Paddy Young @ Pleasance Courtyard

Hungry, Horny, Scared is a strong hour from newcomer Paddy Young, one of a handful of new indie-lad comics to hit the Fringe this year. His style flits between observations to storytelling with bags of movement and a few surreal asides. There’s more than a hint of John Kearns to Young’s delivery, in both his joke structure and physicality.

There’s little by means of a theme or thread joining Young’s hour together, but what the show lacks in grandiosity, it makes up for in quality writing. He briefly talks about his crap hometown (Scarborough) like many debut Fringe acts; lamenting being outshone by an aquatic visitor to the seaside resort on New Year’s Eve is a particular highlight. His observations around houseshares with weirdos are smartly made, especially when one of the people he describes would be right at home among the street performers on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, whilst also sharing frustrations around moving home with parents as an adult.

Frustration is a particularly apt word for tonight’s gig though – Young feels the room is against him. There’s some friendly heckles (from people who think it’s just part of what they’re meant to do at a comedy gig – hint, it’s not), deranged laughter from one guy in particular and a whole section of the crowd with sullen faces who he can’t leave alone. Despite the majority of the audience being onside from start to finish, Young batters through his show with aggression and hostility, eventually turning on those who are still having a good time. The comic is clearly upskittled by his audience, but his handling of it leaves a bitter impression on an otherwise solid hour of material from a decent new act.

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Paddy Young: Hungry, Horny, Scared, Pleasance Courtyard (Baby Grand), until 27 Aug, 9.25pm, £10-12; Pleasance Courtyard (Beside), 26 Aug, 5.20pm, £12