"If you don’t cum soon I’m going to set you on fire..."

Toby kicked off the evening on Tuesday with a routine tailored to the birthday party that was in. Like lambs to the slaughter...

Ken Bulger was first up. With material ranging from beggars, Sesame Street, and dissing the Yanks.

A slightly nervous performance from Ken. He delivered some quirky material in a downbeat manner. The deadpan delivery suffered due to a lack of projection but that’s fairly easily solved. The material was very good; the scouse scally routine was especially effective. A good quality debut from a promising act.

Next up was Mark Hayden, who struggled to hold the audience's attention with his schoolyard style comedy.

Mark’s material ranged from wiping the Queen Mum’s arse to watching girls on the bog with full sound effects. And just like the Queen Mum, he died a death.

The material came across as both childish and sexist whilst the delivery was animated it couldn’t make up for the poor quality gags.

Likable Little Mo lookalike Mary Bourke was up next, and thankfully delivered a stormer to get the night back on track.

The chubby-chasing Irish lass delivered a brilliant set with style and class. With some clever insights into relationship break up clichés: "I love you but I’m not in love with you." Which translates as, "I want you, but not inside me."

Mary’s commanding yet likable delivery was a big hit on Tuesday. Look out for a much longer set next time.

Local lass and friend of the club Susan Vale was up next.

Susan has written for Radio 4 and her writing skills were prevalent on Tuesday with some very clever gags and one-liners. Tribe Malarkey instantly warmed to her quiet and cheeky delivery.

Brendan Riley treated Tribe Malarkey to his Edinburgh preview show on Tuesday. And what a treat it was.

Brendan presented a chalkboard menu from which Tuesday’s crowd were able to select the routine of their choice.

The menu items included Manning, World Cup, Parachute, Sub and Bumblebee among others.

This novel approach to the routine cut out the need for tenuous links between the material and gave the crowd an excuse for rowdiness, which added even more energy to an already lively set.

With his very confident, affable delivery Brendan just can’t miss. The material is nothing out of the ordinary. Just good quality observations and tall tales. He clearly enjoys himself on stage and the crowd get swept along in his enthusiasm. He should do very well at the Fringe. I for one will make a point of seeing him.

Toby was on fire on Tuesday. Don’t get your rhymes wrong for the joke compo or he’ll tear you apart. Fantastic to watch but I’m glad I wasn’t the poor sap on the receiving end of the Hadoke’s wrath!

A great night on Tuesday brought the Malarkey right back on to form.

See you next week.

Lee.