SlAND UP JUNIOR SIMPSON The Stand, Edinburgh, Fri 19 & Sat 20 Jul
Never mind the boybands
‘I’m actually available at your local video store,’ Junior Simpson proudly informs me of his bit-part in Mel Smith’s dubious High Heels and Low Lifes. ‘I played a character called Mickey. It was just one scene but it was fun to do because I love movies, and to actually be on a film set with Minnie Driver, yeah, it was good fun.’ The shift from stand-up to comic actor isn’t exactly a novel career progression. For a natural born performer like Junior Simpson, the route is practically signposted.
Comedians love to tell you how they got involved in comedy; their first gig, first heckle, anything. Junior Simpson’s story is one of the best you’ll ever hear. Whilst partnering a former girlfriend at her cousin’s wedding, an attempted toilet dash during speeches resulted in his being asked on stage to toast the happy couple. ‘I couldn’t really say: “I’m sorry I don’t know these people, I’m going to the toilet”,’ says Simpson. ‘80 I went up and I just meant to say all the best for the future, may your problems be little ones, but nervous energy took over and I just started talking about relationships in general. I spoke about the day, I spoke about my parents, and everybody was laughing. When I finally sat down after about ten minutes people were saying it was really funny.’
Ten years later the 39-year-old is one of the most popular comedians on the circuit. Spot-on mimicry and furious storytelling are what Simpson does best and, although the live arena provides the instant buzz beloved of performers, the former salesman is carving a niche for himself in the world of television. Appearances on stock comedy bastions Never Mind the Buzzcocks, They Think it’s All Over, a career-rocketing stint on The Real McCoy, and an advertising campaign as the face of ‘I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter’ have paved the way to more illustrious breaks in film and voice- over work.
Live stand-up allows scope for travel — he’s visited Melbourne, Jamaica, Amsterdam and Miami already this year — yet a downside of burgeoning celebrity is that Junior Simpson is recognised everywhere he goes. Sitting in an airport with Daniel Kitson earlier this year, Simpson discovered that notoriety has its drawbacks. “We were sat there waiting to go out to Dubai, having something to eat, and the pop group Blue walked by and they started banging on the window because they recognised me.’ And did he recognise them? ‘Well I don’t really have their albums, you know what I mean. It’s nice and also very weird because I still see myself as the bloke with jokes from Hackney.’ (Maureen Ellis)
78 THE LIST “1.1.. ' i1. L"
Thursday 18
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(‘ Btiildiiig. Renl'reu Street, 0870 787 (T707. 7.3(lpnt. [(i. Scotland's o“ n Stti \Yho'.’ \tclconies to the stage ainiahle Irishman liddie Bannon. hespectacled comedy gent Marcus Brigstocke and musical satirist Rick Right.
The Why Front (‘(‘.r\. 35() Satichiehall Street. 338 327-1. 7.3(lpm. l‘l'L‘e. l‘ttt llL‘lkLtL‘d. Bl“. Radio Scotland presents its coined} sketch shim l'eaturing a mix ol' experienced and lirst lllllL‘ \\ l‘llL‘l'\. l‘or llL'lsL‘ls it)!” these li\L‘ recordings. call ()Hl 33S 327-1. or email \andanainenon(u hhc.co.uk
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (i()() (i055. 0pm. £5 (£3 l. This exening’s patter merchants include ('olin Ramone. Bruce l)e\’|in. Marjorie and l-‘rankie Bo} le.
Edinburgh
Come Play with Aftershock The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. S’pin. ill). ('omcd) meets cluhhing in this t‘ls' l’la) tour. See Rall' Roi/c Little. the ('tihan Brothers. Ross \tililc. Brendon Burns and .\lackcn/ie ()Nlt't' (‘rook pla} it l'or laughs.
Reg Anderson’s New Talent Night l-‘in .\lac('oo|'s. |(il l.othian Road. 622 7 Int). ()pm. £2. Suiiderlaiid madman Reg Anderson is the glue \\ liicli hinds a host of neu acts and estahlished acts together. lispect hundles of next material lrom local comics at this next \scekl} night. \\ hich u ill he rounded olt h} a m} stcr} guest headliner. Tonight's guests are 'l‘edd}. (iarth ('rtiikshank and liddie .\lc(’ahe
Snatch Club The liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. Illpiii 3am. £3.50 (£2.5(li. Resident comperc and [)1 Hair} .r\ins\\orth hosts this week!) carry- oii meets lli-l)e lli dehattched caharet. liach \seck there \\ ill he a selection of guests. and competition host l)a\e Strong conducts the participator} inn and games.
