Adventure

That should actually read Romance And Adventure, the new show from Josie Long at this year's Fringe. Had an old pal staying with us for a couple of nights and tonight was cheap preview time.

So, Josie Long over teatime. The customary mix of material, trying to reconcile her tastes and lifestyle with her political convictions. I'm a big fan of hers and this new show's rather good.

Then Markus Birdman at The Stand, a follow-on from his show last year that I saw, dealing with his re-assessment of everything in his life after having a stroke at age 41. But obviously making it funny. It's in the smaller Stand 2, a room that's only got a capacity of about 35-40 so it's a pretty intimate affair and Markus is skillful at drawing you into his world and making it all friendly and comfortable.

Finished off the evening with some half-price tickets at The Stand for a preview of Phill Jupitus which was not was I expecting at all, and something of a mixed bag. Some cracking adlibs in there, but maybe the format was stretched a bit too much for me.

Would have loved to have gone for a pint afterwards to finish the night off but, at 11.20pm on a Wednesday night it seems that the pubs in that part of town (well, the Cafe Royal and The Guildford Arms at least) like to close early. I guess that come the weekend everything will be in full swing, pubs will be open later and the venues will be heaving. For now, it's very much a case of easing into things.

Bit of music to close. I last saw Phill Jupitus over 20 years ago when, in his Porky The Poet guise, he used to open for Billy Bragg. Hmm, Billy's an absolute hero of Josie Long too, it all fits. Have some vintage sounds from Barking.


[Extra musical info: Phill Jupitus' show involved a lot of questions from the audience, and one of the people who asked a question, whilst chucking in a reference to the choking to death on a cocktail cherry of T-Rex founder member Steve Peregrine Took, revealed that she was the owner of 'Marc Bolan's tree'. As far as rock mythology went it was all quite impressive, not to mention suprising. Phill took it all in his stride, naturally]