Comedian Of The Month

February: Comedian Of The Month #37, Fin Taylor

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When a performer is confident on stage, both in material and in justification of views, audiences are immediately more inclined to trust them. It takes an astute comedian to tread the line between arrogance and self-deprecation in an interesting way, and this is where Fin Taylor’s skill shines through. Fin casts his opinions with authority; the statements may sometimes be bold (university students aren’t fully-formed people, for example) but he justifies them well. His reasoning is sensible, despite his initial declarations being met with laughter.

Fin Taylor is a bold voice in the realm of satirical stand up comedy who has fun playing around with irony, presenting shocking ideas that are followed up with surprisingly well-justified reasoning. He doesn’t solicit the audience’s affections, nor does he grovel or expect pity when he is the butt of the joke. In fact, Fin explicitly states that he doesn’t deserve pity, as he confesses ‘I have had such an easy start to life’, yet makes a humble attempt at using his privilege to challenge previously held assumptions and attitudes.

© Fin Taylor

The comedian has brought three shows to the Edinburgh Festival, with his latest show Whitey McWhiteface (2016) making a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike as the comic considered the issue of racism from his perspective of a privileged white man, whilst avoiding an apologist approach. Fin’s manner of stand up comedy easily translates from serious political comment to more trivial everyday matters, showing an integrity to his performance: he successfully adapts his style to allow him to cover a broad range of topics (whether that be social, political or nitpicking), thus proving himself to be an exciting component of the British stand up scene.

For more information, follow Fin Taylor on Twitter or visit his website.

JANUARY COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

January: Comedian Of The Month #36, Anna Mann (Colin Hoult)

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© Colin Hoult

Colin Hoult is not a name that has gone unheard of in recent years. His stand up shows consistently receive fantastic praise and Hoult himself is known as an ever-changing and innovative performer. Perhaps the comedian’s most well-known onstage character is Anna Mann, a middle-aged actress grappling with deep loneliness brought about by her struggling career and subsequently, her mental health.

Hoult’s observational eye is finely tuned to detail and this is shown particularly through his sketches within his latest show Anna Mann: A Sketch Show For Depressives; a retrospective look at characters attending a therapy group that Anna Mann recently attended. From Anna’s parody of a lonely elderly woman to that of an increasingly aggressive PE teacher, the mannerisms are uncanny and the most vivid of images are conjured, implying a sharp mind.

Anna Mann plays on underlying audience sympathy by jokingly imagining and replying to responses from the room. She is audacious and often cruel, but genuinely loveable. With more than just a hint of a certain Ms Blanche Dubois, Anna Mann’s flamboyancy is entertaining yet her vulnerability endearing. Hoult is able to explore some of the heaviest of topics, such as mental illness, isolation and suicide, in an inventive way; a way that feels new, exciting and not heavy at all.

For more information, follow Colin Hoult on Twitter.

DECEMBER COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

December: Comedian Of The Month #35, Jordan Brookes

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Happy New Year everyone! The final Comedian of the Month chosen for 2016 is Jordan Brookes, who came to my attention when he was named one of of the ‘Top Ten Ones To Watch in 2017’ by an expert panel consisting of Beyond The Joke‘s Bruce Dessau, Bob Slayer and Corrie McGuire. He even appeared alongside two MoodyComedy favourites: Stuart Goldsmith and Adam Hess.

Jordan Brookes reminds me of many of the people I knew at school. He is competent and clearly knowledgeable yet in an unobtrusive way, endearing himself to audiences almost without effort. Jordan utilises sarcasm and drudgery, which stand in contrast against the awkwardness that accompanies him onstage. And this comedian is strangely self-assured, despite audiences being perhaps inclined to assume he is an anxious character based on first impressions.

© Jordan Brookes

Often bordering on performance art, Jordan Brookes’ comedy starts small and develops with ease into something broader and more conceptual, such as his failed-time-travel skit. He is confident and artistically unafraid; a truly thoughtful comic with a calm air about him that reassures audiences that he knows what he is doing.

Jordan Brookes’ 2016 show ‘The Making Of…’ is now available on the new comedy streaming site NextUp, which is a site definitely worth signing up to at only £3.50 a month for unlimited access to stand up comedy content.

For more information, follow Jordan Brookes on Twitter.

NOVEMBER COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

 

November: Comedian Of The Month #34, Rose Matafeo

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New Zealand comedian and actor Rose Matafeo was first brought to my attention upon her appearance as a panellist on the latest series of Have I Got News For You. I imagine this is the same for many watchers of primarily British comedy, unless you happened to catch her at 2016’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival performing her highly acclaimed show Rose Matafeo is Finally Dead.

Rose’s comedy is fun, youthful and well-crafted. She effortlessly reels people in with her quietly confident charm, bringing an air of excitement to stage alongside an assurance that this performer knows what she is doing. Her occasional droll remarks allude to a darker, sarcastic side, which makes for an interesting balancing act between silliness and astute personal reflection.

