Phil Nichol: Hiro Worship - Wed 12 Mar, The Glasgow Stand

With a voice like sandpaper and a crazed, frenetic, stage-pacing energy, Nichols has the crowd all wired up.

Article by Carmody Wilson | 01 Apr 2008

Bursting onto the stage and sounding like he's about to sell you some Cillit Bang, Phil Nichol is as energetic and muscular as his comedy. With a voice like sandpaper and a crazed, frenetic, stage-pacing energy, Nichols has the crowd all wired up seconds after hitting the stage - and this was even before letting his trousers fall partway to reveal his bum and the accompanying jokes. Though a Canadian, Nichols has Glaswegian blood, and his bit on Londoners versus Weegies has the house roaring with laughter. He assaults the mic with repeated cunnilingus and fellatio moves, and must have driven the sound technician crazy with his mic-cymbal-banging-punchline trick. But what great schtick this guy has, and this was just the warm-up to the show. Less successful is Nichol's actual set, Hiro Worship. Originally an Edinburgh Festival entry, Hiro Worship has all the gimmicky clean lines and circular storytelling pattern of most Festival shows and does not exhibit Nichol's best comedic qualities. The devotion to a linear narrative takes away from his energy and improv skills, and lacks the power of his first set. A good show, but highly uneven. [Carmody Wilson]

Phil Nichol, Wednesday 12 March, The Glasgow Stand