Review: Lisa Stansfield still queen of soul

Review: Lisa Stansfield
Venue: Grand Opera House, June 10

Monday saw the return of Lisa Stansfield to the live stage in the UK. For a period in the late Eighties and early Nineties, she was one of the biggest pop stars in the world, having massive hits here and in America. She performed duets with George Michael (before he started falling out of cars) and Queen, and won loads of Brit awards.

Stansfield won Ivor Novello awards and sold over 15 million albums. So, not much to live up to with a musical comeback then? Her first album in nearly ten years is due out soon and so I expected to hear a lot of it.
I will be honest, what I know of her is primarily based around my parents being fans while I was in my teens, but I knew there would be at least a couple of songs I would recognise.
The show started in a rather odd fashion, with a DJ on the stage, playing Northern Soul classics. No arguments from me, just a little strange, no introduction or dancers or anything – just a DJ with great tunes.
After a short interval, it was show time. The band appeared, and started playing. Halfway through appeared the lady herself, looking stunning.
It has been said before, but it always astounds me that a voice so big and soulful can appear from such a tiny woman, but then in-between songs, out comes a really strong Lancashire accent. Not relevant, just always makes me laugh.

On stage, on song: Lisa Stansfield performs at the Opera House. Photograph: Steve Shooter

We were introduced to a new song, a little more delicate and refined than some of the older, dancier material, but beautiful nonetheless. We were treated to versions of all of Ms Stansfield’s biggest hits, including her underrated cover of Barry White’s Never Never Gonna Give You Up.
Fans old and new were up dancing to the classics Someday, People Hold On, Change and All Woman, but there was only one song that could be considered for an encore, what I would think of as the defining Lisa Stansfield song: All Around The World.
A great live band, including a very strong horn section, backed up what was a great way to start off the UK leg of her tour. On this evidence, Lisa Stansfield has not lost a step, and this audience went home very happy indeed – and I look forward to the new album.

Review: Rapping stand up is highlight of TakeOver comedy night

Review: TakeOver13: Comedy Night #2
Venue: York Theatre Royal, Saturday, June 8

York Theatre Royal’s Takeover Festival was well underway by the time their comedy night hit the stage, an intriguing line-up headlined by Noel James. It was affected by the sunny weather, leaving the stalls at the Theatre Royal feeling a little cavernous for stand up, being maybe half full.
Our compere for the evening Chris Turner kicked off proceedings with an amusing bit of banter with the crowd. Some lovely self-deprecating gags about his dress sense went over very well, before he busted into what was my favourite bit of the night, a gangster rap generated by random words from the crowd. For a young middle-class white man dressed like his grandfather, the boy can freestyle.
Michael J Dolan on the other hand, is a ball of neuroses; his entire set is about how rubbish the world, and the people in it, are. My major issue with Dolan’s performance is that it felt like a run through for his Edinburgh Festival show, but way too early in its development. Some great material in there, but needs more work before being exposed to a crowd who paid £15 a ticket.
After an interval (which at 15 minutes felt too long) we returned to a set from Chris Stokes, who again, felt like he was working through new material in preparation for Edinburgh. One or two very strong gags and a decent Alan Bennett impression didn’t quite compensate for a very self-indulgent set, which felt more like a Stewart Lee tribute act. (Oh, and he looks more like Lord Sebastian Coe than Brian Cox).
York’s own Ben “Spoon’ Winterton was up next for a quick open spot, rattling off some decent one-liners, all nervous energy and twitchy delivery.
After another break it was time for our headline act, Noel James. Welshman James is another act who seems like he doesn’t really know what kind of comedian he wants to be.
The crowd seemed to enjoy his whimsical, surreal set, but for me it veered from one extreme to another, at points sounding like Bill Bailey, and at others doing silly wordplay. For me, the highlight of his set was a Robert De Niro impression which was uncanny.
An amusing enough evening, deserving of a bigger audience, but a lower price! My wife and I left the show talking more about the compere Chris Turner than any other acts. If you get a chance, see him.

