Fringe Review IX - Andrew O'Neill's history of heavy metal

I am not really a metal head, never have been. There are a few bands that I like but there are also quite a few that... well are not my cup of tea. But I am generally open to that scene and I definitely prefer it over a lot of others. And since I don't know a whole lot about its history a little lesson on that subject seemed like a good idea.

And I was right. Andrew O'Neill is hilarious but at the same time, if you want to you can really learn something about heavy metal. I certainly did. That Metallica's drummer prefers to stand up all the time or that the first distorted guitar sounds were actually made by broken amps for example.

What's great about the show is, that as soon as Andrew enters the stage you know that he knows what he's talking about. He is a proper metal head, with long hair, denim west with band patches and he even brings his guitar. But he also seems a bit like a geek and that combination makes him believable to me, because he probably spends a lot of time researching the stuff he loves.

He actually does tell you the history of heavy metal, from bands that came before and paved the way to all kinds of different genres and their most famous bands. I've heard most of the names of these bands but don't really know what they sound like or where the actual difference between all these genres is. That's where Andrew's guitar comes in. He simply shows his audience what he's talking about. He plays the different kinds of metal. You  really get the idea that thrash metal and black metal are two completely different things... when it comes to music and when it comes to looks (black metallers just look silly).

But what's also cool is that he goes beyond just the plain history of heavy metal, he knows what else was going on in the different decades in the music industry and he knows about the stereotypes and cliches that come with his scene and instead of ranting about them, he is able to make fun of them and of a scene he clearly loves.

One thing he says towards the end of his show, is something that I've never thought about, but is absolutely true: right now is the best time to be a metal head. Thanks to the internet we have the chance to listen to all the stuff that has been released in the past 45 years of heavy metal history. If we'd been around at any other decade during these 45 years we would probably have missed out on one genre or another. Today we can just go on youtube, spotify or any other source and listen to what ever recommendation or new band we come across.

I recommend seeing Andrew's show, if you come across it. Even, if you are not a metal head, even if there is not a single metal band or song you like. You might still learn something.

Fringe Review VIII Loretta Maine

I already wanted to see Loretta Maine's show last year, but unfortunately didn't have the money. Since my financial situation has improved this year and I saw that she was back again, I had to make sure I would catch her.

To be honest I didn't even know what to expect, but somehow her poster last year and the title off this year's show spoke to me: Strong independent woman (unless when I am very tired). Hell yeah, I can relate to that. And the poster last year reminded me a lot of Courtney Love, whose music I quite like, even though I am not sure, I would like her as a person, if I'd ever meet her.

Her show was held in one of the circus tents at the Assembly at George Square Gardens, which is a really nice venue. On stage we had a (female, yeah!!!) drummer, a guitarist, a keyboard player and Loretta herself. I did know that there would be some form of music involved, I just didn't know how much.

The whole show centered around Loretta herself, who is a bipolar, somewhat grungy, slightly alcoholic trailer park girl and celebrity singer/songwriter. In this year's show she tells us how her management and her are trying to change her image and make her a pop star, she even shows up in a pink cocktail dress but loses that and most of her other clothing during the show. And she goes from trying to be sweet girl to blubbering drunk white wine witch. That transformation is always accompanied by or told through her music.

Loretta includes the audience and no one is safe (not even me who tried to hide in the last row in the dark), she flirts with you, yells at you and sits on your lap. But apart from her comical talent, she really is an amazing musician. She can sing, I mean BOY CAN SHE SING and she does all kinds of styles, from pop, singer/songwriter to country and even rap. And she does it well, I am thoroughly impressed.

As I said, I didn't really know what to expect when I went to see the show and it was different from what I thought it would be but I was positively surprised and I recommend this show - not only to women!

Fringe Review VI Michael Mittermeier

There are a bunch of Germans who also work for the company my hostel is part of and together we went to see a German comedian called Michael Mittermeier.

Back when I was a teenager he was one of THE comedy superstars in Germany. I even owned a VHS cassette (yep that's how long he's been around) of the program which I think made him famous. I don't know if it was me just losing interest or if he actually disappeared from the face of the earth but I feel like I haven't heard from him in a while. Well, it might have something to do with the fact, that I left Germany years ago and don't have TV since 2006...

Anyways so here I was with my German friends in a room with about 200 - 300 people at the Fringe and really not knowing, if I would like his show or not, because I remember that when re-watching said VHS I felt like I had grown out of that kind of humor.

