Hello and a very Happy Sunday to you. Another week has whizzed by like a pensioner on a mobility scooter and I'm here again, feverishly putting finger to keyboard to bring you a BRAND NEW REVIEW OH MISSUS.
Regular readers of the blog (YO MUM) will know that up to now I've solely covered brand new music and left it at that, but I'm branching out like Twiggy today with a review/interview that strays into another arena that I absolutely adore. Comedeh (that's "comedy", if you're not a regular internet user, or you're from anywhere south of Sheffield)
I'd really like to introduce you to the brilliant stand up comedian Red Redmond, who very kindly agreed to be gently probed by me last week. He also agreed to an interview, after. Well, he couldn't refuse really. I'll share the gentle probing later, but first here's how you can get in touch/find his debut show, which is called "BLUE".
You can find Red on Twitter here:
twitter.com/redredmond
You can find him on Facebookz here:
facebook.com/pages/Red-Redmond/
and here:
facebook.com/DeadCatComedyClub
You can find the Dead Cat Comedy Club website here:
deadcatcomedy.co.uk/
And from that you'll be able to find a link to buy Red's stand up show here:
gumroad.com/l/blue
and you can also buy the audio only version here:
redredmond.bandcamp.com/releases
Right, that's all the necessary linkage done. Firstly, I urge you to buy and support Red's show. I discovered him quite by chance a few weeks ago, and was blown away by not only how funny he is, but how self effacing and genuine the material in BLUE seems to be. (I related to a lot of it - but that's for a whole other psychiatry session). He's got a real warmth and flamboyance which resonate through the act - and you also feel you're watching someone who is an exceptional and naturally talented performer.
I also really admire the way he's gone about producing the show and one of the main reasons I wanted to feature him on the blog is because, like so many of the bands I write about on here, he's doing it the DIY way - funding and releasing his own stuff, no agent, no manager etc. It's heartening to see.
So without further ado, here's my interview with Red. I hope you enjoy it and will support his show.
Congrats on the release of your debut stand up show. It was an absolute joy to watch from start to finish. You touch on quite a few personal things throughout the show, so I'd like to start by asking if you think anything is fair game where comedy is concerned, or do you have a line you won't cross?
First off, thanks very much. I’m really happy with the show and I’m glad so many people have enjoyed it. That aside… I always like my comedy to be personal because I think there’s nothing funnier than the truth. For me, nothing is off limits as long as I can make it funny.
I've been thinking about adopting a rabbit, but your shit-eating story did make me do a bit of a sick-burp. Please can you convince me that it's still a good thing to adopt one?
Rabbits are the best! They also love eating their own shit. But, and here’s the twist, it’s not actually shit. It's something called cecals. Basically, rabbits have a large pouch located at the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine, this is called the cecum. Here the digestible portions of the intestinal contents are broken down by bacteria. Some nutrients are absorbed through the wall of the cecum, but most nutrients are locked up in the bacteria. The rabbit then produces bacteria-rich droppings called cecotropes, which are soft, sticky and green and have a stronger odor than their regular waste droppings. These cecotropes are eaten directly from the anus as soon as they are produced. The cecotropes are then passed through the digestive tract of the rabbit and nutrients such as vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids are released from the bacteria and absorbed into the rabbit's body. As a result rabbits have developed an efficient way of producing their own vitamin, protein and fat supply. Still wanna get one? They’re dead fluffy. (thegeneral says - I'm just gonna focus on the fluff...you've convinced me but I just need to think about the fluff)
I love the approach you've taken with releasing this show. The DIY approach is something I see a lot with the bands I support on here and it's refreshing to see a comedian adopting it. Is this the way forward for you - or do you see a time when you'll get a manager and do things in a more mainstream way?
Again, thank you! In comedy, managers and agencies can be just as villainous as the major labels of the music industry. But there’s still some good ones out there. Like everything, it’s better to work with people you trust. I’ve always taken a ‘never say never’ approach to my career and I can assure everyone that if I were to sign up to something it would be for the right reasons and at the right time.
Who are your own artistic influences? Or the people who inspired you to try this?
Punk Rock. Without a doubt. I’ve been a punk fan since my teens (yeah, baby!). I’ve always respected the DIY approach of artists like The Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers etc... They understood that if they wanted to get heard they had to get out there and make some noise. BLUE is my noise. This is a show for the disaffected. It's a show for the nerds, the losers, the call centre employees. It's a show for my people. (thegeneral - I think you've just distilled why I identified with it so much, sitting here in my darkened room leaning over my keyboard fretting about my very existence and worrying about my day job tomorrow ...)
What does your comedy future hold?
Hmm… Well I’m going to Edinburgh Fringe this August to work on material for next year’s show which will of course be called GREEN. Which at the moment is mainly about yoghurts and my obsession with Taylor Swift. I’ve also taken a temporary position as the in-house comedy programmer for The Dancehouse Theatre in Manchester. As well as performing, I run a number of gigs in the Manchester area under the Dead Cat Comedy banner. Basically, if I’m not gigging, I’m running a gig.
Finally, Where can we see you next?
I’m in the midst of hosting a series of Edinburgh Previews at The Dancehouse. Next one is on Saturday 11th July. The show will star myself, Jack Campbell (English Comedian of the Year 2014) and Damien Slash (Over 10,000 subscribers on YouTube). Click here for tickets. I’ll also be at Kosmonaut hosting MACE (Manchester’s Alternative Comedy Emporium) on Thursday 30th July. This is a must-see show starring South African funnyman Cockey Falkow and comedy genius Mat Ewins. Tickets on sale soon. Hopefully see you there…
P.S. Thanks so much for getting in touch and letting people know about BLUE. I hope you have a lovely day. (You are more than welcome, Red. The very best of luck with all your endeavours)
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