Jamali Maddix @ Monkey Barrel Comedy Club

A half-hearted farewell to the Fringe from the talented Jamali Maddix

Review by Veronica Finlay | 14 Aug 2018

Vape Lord is another fierce and funny performance by Jamali Maddix, who unfortunately checks out a bit too early. Maddix, by now used to holding his own as the host of Viceland’s Hate Thy Neighbour, has the same confidence and swag he presents in his TV-show. He immediately starts picking out members of the audience; teasing them about their appearance in the cutting yet friendly way he can get away with. His approach to the rest of the show is similar – however crude or harsh his jokes get, Maddix maintains his likeability, and even when he starts on an older man in the crowd, he doesn’t come across as disrespectful or rude.

If anything he manages to bond with the gent in question. His natural ability to keep people on side carries him through his routine, which covers all the big topics including race, gender and religion. When he stays focused he is very good, but all too frequently he breaks his own stride.

He says this is his last Fringe show, and that after his upcoming world tour he'll be leaving showbiz altogether. He seems to mean it and perhaps he’s already rolling the credits. At one point Maddox hints to any reviewers in the audience to give him “three stars for structure, four for effort” and this would be a fair assessment until the latter part of the show when the effort is also waning.


Jamali Maddix: Vape Lord, Monkey Barrel Comedy Club (Room One), 2-26 Aug (not 13), 6pm, £5-8/PWYW

Scroll on to read more of The Skinny's 2018 Edinburgh Fringe comedy reviews; click here for a round-up of all the best reviews from this year's comedy and theatre programmes