5 to see
PHIL KAY
1 He’s a jazzer If ever a comic was born to perform a jazz festival, it's our bearded hero. And here he is, doing the Glasgow one. His freestyle rifting and flights of manic fantasy are either poetically beautiful or wander off into incomprehensible corners of places where they don‘t really belong. You know, just like jazz itself.
2 He’s got a heart He apparently once ditched his crank phone call routine when he inadvertently upset a lady whose pet had just died.
3 He was in our employ for several years His columns were a
source of amusement and bewilderment in these parts whether he was squeezing out opinions on the Darkness. dead royals or mobile phones that
resembled Turkish Delights.
4 Be nice to him Despite his generally genial manner, he takes none too kindly to hecklers. His 2002 Fringe Show was entitled Branding the Ass of a Heck/er, which included a stOry about dealing with an unruly audience member with 'an industrial-sized potato masher heated up over a candle by three men holding him against his will, letting him go and saying: now you have something to
shout about.‘
5 Anagrammatically On his last tour of the China-owned colony, he was seen handing out ‘I Play HK' badges as part of his self-promotional drive.
(Brian Donaldson)
Vault, Glasgow, Thu 7 Jul; George Square, Glasgow, Fri 2 Jul.
Edinburgh
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £6 (£5). Sharp-talking Glaswegian compere Frankie Boyle introduces the humorous delights of pacy storyteller Ian Coppinger. smooth-talker Joe Ileenan. John McBride and more.
The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. l0.30pm—3am. £4 (£3.50). See Thu 24. The Edinburgh Edition The Three Tuns Wine Vaults. 7—1 1 Hanover Street. 07909 552345. 8pm. £2. Jonathon Mayor and David Heffron provide the laughs at this topical weekly news quiz.
Glasgow
0 Phil Kay Spiegeltent. George Square. 564 3400. 2.30pm. £3. The surreal comic returns to the Jazz Festival backed by a small band as accompaniment to his bizarre ramblings and improvisational meanderings. See panel.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. L’GC Building. Renfrew Street. ()8707 870707. 8pm. £l2. See Thu 1.
0 The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. ()870 600 6055. 9pm. £7 (£6). Adam Hills. that lovely funny man from down under with the happy feet and penchant for big red lire engines. teams tip with comedians Markus Birdman. Gerry Grant. Chris Henry and host Susan Morrison. See panel for Adam Hills.
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. Greenside Place. 08707 870707. 8.15pm. £12. Natural and charming comedian Alex Boardman shares a stage with droll mirth-maker Dom Carroll and Joe Rooney. who is best known for his bit- part in Father 72rd as I‘r Damo.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6). Weekend laughs with diminutive Irishman Ian (‘oppingcr. crowd pleaser Joe Heenan. John McBride and sparkling host Jane Mackay.
Cowgate Central Comedy Club (‘owgate (‘entral (‘omedy (‘lub. Wilkie House. Hasties (‘lose. (‘owgate. 225 9744. 9pm. £6 (£5). Deadpan Irishman
Michael Redmond headlines at this resurrected (‘owgate (‘omedy night. with able support from Iidinburgh compere (iordon Brunton. John Scott and Simon McKinnie.
Torphichen
Capital Comedy: Comedy©The Torphichen Inn 'I'orphichen Inn. 7 The Square. 07909 552345. 9pm. £5. Jonathon Mayor. Vladimir Mc'I‘avish. Andy Sir. Ashley lirei/e and Shotta play for latighs at this new (‘apital (‘omcdy
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. L'GC Building. Renfrew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £l3. See Thu 1.
Madcap Comedy Club The Vault.
l l 10 Pollokshaws Road. 649 0007. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). Perrier nominee Parrot is supported by local comedians Derek Lightfoot and Bob Parker at this regular Saturday night slot compered by Glasgow’s very own Billy Bonkers. The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £8. See Fri 2. btit with host Jane Mackay.
The Vault Comedy Club The Vault. l 1 l0 Pollokshaws Road. 649 0007. 9pm. £7. (‘heeky host Des (‘larke introduces the comedy talents of Noel James. pop diva Sandy Nelson. Richard Allen and Greg McIIugh.
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. (ireenside Place. ()8707 870707. 8. l5pm. £l3. See Fri 2.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £8. See I’ri 2. although Susan Morrison takes over as compere.
Glasgow
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 \Voodlands Road. ()870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Nervy stand-tip Markus Birdman. Gerry (irant and other comedy heroes join ex- (‘raggy Island resident Michael Redmond for an evening of laughs.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpm. Free. See Sun 27.
