Thursday 21st January 2010

OFS Studio

“A main feature of his performance is the inclusion of his self-described “very low energy musical whimsy”, which features a miniature electronic Yamaha that brings to mind more a child’s first keyboard than a comedian’s weapon of choice.” Liam Shaw ★★★★★

David O’Doherty – David O’Doh-Party ★★★★★

Review by Liam Shaw

“Why are my brakes squeaking?”
“Well, it could be one of two possible reasons…”
Not many comedians have a section of their act in which they offer advice for audience members’ bicycle-related problems. Yet David O’Doherty goes one better, incorporating genuine helpful and knowledgeable comments (he used to work in a bike shop) in response to shouted out issues into a song, without letting the laughs dry up for a second. Those who prefer a more punchline-based style of comedy may not enjoy the tangential lines he frequently veers off on. However, he manages to consistently keep the audience with him, even when not going anywhere in particular.

A main feature of his performance is the inclusion of his self-described “very low energy musical whimsy”, which features a miniature electronic Yamaha that brings to mind more a child’s first keyboard than a comedian’s weapon of choice. Yet its hilariously retro synths and beats become the perfect comedic backdrop to his well-crafted songs, which slot neatly into his rambling performance style. Songs about texting, the internet, and relationships amongst other aspects of modern life were some of the strongest moments of the night.

His style seems best-suited to cosier, more friendly audiences. Notable examples of this pleasant informality were the masking tape stuck on the backdrop spelling his initials, which proceeded to peel off for the rest of the evening; his jovial banter with the technician at the back, demanding ambiguous mood lighting; and his request for good suggestions for a jazzy, sad song from his iPod to play under his reading of a made-up fact about pandas.

Self-deprecatingly, he claims he can’t go on Mock the Week because “you need actual jokes for that”, and starts his set with a song called “Lower your expectations”. That said, some of his anecdotal routines are among the best I’ve heard for a long time, combining a genuine amiability with a dose of grumpy cynicism that comics like McIntyre are often missing in their saccharin-sweet depictions of the world. An extended routine on his trials as a Vodafone customer ends with the conclusion that he hates Vodafone, but loves people, an endearing twist to a classic tale of technology-rage.

Despite his seeming lack of preparation, his is a uniquely polished performance that is remarkably successful. I finished the evening with a warm glow inside me, glad to have spent an evening being reminded that there’s always plenty to laugh at. When a comic can finish the evening by rearranging the masking tape on the backdrop to spell out ‘rnü’ and have the audience collapsing for no particular reason, you know you’ve had a good time.