Sunday, April 29, 2007

24th April- Cry God for Harry, England and St George!

Al introduced, Don Moses, Adam Tempest, Paul Gerrard and James Harris.

The day after St George's and patriotic Al tried to big-up England without sounding racist. Al was impressed by St. George's most famous act - killing the dragon - he'd tried to beat up the faries at the bottom of his garden and they'd pummelled him.

Don Moses started the show, and as a man of a certain age wondered why he was being targeted by e-mails offering viagra. Or viagroo - as it's usually spelt to avoid the spam blockers. Don was sceptical- if they can't even spell it, how do they manage to manufacture it?

James Harris made his LLC debut, and only his second gig ever. But it was a brilliant 5 minutes of great material, and left us wanting more. He showed the confidence of a man who knows he's wearing 'Calvin Klein's MInce'.

Finishing the show were regular LLC contributers Adam Tempest and Paul Gerrard. Adam's relaxed style and Paul's barrage of one-liners made for a cracking end to the show.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

17th April - Frogs.

This show was titled frogs because we'd planned to do a sketch about tadpoles, but in the end it never mateialised, so we were left with this rather odd theme for no aparent reason. Not that it mattered, the post holiday lull finally arrived and not many people came out - just a group of the hardcore regulars who are used of our little ways.

Making the Best of it were; Dave Dyanamite, Dave Howarth, Graham Lee and Nish.


A cracking start from LLC regular Dave Dynamite, who had to rush off for his second gig of the night at another venue. Topical as always, Dave started with our theme and stuck with it for almost a whole second.

Next up, two lads who'd driven all the way from Leeds to amuse the assembled few. Dave Howarth stuck to the theme, he actually turned out to be bit of an expert on amphibians, though chiefly on what happens when you're mowing the lawn too near the pond. Dave must also be the only man in the world who was prevented from having sex by 40 drunk cheerleaders, and was pleased about it. Graham Lee was up with a cracking run through topics from the YMCA, E-bay and scrabble, and one of the nearest the knuckle jokes we've heard in a while.

Nish, a regular of the Durham comedy scene, was making his first LLC appearance and impressed everyone with an assured stage presence, original lines and a great turn of phrase. (Or good vocabulary, as Al first put it.)

The LLC regulars completed the line up, with Pete compereing and Al and Cal doing the honours for the last part of the show. Particularly nice were Al's gentle tales of life in the Oxfordshire village where he grew up. Until he moved to Newcastle he didn't realise it was unusual to start an anecdote with the words 'You know those kids in your class with the extra fingers...'

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

10th April- Keeping Up

This week's theme was Keeping UpCallum introduced Don Moses, Stu Robertson, Don Barr, Viv, and John Scott.

The competition was Keeping it up too long.
What childish habits do you keep up, even though you should really know better?

Thursday, April 05, 2007

April 3rd. The sound of silence.

Al introduced; Gav Webster, James Christopher, Carl Hutchinson, Michael Hunter, Chris Ramsey,

also apperaring were Adam Tempest and Edgar J. Stankmire.

Al was compere this week, and stuck with the difficult theme. 'Silence doesn't have a sound - what else is there to talk about?' He did swing it round to the impression you make before you spoil it by opening your mouth. If you look like someone famous then your first impression is more to do with them than you. According to a website which will automatically compare your face with world celebrities, Al's first impression is a mix of Kim Jong Il and Heidi Klum.

James Christopher, who often appears as guest compere - to prepare for his own comedy nights in York - was back as an act this week. Last time we heard his relationship was on shakey ground, due to having arguments with the eastenders theme tune in the background. Now James has realised it was a doomed chewing gum relationship - the more effort you put in the more dull and unpalatable it becomes.

Next up was a real treat, we finally got local comedy legend Gav Webster to the stage. Great material and just as impressive ad-libs, (To a reluctant punter 'You don't have to pretend to like it- we're not in Iran') Even though he was on second, for 10 minutes, he still bothered to bring hs guitar and amp along and gave us a song that the middlesborough tourist board is surely going to snap up. You can see Gav at Northern stage in his own show on the 11th and 12th of May.

Next up was first timer Michael Hunter. He's been a regular in the crowd for a few months and decided to have a go, and (hats off) it wasn't bad for a first attempt.

Pete Thompson was up next as broadway producer Edgar P. Stankmire, in a scene adapted from a sit-com script. Was it drama? Was it stand up? Did it work? Not really, no. But new acts and new ideas are all part of the LLC spirit, even if they do sometimes fall on their arse.

From falling on arses to standing on heads, as Carl Hutchinson demonstrated how to get the latest styling look; 1. apply gel 2. do a breakdance head spin. Voila! Daft hair. Carl got the evening up and running again - Come to our monthly gig on Thursday to see him again.

Finishing off the night were the laid back Adam tempest and the hyper Chris Ramsey. Both very good, but this is the point where we stopped making notes again... So if you were there, and you have something to say about the night, leave a comment.