York’s new film will be a Transatlantic Smash – with your help

 


This blog was always supposed to be about comedy, and it will be, but of a different sort. Unfortunately, due to some personal issues, I have had to put Knock Knock Comedy to one side for the short term, meaning my comedy focus has been on the movie I am producing.
Local comedy pop duo Peter Marshall & The Lomos wanted to make a film, and they have asked me to act as producer for the project. It seems I have a knack for making things happen, and the film is well underway.
The film, which I am lovingly, and partially jokingly, calling Project Hollywood, has an official title, which is Transatlantic Smash. The basic outline of the plot features the formation of the band, and their attempt to win a Eurovision-style song contest. Along the way they will meet girls, write songs, make terrible puns, but most of all, have fun.
We have decided to use an unusual method to make the film: we are improvising it! What we have is a very detailed breakdown of each scene and some amazing performers, ranging from stand-up comedians to experienced actors via some committed amateur volunteers.
None of us have ever made a film before. We have all been involved with other people’s projects, but this is our own little labour of love. Along the way we will be calling in favours from friends, relatives, local businesses and pretty much everyone we have ever met.

Fancy taking part?

This is where you come in. We also need help from people we have never met too! We don’t have any money, we don’t have celebrity fans, but we have passion and enthusiasm, and a good idea.
We had our first two days of shooting in my house (it was free you see over the last couple of weeks, so the main cast could get together, meet up properly and workshop a couple of scenes. We got some really funny stuff, and are now looking forward to having the budget to film somewhere outside my house.
Along the way will be looking for actors, extras, runners, people to hold lights, people to make sandwiches, drivers and loads of other roles. Please help, or I will have to do all of them.

We made a video, please watch it, if you like it, please consider contributing. We know how hard the economy makes everything at the moment which is why we are offering some great perks in return.
If you give us £1 we will thank you in the credits, £20 gets you a DVD of the film and a CD of the soundtrack. Fancy a private gig from the band? Donate £250 and we will pile into the car and turn up on your door.
Basically, please help!

Review: Boothby and Co are the funny business

 

 

Sitting Room Comedy

Venue: Monkbar Hotel, Thursday, May 9

Sitting Room Comedy have made the Monkbar Hotel their home in York, running regular events with some excellent names from the comedy circuit having made appearances for them. This night of musical comedy, part of the York Spring Festival of New Music brought together a couple of well established names I recognised, with a couple I didn’t.
It was a little strange returning to the Monkbar, given that I used to run charity comedy nights there and that almost a year ago, my wedding reception was in the very room we sat down in. The set, for it is a set, is very intimate; making what is a massive room feel cosy and welcoming.
Compere Tom Taylor, whose awkward charm welcomed us with some fun banter and a song, kept the event moving along, bringing Helen Arney onto the stage.
Arney is disarming, cute and funny, but there is a kind of manic charm to some of her ukulele-led songs. You might also call it a sinister whimsy. The highlight of her set was a song about dating a boyfriend in a coma.
Next up was Nick Doody, known to me as a comedian on BBC Radio’s The Now Show, with some very funny stories. As he himself puts it, he is a stand up doing a bit of music, fitting with the theme of the event. Doody brings a very likeable stage presence, self deprecating but very funny indeed.

For me, the show really picked up pace with the introduction of Kirsty Newton, starting her set with a country song about allergies, which had me chuckling. Newton is much more musician doing comedy than comedian doing music, and her songs had a very natural feel, evoking tears of laughter from my wife at her song about being left handed.
As one of only a few left handers in the room, it hurt, but not as much as it made me laugh. If you get a chance to see her, please do.

And then, onto the main event of the evening, Boothby Graffoe. I have seen Graffoe before, but not for about 15 years. In that time he has developed into a “multi-award winning comedian and songwriter”, and on this evidence he deserves the plaudits.
Graffoe showed why he has been consistently one of the UK’s best comics. When a show ends with a wholly unexpected sing-along, and you don’t mind, that is when you know you are in the hands of a master.
A greatly enjoyable night – marred only by a very loud talker in the crowd – was had by all. July brings the TV favourite Andi Osho to York, well worth a visit to this unconventional venue for.