Rose Matafeo

Rose Matafeo

It seems that Matafeo is somewhat of an internet sensation in New Zealand, with many peculiar YouTube videos (such as her series Feline Fine) and her ‘speed dating’ interviews with some of the biggest names in American comedy such as Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer, Trainwreck) and Saturday Night Live‘s Bill Hader. Rose also spent over two years as a presenter on U Live on New Zealand TV.

With a bright and exciting energy, Rose Matafeo is an artist I look forward to seeing more of as her influence on the British comedy scene increases, which I have no doubt it will.

For more information, follow Rose Matafeo on Twitter.

OCTOBER COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

October: Comedian Of The Month #33, Eddy Brimson

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Eddy Brimson

October’s Comedian of the Month is actor, writer and stand up comedian Eddy Brimson, who appeared on a bill alongside Andre Vincent, Funmbi Omotayo and Ben Norris (the latter, being a recognisable face on MoodyComedy) at Glee Club Cardiff last month.

Gliding on to stage, Eddy Brimson has a stern but surprisingly warm and genuine demeanour. He acknowledges the fact that he is an intimidating presence at first impression with the assertive recognition, “I’m very aware of my face”. He also controls a rowdy Saturday night comedy audience with efficiency, beginning with ruder material but later evolving his set into something much more personal. While Brimson is clearly able to please a crowd, he can also focus in on much smaller details of scenarios and conversations, providing unexpectedly idiosyncratic observations as he does so.

Eddy certainly has a soft side, and this comes to light in his slightly more whimsical material, such as that about his concern for the panda species. He is also unafraid of opening himself up emotionally in front of an audience, speaking briefly about his recent divorce, for instance, and this counteracts any disconnection allowed to form through the use of crowd work and informalities.

Eddy Brimson’s comedy is well-crafted and uncomplicated; his voice confident and cutting. He is certainly a performer to watch out for on the weekend comedy circuit.

For more information, visit Eddy Brimson’s website.

SEPTEMBER COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

September: Comedian Of The Month #32, Lauren Pattison

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Lauren Pattison is a stand up comic and actress from Newcastle who, having began performing at the age of eighteen, is still only in her early twenties yet has made the finals of the Chortle Student award as well as being runner up in 2014’s Funny Women Awards.

With an interest for improv and drama, Pattison is natural in front of an audience in a way that is not overbearing. Perhaps I like her comedy because I feel like her voice represents my own, what with us both being young, female and having a similar founding interest in comedy from a young age; it feels as though we are at similar stages in our lives and one indicator of good comedy is comedy that is relatable but still innovative and surprising.

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Lauren Pattison

In the most endearing of ways, this comedian gives the impression that she doesn’t really give a damn. It feels genuine because although there may be nerves involved with live performance, Pattison seems genuinely comfortable in who she is and what she stands for, which is why her comedy seems to be so authentic. She speaks confidently, as though older and with far more years of experience under her belt than she actually has, and in this way Lauren is able to entice an audience in with ease. Her disastrous tales of relationship and university mishaps are unique, yet still relatable; Pattison is easy to listen to and easy to like.

This comic’s writing is of consistently high quality, no surprise perhaps, as she has worked with Katherine Ryan in recent years, supporting her nationwide tours. Down to earth, humble and open about her ambitions and influences, Lauren Pattison has all the tricks of the trade to prepare her for the nationwide success that I have no doubt will unfold over the coming years.

For more information, follow Lauren Pattison on Twitter.

AUGUST COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

August: Comedian Of The Month #31, Jayde Adams

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Jayde Adams

© Stella Pictures Limited

As the winner of 2014’s Funny Women Award and nominee for Best Newcomer at this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Jayde Adams is a name and a voice you will certainly be hearing a lot more of in the coming months.

Bristol-born stand up comic Jayde Adams is boisterous, bright and bossy. She sets an agenda early on; there are things to do and simply no time for mucking around: “I haven’t got time for your insecurities,” she barks at an audience member who reluctantly joins her on stage. Here we have a performer who is incredibly easy for me to write about; she is loud and provocative, with colourful costume, dance and props making her sets visually interesting, as well as a powerful singing voice and abundance of musical tracks to diversify her sets.

Her 2016 Edinburgh show is entitled 31 (and may I point out here that it is a complete, yet undeniably satisfying, coincidence that Adams is MoodyComedy’s 31st Comedian of the Month) and is a vibrant tribute to the singer Adele. And many comparisons can be drawn between the two performers, both refreshingly honest, uncomplicated and effortlessly funny. But beneath the colour and noise, Adams’ latest show is concerned with the fragility of confidence, whether that be onstage or within oneself.