QAdam Hills Special The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £8. Always the bridesmaid. Three times Perrier Award nominee. Adam Hills brings his hilarious blend of easy going humour and personal anecdotes to the stage. See panel.
Glasgow
Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 7.30pm. £4. Sandy Nelson. Raymond Mearns. Joe Heenan and Des McLean show the world what can be done with the aid of a piano. a guitar and a big slice of comic imagination.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £l. (‘ompere Chris Henry and headliner Gerry Grant help a handful of stand-up virgins onto the stony road of comedy.
Tuesday 6
Glasgow
Red Raw The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2. Stand-up beginners try out their gags on a live audience. with support from compere Bruce Iiummey and headliner Jo Jo Sutherland.
Edinburgh
Jupp’s Juniors The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £5 (£4). Hilarious and offensive in almost equal measures. Miles Jtipp fronts this showcase for up and coming comedians. with help from seasoned funnyman Raymond Mearns. Capital Comedy: Duck Downe The Laughing Duck. 24 Howe Street. 07909 552345. 8.30pm. £3. Laughter-fest at Iidinburgh's premier gay comedy venue. featuring Mac Star. Paul Pirie. Keir McAlIister and John Scott.
Wednesday 7
Glasgow
Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Vault. l I 10 Pollokshaws Road. 649 ()()()7. 9pm. £5. See Mon 5.
The Stand Improv The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £4 (£3). The Stand Players explore the hitherto unexplored depths and breadths of comedy. with help from a few circuit regulars. It‘s a tiny adventure.
Edinburgh
0 British Television Explained The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £4 (£3). As a follow tip to last year's fringe show. (ireat Britain Explained. this new show delves deep into the idiosyncrasies of television viewing across Britain. With so much pap clogging up the airtime these days. there’s plenty of fuel for that lire. Capital Comedy: The Comedy Cave Nichol Iidwards. Niddry Street. 07909 552345. 9pm. £2. MC Mac Star. Speedy Andy Sir and Tim Ashwell keep the laughs rolling at the weekly Comedy (‘ave session.
Thursday 8
Glasgow
The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £6 (£5). l7nconipromising cotnpere Raymond Mearns introduces the laughter inducing talents of Irishman Michael Smiley. Joe Heenan and New Deal comedian Tony (‘arter.
Edinburgh
0 Big Word Performance Poetry
The Tron. 9 Hunter Square. High Street. 226 0931. 9pm. £3 (£2). Iind of season
listings Comedy
Andy Parsons The magically manic political surrealist tans our ass with more of his hyperfun. Sweats a lot less than Jason Byrne. happily. Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 24—Sat 26 Jun.
-: I Alive Four Show Probably the most inspired title of the fortnight, so bang, it’s in the Hitlist. Four Glasgow newcomers are compared by (rather than compared to) Vladimir McTavish. Vault, Glasgow, Sun 27 Jun.
:-. Phil Kay Our belovedly bearded wordmangler steps up to the comedy oche and fires off some bellyaching bullseyes. And he likes his jazz, too. See panel. Vault, Glasgow, Thu 7 Jul; George Square, Glasgow, Fri 2 Jul.
Adam Hills Australia's most Iikeable bloke stand-up warms up for another Fringe onslaught and, no doubt, another Perrier shortlist. See panel. Stand, Glasgow, Fri 2 Jul; Stand. Edinburgh, Sun 4 Jul.
; British Television Explained Let’s have our viewing habits ripped to shreds by the people who brought you Great Britain Explained last year. Stand, Edinburgh, Wed 7 Jul.
Ii: Blg Word Performance Poetry Another balmy night of hot, freestyling verse from a bunch of poets who know how to do it really well. Tron, Edinburgh, Thu 8 Jul.
Big Word special with freestyle verse and comedy from puppeteer Richard Medrington. Rachel Jury. ‘verbal vortex‘ Ash Dickinson. Jatnin Dee. MC‘ Jenny Lindsay and many more besides.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £6 (£5). Laid back comedian Nick Wilty entertains with his cocky bar room tales. supported by ample laughs from Susan Morrison. (ireg McHugh. confident stand-up Dan Willis and regular hardcore compere. Frankie Boyle.
The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. 10.30pm—3am. £4 (£3.50). See Thu 24. The Edinburgh Edition The Three Tuns Wine Vaults. 7--l 1 Hanover Street. 07909 552345. 8pm. £2. Ruthless satire from Jo Jo Sutherland and Andy Sir as they rake through the news and gossip at this topical weekly quiz.
24 Jun-8 Jul 2004 THE LIST 69