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Jamie Bowen - A Rational Fear of Concrete
It was a lounge style setting which saw Jamie's return to the New Zealand International Comedy Festival - and with a box, a microphone, ukulele and harpsichord (as well as lounge light and hatstand), there was a sort of mellow feel to this 10pm show.
I've always loved the energy that Jamie Bowen brings to every performance; he's got a Zebedee style feel to being on stage; and that manic style, coupled with some great material has always been a formula for success.
This year, though, as he sauntered onto the stage in a very low key way, I was struck by the feeling that he's mellowed - and initially wondered how that would affect his act.
I really shouldn't have worried.
From the moment he started firing out some music with the use of a loop pedal and then effortlessly moved in to some great crowd interaction before heading into his show, it's clear that Jamie Bowen is still top of his game. Covering material about growing up, being in a dark place, abandoning rollerblading/ skateboarding and maturing, this really is a tour de force set.
Combined with some dark, truly hilarious and lyrically deft songs about relationships (as well as some outstanding use of the music props available), it really was a show with something a little different.
But what I loved most about Jamie Bowen was when he was forced off track thanks to a heckler who clearly thought he was hilarious (hint - he was not.) Because that's when Bowen's at his unleashed, manic, motormouth best - if you face Jamie Bowen down on stage, quite frankly, you stand no chance - as the heckler, you're doomed; as the audience, you're in fits of laughter at someone else's expense.
It's great to have Jamie Bowen back at the festival - he's honestly one of New Zealand's greatest stand ups - and judging by tonight's show, one of our best entertainers.
Jamie Bowen - A Rational Fear of Concrete plays at
Auckland's Basement Theatre until Saturday May 8th.