© Edinburgh Comedy Awards

Best Newcomer nominees at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2016 © Edinburgh Comedy Awards

And there are layers, parts of this comedian that we have to wait patiently to learn, and though there is a limited availability of these moments to view online, one only has to read an interview with Jayde to witness her willing vulnerability in opening up about her personal life. Her openness is what makes her likeable, whilst earlier behaviours may lead an audience to assume that this comedian does not feel the need to be liked. At the end of the day, Jayde Adams knows what she is good at, and ultimately that is making people laugh.

For more information, visit Jayde Adams’ website and follow her on Twitter.

JULY COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

July: Comedian Of The Month #30, Luke Heggie

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In March of this year, I spoke briefly with comedian and podcaster Stuart Goldsmith (the brain behind potentially the king of all comedy podcasts, The Comedian’s Comedian). I asked Goldsmith if there were any episodes of his podcast that he wished more people would listen to; any particular comedians he had interviewed who he thinks deserve a listen from every comedy fan. The name he instantly put forward was that of Luke Heggie, and now, just four months later, it is my turn to recommend Heggie to you, just as Stu recommended him to me.

Heggie is a no-nonsense Aussie performer. A builder by day as well as being a husband and father, he’s a busy man and he clearly doesn’t spare much time for messing around. Perhaps this is the reason for his word and joke economy being so high, then, with his punchy, fast-paced delivery and an almost aggressive, subversive attitude making for an impassioned stand up experience.

© Danny Aarons

© Danny Aarons

Openly embracing cynicism, Luke has an angry energy about him, and this energy is consistent throughout each set, whether that be expressed through snappy one liners or longer-form anecdotes, which the comic himself confesses can “border on ranty sarcasm but I don’t really give a shit.” He has a powerful voice, and he refers to issues that, although specific and detailed, can be related to by audiences as we can each draw different things from his narratives.

And even though Heggie holds so much resentment for so many idiots he encounters in his own life, we can’t help but pray that we don’t fit the descriptions of the resented, because this comedian has a strange ability to make his audience wish he would accept us, rather than us accepting him. Luke Heggie has been working on the circuit for around six years now, but one could be forgiven for assuming he has many more years under his belt, with his slating character assassinations and acerbic stage presence effortlessly asserting him as the most powerful presence in a room. You can listen to Luke Heggie’s interview with Stuart Goldsmith here.

For more information, visit Luke Heggie’s website and follow him on Twitter.

JUNE COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

June: Comedian Of The Month #29, Tom Lucy

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Tom Lucy

Guildford-born stand up comedian Tom Lucy is only nineteen years old and has already supported the likes of Harry Hill, Simon Amstell and Russell Howard on tour. Upon walking on stage, Lucy has expressed that the first thing on his agenda is often to address his young age: “It’s almost like having a physical disability or something; you have to mention it as soon as you get on stage, or it makes people nervous.” He’s not apologetic for being so young, though, and at no point does Tom make any attempt to spout advice to those who have lived longer than him; there is, somewhat refreshingly, no sense of self-entitlement to be seen.

It’s worth questioning, then, whether being young in the comedy industry is something that serves to benefit a performer (this draws a neat parallel with MoodyComedy, with the site first coming into existence when I was fifteen; it is very much a case of trial and error, and learning as we go along). It seems that Tom has been able to use his apparent innocence to his advantage, with his cool-headed demeanour on stage giving the impression of experience way beyond his years. Any nerves are cleverly concealed, masked by an array of quirky mannerisms that he may not even be aware that he is doing. His material is honest and relatable, often covering issues relating to puberty and relationships, though Lucy still manages to appeal to an older audience as well. Unsurprising, then, that he has recently been crowned Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year.

For more information, visit Tom Lucy’s website and follow him on Twitter.

MAY COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

May: Comedian Of The Month #28, Tez Ilyas

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© Steve Ullathorne

An interesting performer featured on the BBC’s recent online stand up showcase, Live From The BBC, is Tez Ilyas, a 33-year-old comedian who has been working as a stand up for around six years.

This bright-eyed comic is smart, self-assured and unperturbed. Ilyas has a cheeky chappy demeanour about him, particularly with regard to his material stemming from his religious background and Pakistani heritage. This is somewhat similar to that of Imran Yusef, with both performers having free reign over their subjects in such as way that other comedians would have difficulty accessing. This ability to break through any potential discomfort when approaching ‘taboo’ topics such as racism or terrorism and gives Tez Ilyas a subtly powerful stance in the room.

Much of his material that is available online stems from a few of this comedian’s core values, with this emotional accessibility making Tez an immediately likeable performer. The laughter often comes from a desire to be onside with Ilyas, with his approachable demeanour breaking down taboo topics into more accessible elements. Tez Ilyas brings his latest show Made in Britain to this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

For more information, visit Tez Ilyas’ website and follow him on Twitter.

APRIL COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH