divisive with his new song but he ended up just bringing the audience along for a sing’a’long. He seems to get a little too caught up in perceived audience reactions (which may all be for show) but when he focuses on the comedy, he nails it (even in the face of technical issues). 
 
It takes a lot of confidence to attempt Clinton Haines’ comedy style. Clinton appears to relish in the awkward and the bizarre. I struggle to find this type of humour particularly funny, rather I take the enjoyment out of the reactions that it draws. In a more traditional comedy style, Danielle Walker also appears to enjoy juxtaposing her apparent inoffensive presence with unexpected content from the Cosmo ‘sealed section’ to draw an audience reaction. 
 
I have seen Demi Lardner perform a few times now and she continues to draw laughs with her consistent approach to her sets. After a really enjoyable 2016 MICF show, I’m keen to see where she takes her 2017 MICF show ‘Look What You Made Me Do’! Two comedians who I had never seen before were Geraldine Hickey and Dane Simpson. Geraldine’s relaxed approach suited the crowd well as she interlaced jokes throughout her stories. She appeared professional but also approachable as she delivered what appeared to be reliable and new material well. Similarly, Dane presented as confident and well prepared as he delivered a few jokes with plenty of cheeky one-liners. While this set largely focussed on his family (which I am sure there are plenty more jokes about), I’m keen to see more of his work covering other issues.
 
We were lucky to be surprised with two special performers, including Luke McGregor who hit some gold trying out new material and comedy treasure Fiona O’Loughlin.  Fiona had automatic rapport and took the already supportive crowd on a winding but very entertaining journey about love and hate….actually, what’s the level above hate? Severe and intense loathing? There is something special about Fiona’s comedy that pushes some buttons but also makes you want to connect with her and listen to what she has to say.
 
Thanks Crab Lab Comedy for another great night! 
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Comedy @ Rochester Hotel, 1 September

9/1/2016

 
Two word review: Intimate affair
Hugs achieved: x 2
 
Comedy at the Rochester Hotel (Rochey Comedy) is a fun comedy night held in Fitzroy on Thursday nights from 8:30pm. Rochey is a consistent performer with a bit more of a relaxed/low-key vibe to some other comedy nights in the city.  Rochey Comedy last week proved to be another chilled night of comedy. But don’t let the relaxed vibe make you think you’re not getting quality and/or big name comedy!
 
Before I get onto some of the highlights and standout performers for the night, I’d appreciate you having a read/think about the below. Rochey Comedy is a great venue but so much of your enjoyment of the night can depend on the fellow punters who attend. Because the performance area of the Rochester Hotel is an intimate affair, the performers will hear and see most of what happens during their set. Last Thursday, there were times where the audience was disrespectful to the comedian on stage, interrupting the flow and fun of the night. For example, there were instances of very loud talking mid sets and during one comedian’s performance, audience members tried to record a comedian who specifically asked the audience not to. Comedy nights might not be a regularly thing for some, where they might have just come out for a couple of drinks with mates. Nevertheless, I implore audiences to respect the comedian on stage. Let them do their bit and you’ll have a much better night for it!  
Enough of me being a comedy snob… onto the fun stuff!!! On 1 September, we were lucky to have a range of comedians, some with loads of experience, others with notoriety and others who are a little bit of special.

Starting off with those trying out some new stuff, Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann and Arj Barker showed their experience nailing some fresh material. Separate to the humour itself, seeing how these guys craft their jokes and tell their stories is a delight. Our MC for the night Cameron James kept the night flowing with a jovial attitude and plenty of audience interaction. Cameron is a likeable guy and comedian; he may profit from having more structured material for his bits between sets for more formal gigs but his style worked well for the mood of the night.
 
I tend to crush on comedians. Not in a ‘romantic sense’ rather I become fascinated with their style and want to understand them in greater depth as performers and people. Personal favourite Laura Dunemann and pocket rocket Demi Lardner fit into this category, two contrasting styles yet each captivating for their own reasons. Laura with a softness to her voice and Demi with bursts of energy throughout her set.
 
Speaking of dreamy…*cough*…I mean engaging performers, check out Ben Knight. Ben is a friendly guy and in our chat after his performance he acknowledged where he needed to develop his set. I really like Ben’s confidence as it amplifies his comedy but he needs to avoid being overly self-deprecating or getting caught up in bits that aren’t perfect.  In contrast, it’s difficult to describe Rob Hunter’s performance as it also takes confidence to pull off this style of comedy but his persona is something very different. Rob nailed the majority of his set and got huge waves of laughter from some clever writing mixed with his apprehensive onstage persona. Oh, and don’t forget… “GOCSY FOR PM”! my fellow punter declared as Internet sensation Aaron Gocs left the stage.
 
Recommend you come along to Rochey Comedy, grab a beer and some popcorn, be nice to the comedians, and have a great time! 
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    editor

    Andy
    Melbourne-based comedy enthusiast.

    If you are a Melbourne-based comedian or a comedian just passing through, please get in touch! I'll buy you a coffee, we'll talk about comedy, and I'll write up our chat for others to enjoy (hug optional but recommended).


     

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