music

David O’Docherty Ultrasound Assembly George Square

Posted on by Debbie E

Another quick post for one of the funniest stand up shows of the Fringe this year. We got to see late night David O’Docherty. The audience were in full party mode. 1 man and a tiny Casio keyboard smashes it for an hour.

A little musical segway shows that he is a way more talented musician than he lets on.

Every song has the entire jam packed crowd in stitches. I particularly loved the one about the internet. ITS SO TRUE.

It was our last show of the year and we ended on a high. There is no one that writes funnier songs than David and I think that this is maybe my favourite show he’s done (and I’ve seen a few)

Hauntology The Space Niddry street. #edfringe

Posted on by Debbie E

It’s Friday night and Niddry street is heaving with people smashing back alcohol and it’s getting a bit lairy outside.

We get a flier and told about a show that has a David Lynch vibe. She must be a mind reader because we are the biggest Lynch fans (I’ve got on a twin Peaks t shirt so maybe just good at spotting that)

You walk in and straight away you go from Friday night Carnage to the Silencio. A dark stage with a

Gramophone. A small tv. A piano and lots of other oddities that make you feel like you have walked into a David Lynch set.

The show is one of the best things we have seen at the Fringe this year. It was a real privilege to be there.

The music created was absolutely what the title suggests. Really haunting, ethereal and unearthly with the static, backing soundtrack, cello, piano and theremin.

Monelise has the most incredible voice. If you had to try and attempt a comparson, you can think of Kate Bush, Cocteau twins, Julee Cruise, Rebekah Del Rio but it’s so much it’s own thing it’s very difficult to say to someone, go see this… it sounds like……

What I do know is, is that if David Lynch saw this, these guys would be on his next project without a doubt.

This is a big recommendation because they really are something special. And a huge relief from what’s going on outside.

There aren’t too many more shows at #Edfringe left so I urge you to get tickets and see in the witching hour in Hauntology

The Katet Vs John Williams. the jazz bar.

Posted on by Debbie E

Wowsers. What an end to the day. We stayed up late to get our fix of jazz and funk with a big band.

We started with Star Wars today and we ended with Star Wars. A huge singalong to all the big tunes. Absolutely brilliant.

The Katet are an incredible band. Really tights and all there takes on these film scores were just out of this world.

The was a particular fan of Jurassic park. And what absolutely started the party. The cantina music from Star Wars of course. Everyone went nuts for it.

They are doing it all over again next week and I can’t recommend it enough.

Mr Thing. Pleasance Dome. King dome.

Posted on by Debbie E

I love a puppet. I just love them. I immediately just believe that a puppet is real. I can’t help it. And mr Thing is adorable. . He’s not just cute but he has a great voice and attitude.

As soon as you walk in, your wowed by the set up, it’s already looks great before you even get started.

There’s a band. Loads of tech. Great hosts. It feels like a how a late night show should be at the Fringe.

I accidentally got myself involved in choosing the guests near the start (well done for finding a none performer in the room (and I think of everyone at the Fringe I am the most none performer here)

I soldiered on and chose the first guest without taking anyone’s eye out. We got Tilda Swinton answers an ad on Craigslist who were all lovely and it looks like a great show.

We also got Willis and Vere which was great for us because their show from last year was one of our favourites.

There is so much going on, loads of fun sections and running gags. It’s really well done and very funny.

Absolutely loved it. I think the highlight was a phone call set up by mr Thing, the celeb booker.

He is just so god damn cute. And sassy. If you want a late night show this is definitely one to get booked in.

Manual Cinemas Frankenstein McEwan Hall

Posted on by Debbie E

I held on until the end but there is a final scene of Frankenstein’s monster and Mary Shelly that absolutely destroyed me and I had to style it out in the theatre.

My goodness that monster was adorable. It’s another astonishing feat by Manual Cinema. Incredible music. The goings on behind the scenes to make up the shadow puppetry and the live shots is astonishing.

How they put together something that looks like a film in just over an hour is a real feat.

I always enjoy it when women play men. Previously it was all shadow work so having actual moving images of the actors was something different. The faces of the actors on the screen looked great. I mean just look at them. They are so beautiful. Look at those eyes giving you silent movie glamour.

There seemed to be 3 different screens this time (probably more) I genuinely don’t know how they put that together every day.

My only issue was with McEwan hall. It’s really not a comfy theatre In terms of seating and just over an hour did take its toll.

Otherwise wow. You have to see this one.

Nearly human Perhaps Contraption at Pleasance Queen Dome 11:50 am

Posted on by Debbie E

We had a late one Saturday night so we were a bit worse for wear starting the Sunday with this. Straight from the off you knew you were in for something special.

Nearly Human, as a theatrical concept, is something I haven’t seen before. A band comprising of saxophones, drums, guitar, trombones a sousaphone (I know because I asked) and other instruments that I daren’t name because I’ll look silly. Everything was so tight. The songs are great. The vocal harmonies perfect. And they even move around creating dance routines with their instruments so the whole thing is really exciting.

The whole concept turns it into a jazz sci fi fusion. These guys are super talented. The drum beats add another level of impressive.

The whole story line behind the show about an atom and the universe is also lovely.

This ones a must see without a doubt. What a start to a Sunday morning.

I got asked if so knew what gig theatre is today by someone handing me a flier and I think I get it now.

Spencer Jones 50 minute disco experiment Monkey Barrel

Posted on by Debbie E

So here we are, In a basement at midnight on Saturday night at the Fringe. We have seen Spencer Jones a few times and I love his prop comedy. It’s so funny and inventive so I wasn’t too sure what to expect.

And it turned out to be great fun. He’s really talented at creating bonkers music with loads of vocal layers. We also got a fair few people guest spotting to do a bit of MC-ing and rapping.

I wasn’t expecting him to be so good at this. i thought it was just be fun chaos with some disco tunes. It might be an experiment but it felt like a great place to be on a Saturday night.