Opinion: It’s comedy, but not as we know it…

In recent months I’ve been playing records to people in a cinema, and do you know, it’s been groovy.

For many years I touted my trade in stand-up – first as a double act, then solo. I packed it in for a while – I got so bored with myself doing it, I decided it was better for all of us if I went off to do something else, plus the driving was really getting on my nerves.

I had some time off, but, like an alcoholic who knows there’s some Listerine in the bathroom, I couldn’t leave it alone. By then I’d got a full time job, so going off and working away was out of the question. I came back and gigged round the region, which suited me down to the ground. I found some great gigs – The Grinning Idiot, The Laughing Penguin and now The Stand, all running shows for comedians rather than bar sales.

Something was lacking though. I’ve done this for a long time, and I found that the glut of people starting out are all talking about the same things – mainly their knobs and wanking, was boring, and then irritating. I’m not saying there’s not some great new talent bubbling up, there is, but very few of the mass of newbies saying anything new for me. It’s an age thing I guess.

So what to do? I didn’t want to stop getting out there, I get miserable if I don’t do a bit of showing off, and I like to think I’m reasonably good at it, but what?

I am a complete and utter anorak when it comes to music. It was my first love, apart from Cathy Waller, but she was going out with Phil Aitken at the time, and he was harder than me. I’d re-discovered my vinyl stash, collected over the years. I’d also taken to sitting in my lonely garret playing a record from beginning to end. I decided to be brave and punted an idea to the good folk at the Tyneside Cinema; the idea was a Classic Album night. They took it and gave me the Digital Lounge on a Thursday night to play with.

We started with a month long trial back in September, which did well, and it’s taken off from there. The format is simple. A classic album, on vinyl, from beginning to end. No interruptions, no mobiles, just a chill and some beer. I introduce the album; make a slide show, run a daft quiz afterwards and the small but perfectly formed audience bring good vibes to the room. Out of some 25 shows, I’ve only had one complaint (another anorak questioning the programme), every night brings new people, a hard-core who come every week, whether they like the album or not, and a gentle introduction to some music you might not have heard before.

For me it’s the best of both worlds – music and comedy – I get to talk about music, in an atmosphere that is a friendly and chilled as possible, people come and are really nice and appreciative. Recently we had a singles night – ten people brought along their favourite 7″ singles, tell a little story and give them a spin. The audience voted for their favourite, which saw top stand up John Scott coming a close second with God Save the Queen to top telly bloke, Champion Jeff Brown (Summer Breeze).

I’ve not reinvented the wheel or anything, but I have found something that I really love doing with people who appreciate the effort. It’s not stand up, but the experience of working with audiences over the years has really helped to give the evening a little something extra. It’s great, and I love it.

If you fancy swinging your pants between now and the start of June this is the remainder of the programme. I’m always after suggestions for albums/themed nights – so get on the blog and let me know what you think…

10th May –  Stylus Break

17th May –  David Bowie – Hunky Dory

25th May –  Portishead – Dummy

31st May –  Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run

7th June  –  Summertime Special Singles Club. Prepare for the summer sunshine with the hottest sounds around chosen by some of the finest folk in town.

If you’d like to input, email me at [email protected], tweet @mrstevedrayton or visit meladdo.blogspot.com.