Miles Jupp at the Palladium

This was a spur of the moment gig for me. Saturday night and I didn't have plans. And gigs like this are often very nearly sold out, but just have the odd single seat left. So indeed I picked up the last single seat in the central stalls from the website and duly printed off my e-ticket.

Now I had seen Miles Jupp acting on stage, and I listen to the News Quiz on the radio which he chairs, so I thought I would see how he does at stand up. Another comic to tick off my list.

After the gig I was left thinking whether I had got too used to my intimate gigs at the Fox or Soho Theatre. As this was the Palladium, intimate is not the way you would describe the venue. Audience interaction was zero, although I have enjoyed many comics who do no audience stuff so wouldn't hold that against him at all. I think possibly more the problem for me was the length. I think I have got used to short sets not exceeding an hour. And in a small venue where the audience feels more part of the act, even if it isn't, it doesn't feel quite so long. I fear my attention span may be deteriorating as I found myself drifting off a couple of times during the two 45mins + halves.

All of which is a pity as I both much enjoy his self-deprecating style and wordplay. This is a man who is educated. A nice bit on how polite we middle-class English are was illustrated by a putative profuse expression of gratitude at a waiter bringing bread in a restaurant along the lines of thank you so much for the perfunctory carbohydrate delivered by someone so winningly sullen.

And for those of us who are of a certain girth, loved his exchange with his wife. "Darling, what do you like most when we are in bed." "I like you a bit slimmer." And the response to an enquiry as to whether she wanted to have sex. "No" would have been a perfectly acceptable response. "God no" just a bit too much.

That might give you a flavour. A lot of good material which I enjoyed. But not laugh a minute stuff, and I left feeling how it might have been better assembled. Maybe in a series of shorter chunks on the radio?

A good evening, don't get me wrong. Don't regret my impulse buy.

Stephen K Amos at the Soho Theatre

I have seen Stephen K Amos a couple of times before and assured my young colleague it would be a good night just because of the banter with the audience. By the end of the show he understood what I meant. And he thought he was hilarious. Which he was. The show flashed by very easily. Would be hard to imagine a more pleasant way to spend an hour.

Now "pleasant" sounds a bit damning with faint praise, but it's not meant to be. It is not just that Stephen is funny, but he is just very likeable with it. And not in a cosy Michael MacIntyre family audience way, He does have a go at his audience, but not in a cruel way. In a "joshing down the pub with your mates" sort of way. And one suspects that every show he does will be very different even if he starts with the same material, as he gets easily diverted. In this show partly by a bloke eating peanuts in the front row.

He is one of those comics you need to see live and in a small space.

And afterwards, as my mate and I settled into the bar upstairs for a pint after the show, up he comes for a drink with his friends, so we go over and have a brief chat. That doesn't happen at Michael MacIntyre gigs at Wembley either. Turns out Mr Amos started life as a lawyer too. Wonder if its too late....

Bloc Party at the Roundhouse

This was my second gig on consecutive nights (and indeed my tenth consecutive night out) but a pale shadow of the night before at Two Door Cinema Club.

Now I have to confess I have never been converted to Bloc Party and only went because my two mates liked them (and both actually got out in time to see them this time!). But even they, being better judges than me, were not terribly impressed. The crowd didn't help - a large bunch of drunken "lads" well into their 30s paused in front of us. Genial enough bunch, but drunks tend to be annoying no matter how nice they are trying to be.

And Bloc party and just Kele and his latest band mates, and they lack much in the way of rapport on stage. Bit of  anti-climax if truth be told.

Two Door Cinema Club at Alexandra Palace.

This was a very enjoyable gig. Alexandra Palace has the benefit of being my local music venue. I managed to meet  a new member of my gig club at the Palace relatively early so we got a good spot, and were later joined by another mate of mine so at least we got three of our intended foursome. Poor To missed out again.

Opening act were Sundara Karma. No, meant nothing to me either. Somewhat retro act swishing their 1970s long hair. I will stick to Temples.

Next up was a band I had heard of, Circa Waves. They were much more accomplished and the young (very young) audience were singing along to them, so they have a proper fan base. Lead singer just so much more confident than the opening act. Looked like a proper band who are there, not just up and coming.

And finally Two Door. This was a consummate set, mixing tracks from all three albums. Indeed they opened with three from their first and that felt more like they had done their encore at the beginning. so much verve and gusto was displayed, with fine strong songs.

This definitely one of the best indie bands around now, and a vibrant act to see live. They went down a storm at sold out Alexandra Palace.

The Fratellis at the Forum

This was a postponed gig. We were supposed to see them last year, but Jon Fratelli had to postpone on medical advice. So back we were on 1 February to see this gig marking the 10th (well now maybe closer to 11th) anniversary of Costello Music.

Interestingly, unlike other anniversary shows I had seen, they opened with five newer numbers (of a slightly country & western fell) at which point one felt almost brought on false pretences, but then launched into everything on Costello Music, although not in order of the album.

That made it a very enjoyable gig. I have to say I don't like the C&W vibe, and haven't really listened to much since Costello Music. But that album has such a wonderful strong set of tunes that you need nothing else.

Langkawi longueur

The rest of my time on Langkawi was nice but uneventful. Had the odd tropical storm but we are talking brief (but vigorous) showers, not hurricanes. So a lot of time stretched out on a deckchair with a selection of books. For once I actually read most of what I brought out.

 I even spent one day in one of these womb like chairs/beds. I think they are supposed to be for families or couples and are effectively a round double bed with a hood to protect you from the sun. Hmm, wouldn't mind being back there right now....