But WOW!!! I was quite surprised at how much I actually laughed. As I've said before, I am usually not a big comedy fan, but Michael Mittermeier hits a nerve. Maybe it's the fact that he is German, too and there is actually such a thing as German humor, but I really thought he was hilarious.

The show is called Blackout and he talks about all kinds of blackouts : an electricity blackout while living in New York, too much alcohol, being knocked unconscious and the Germans during WWII.
But he also talks a lot about being German, TV, zombies, Oktoberfest, Chinese people and having clowns for breakfast.
As a German who has traveled a bit and works with people from all over the world I can relate to a lot of cliches he brings up. And it is refreshing to find a German comedian who can make fun of the war in a way that doesn't make me cringe, because he makes fun of the victims, he doesn't.

What I admire about Mittermeier is that he doesn't need props or a flashy light show (well there is a teeny tiny bit of that at the beginning), he only uses his body language (he is master in making the funniest faces) and his voice to underline his words.

I am not sure how many Germans and how many non-Germans there were in the audience and who had more fun, but I do recommend this show if you are German or have German friends or colleges. You might recognise yourself or someone you know.

Fringe Review V The Lock-in Cabaret

The other night the hostel kids wanted to go to a cabaret show and asked, if I wanted to join them. Since I had a night off and I think I have not nearly seen enough shows I agreed to come along. And I am way more interested in cabaret than comedy anyways. 

The show was being held in the beautiful Voodoo Rooms. Not the easiest venue to find, but the room , the Lock-In cabaret was happening was amazing, kind of shabby chic.

The show itself turned out to be held by two magicians called Griffin and Jones who lead the audience through an hour of different artists that change every night. Griffin and Jones opened the show by the usual introductions, some jokes and magic tricks that shocked and maybe even grossed out the audience, but they were non the less impressive.

After that there was a female burlesque act, I am very sorry, but apart from Griffin and Jones I did not manage to catch any other names of the performers. Anyways, the burlesque act only performed one song, but I really enjoyed it. And NO not only because she took most of her close off, it was because the show she had put together was very clever, funny and her performance overall well done.

Next was a comedian from, as we learned during his performance, a tiny place in South England. He talked about how life as a country boy was and how it compares to the big city. I have to admit, that I did not understand everything he said. The rest of the audience seemed to find him very funny while I again, as usual had a chuckle here and there but wasn't blown away. It seems like I just don't share the same sense of humor. And as I said, I am not much for comedy shows anyways.

Next was another burlesque show. This time by a man, who at first played the role of a cowboy, including hat and toy gun. He included the front row of the audience which was quite funny especially since he had no problem coming on to the boys as well. In good old burlesque fashion he started taking most of his clothes off. With each item he lost, he produced a yellow flower. I have to admit that I am not sure that to do with male burlesque. I don't think it is sexy most of the time, but this performer managed with his cowboy outfit and the flower he produced to at least play a little with the male stereotype, especially since the flower he pulled out of his boxers hung it's had in rather sad manner....

The last performer was a female American comedian. And at his point I would like to mention that people in the audience, who can't shut up are arseholes! Her set was good and she tried at first to involve to hecklers and make fun of them but ended up ignoring them all together because they just wouldn't shut up. The comedian had no problem with crude jokes and making fun of her own country.

Griffin and Jones kept doing little magic tricks and a little stand up in between the different acts and also trying to get the noisy audience in the back to shut up. They were the perfect hosts for a show like that and ended it with wiggling themselves out straitjackets. A lot of entertainment for just one hour!.  

Fringe Reviews III Jimeoin

As hostel staff we have the privilege to get a bunch of free tickets to shows that we usually couldn't afford. That way we can recommend them to our guests. That was the case with the Jimeoin tickets as well. In fact we got quite a few for him. And because some of the hostel people had seen him a few days before and absolutely loved him I thought why not. The gift horse strikes again.

This time it wasn't a small attic or an improvised theatre like the other shows I'd seen so far. The room reminded me of a cinema or an opera house with really comfy chairs, a sparkly bar downstairs and people who organise the seating.

Jimoin is one of these comedians who basically tell one joke after another and include the audience a little. Not my favourite type of show, I prefer theatre and caberet, but I have to admit that he made me laugh here and there. But he had the other people in stitches and they generally seemed to enjoy his show. So I guess, if you are into that kind of comedy you will have a blast.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't bored, I enjoyed it more than I expected, but I am quite sure it will not be my personal favourite of this year's Fringe.