"Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie, put your hands all over my body..."

The night started at 8pm with a viewing on the big screen of Toby live on Pure Soap. We challenged him to slip the following phrases into the conversation: rimming, plums, gash, David Dickenson and vasectomy. He managed 'plums' and even a picture of David Dickenson, so not too bad.

The actual night itself was a double headliner - more on that later. First up onto the stage was journalish-cum-comedian-cum-boxer Ben Carlish. He's writing a book about him challenging himself to do stand-up comedy and fought and won his first amateur boxing bout. Hmm...

Some of Ben's material was okay-ish, some of it fell flat, but I think the main thing that needs improving is the delivery; it comes across as too prescripted (although most comedians' sets are), but it definitely needs speeding up some. The feedlines to some of the gags went on a bit too long and by the time the punchline arrived chances are you'd guessed what it was anyway. Still, he managed to pull it round at the end (sort of) with an unusual skipping/poetry demonstration. Hmm. Potential there but needs to work on delivery I think. And the set was a bit too long as well.

Next on, making his debut at XS Malarkey, was Paul Hand.

Paul started off by emerging from the Gents' bogs and running up on to the stage, complete with wet patch on his arse! There then followed a bizarre impression of Ozzy Osbourne, which was lost on me (I'd never seen The Osbournes). The material that followed was pretty good, though, if slightly surreal. I wish he'd brought his guitar as I'd seen him at the Comedy Balloon with it and he was excellent. This set, although good, was a bit of a mish-mash of material and improvised stuff. And about five minutes too long. Keep the set nice and tight, Paul, and you're on a winner.

Third onto the Malarkey stage was Scottish funnyman Stephen Carlin.

Stephen was on a few weeks back and obviously impressed as Toby gave him another gig. The set was pretty much as it was, but with a bit more stuff and it was superb. Laid back delivery of slightly surreal observations but one of the things I noticed was that Stephen hardly needed to swear at all to make things funny. I think the harshest word was 'bastard'. The sign of a good comic, I think. He's got great presence on stage which makes you want to sit up and listen. And the material was good as well. So much so that Toby's offered him a paid gig the next time he comes back.

After the break came the musical lunatic commonly known as The Amazing Mr Smith. Smithy's set consisted of the old favourites (see other reviews as it's identical) but also some new stuff (or so old that even I'd never seen it before). Great stuff, and stormed it as usual.

Second headliner of the night was a comic who hasn't played Malarkey's since we moved away from that shithole across the road, Jack Russell.

Jack launched into his storytelling and observations, in his occasionally quirky way, and won the crowd over pretty much from the start. There was even a wee bit of audience participation (even if it was only to get the crowd to say "Arr!" is a West Country style). Reminiscent in glimpses of Eddie Izzard and Stephen K Amos. Which is no bad thing. Good stuff all round.

See you next week.

Spider.