Paisley
Paisley in Stitches l’aisle} :\t't.s ('entre. Ne“ Street. 887 l()|(). 7.45pm. U tt'3 l. l-‘irst chance to see performances h) the ne\\ \sa\e ol' l’aisle) comedians led h_\ Vladimir .\lc'l‘a\'ish. star of BB("s I.Il(' l'TUUl' .S/lmi‘.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(' Building. Renlreu Street. 0370 737 mm. 7.30pm. {12. See Thu lS.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (i()() (i()55. ‘)pm. U) l £5 l. Irish mirth master Jake ()‘Kane tops a hill that includes Marianne l’ashle}. l.eitli's l’atil .\lc.\'eill and compere Vladimir
.\lcTa\ islt.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York l’lace. 55S 7272. 9pm. to t [5 i. The one-time lace til ‘I ('an’t Believe It‘s .\'ot Bullet" Junior Simpson tsee pre\ ieu i. pltis ('olin Ramone and ('olin Simpson. llost l-‘rankie Bo} le takes charge of the proceedings.
Saturday 20
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(' Building. Renl‘reu Strcet_ 0370 7x7 0707. 7.30pm. £12. Sec Thu IS.
The Stand The Stand. 333 \Yoodlands Road. 0870 hill) (i055. 0pm. £7 iUi. See Hi It).
Madcap Comedy Club State Bar. l-lS Holland Street. SS3 233-1. 9.30pm. £5 1H t. Bill} Bonkers introduces John (iillick. llarr} .'\|lla. Neil Shackleton and .loliii ()‘Brien.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 ([4). See Fri 1‘). Reg Anderson’s Comedy Cellar l‘iin Mac('ool‘s. ltil l.othian Road. 622 7 Hit). 9.30pm. £4 ([3 i. The aestheticall) hlessed Patrick Monahan stands tip alongside _\oung \Velsh comedian Steve \Villiatns \\ ho hasn’t given tip his da} ioh ol' coaching tor l‘ulhain l"(' just )et.
Glasgow
Craic @ the Sac (“at de Sac Sottlltsitle/:\ttic. l I79 l’ollokshaus Road. (i—l‘) lSl‘)/(i4‘) 47 l 7. Spin. [-1. ('otnpet'e Alan .v\nderson introduces coincdy's quiet man l-‘rank Quinn. (ilasgou slt)l'_\lL‘llL‘l‘ Jamie Macken/ie atid music from the Sotllhside Soul Assassins. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 \Voodlnnds Road. 0870 (i()() 0055. 3.30pm. £4 (£2 i. The deadpan Irishman \s'elcoiiies Joe lleeiiaii. Keara Murph} and ('olin Simpson into his house of coined} \uit'sltip.
Edinburgh Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The
Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpiii. l‘ree. l’reest} le lunniness and hangover- hanishing antics l‘roin resident duo l’atil (iraham and Stuart Murpli).
The Joy of Death The Stand. 5 York Place. 553 7272. 5pm. £4 tt.‘3l. Ian .\Iacl’herson presents his cautionary tale ol' sex. death and t)\'L‘t'-/t‘tlltill\ marketing. Six on Sunday The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). Marianne l’ashle). magician Ste\ en Dick and three guests join compere Miles Jtipp.
Reg Anderson’s Big Fun Quiz Night The Meadows Bar. Moo Bar.
42 4-1 Bticcleuch Street. (i(i7 0007. 0pm. l-‘ree. An ol‘lheat coined} qui/ u ith karaoke. interacthe audience games and a spot ol' stand-tip l‘roiii the man himsell'.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. S.3()piii. l; I. Around eight coined} tic“ comers take their lirst steps on the coined) road under the \tatchltil e_\ es ol Brendan .\loohan and Delia (iallacher. Hang the The ’i‘lll't‘t' STSTCI'S. l3‘) (’ougate. (i22 (ixtlll. 0pm 1am. l‘ree. Join llarr} .'\lll.\\\ttl'lll and l)a\e Strong (aka 2(l()l l’errier \eu comer \\ inners (iarth ('ruikshank and liddie .\lc('ahei as the) trawl the mark} depths ol‘ the pop ah_\'ss in their ueekl) titii/ shou. li\pect their tisual hlend (it check} questions and ruthless audience haitiiig set against a hackdrop ol' multi-sci‘ecn \ ideos and a gaIaX) of home pri/cs.
Reg Anderson’s Big Fun Quiz Night l'in .\lac('ool's. lhl l.otliian Road. (i22 7lll‘). ‘lpni. U to play. Sec Sun 2 l.
Tuesday 23
Edinburgh
Gala Comedy Night The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 0pm. to (Hi. :\ charit) L‘tittted} exciting in aid ol' lii'iends ot the liarth.
Reg Anderson’s Big Fun Quiz Night .\'ohle's Bar. 44a ('onstitution Street. l.eitli. 554 202-1. 0.30pm. [l to pla}. See Stiii 2|.
Wednesday 24
Glasgow
Fringe Preview Double Bill The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 0870 (it ll) 0055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). Tuo l-‘ringe
shots s tor the price of one. l)a\ id ls'a} presents his alternatiie slim -paced look at lite iii ‘1 .il'e's Better \\ ith a Scone' and musical comedian Sand} Nelson tries to coin ince tis ol' his ‘Bedrootn l’opstar' slttllls.