Sunday 25 November 2007

Bill Bailey ; Tinselworm review - Bournemouth International Centre - 20th November

There aren’t many things in life which can make your face hurt without any physical contact with somebody however Bill Bailey’s latest sell out tour – Tinselworm – had me rubbing my face in an attempt to try and make it feel better after an intensive grinning session.

Unlike other comedians who waltz around on an empty set and talk, Bailey’s talents with music mean there are two organs, a guitar and a large gong present onstage. The act is made up of all new material and new songs to match including a song for emos the Friends theme tune and getting the crowd chanting; “Hey ASDA! I ain’t gonna be your bitch!” As Bill thinks that Wal-Mart are an evil American organisation.

He is often heard to remark how he over analysis’s everything in life and goes into great detail about very bizarre and different things such as “Beckham playing in America is like Einstein entering a pub quiz or Hitler turning up at the BNP in Tiverton.” He also converses into how time doesn’t exist and clearly lets his mind unfold leaving the audience to wonder what is going on but at the same time find it incredibly funny.

That point leads me onto another thing which makes him a great comedian – everything he does seems so unplanned and natural. He has done this act many times before his appearance in the BIC but it all seemed to be spontaneous banter but with a clear structure you could follow from beginning to end. It also included a video toward the end showing Bill acting out the unusual routines he mentions and how they affect him in everyday life.

Unfortunately the tour has finished in the UK but there is some good clips of it on YouTube and ultimately there will be a DVD which I would recommend – but be warned, your face will be worse off for it and be sure to have the Tena Lady handy for a two hour onslaught of laughter.

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