What's fantastic about this new enterprise from Century Venues is that it shows that Australia breeds great funny people. Although an all-male bill tonight (we do funny chicks too), the locals were unfailing, diverse, from different schools but overall really strong. Particular props to Tien Tran (old school self-hate but with an awesome local twist – who says Gen Y can't be bothered to commit?), Jared Jekyll (the type of bizarre that the Poms would love in particular) and one-liners delivered deadpan by Bruce Griffiths.
After the short break the host found his stride a bit more easily, thanks to a so-bizarre-it-had-to-be-true feminine accessory, followed by the final Oz act James Smith, who also killed. Now living in the US, he was the right mix of schmick but recognisible – our loss is their gain - come back again soon, Smithy! All of this was, sadly, undone with headliner Tony Woods. It's not often, as an audience, you feel sorry for the organisers, but tonight I think we really did. Not charmingly incoherent but just pissed and sloppy, when he trailed and we didn't follow, he (gently) got the shits. The take-home message was keep an eye on the local scene; there are lots more interesting stuff happening there (and clearly Aussies can handle their drinks better).
