Otis Lee Crenshaw

Cash and Parsons aside, Country and Western is not a musical genre that travels well.

This could have something to do with the fact that barely any of its largely southern US fan base hold a passport. Equally, its down-on-your-luck tales of drinking, heartbreak and cowboy hats may not translate too well for a more sophisticated European (or Northern/Coastal American) audience. Either way, red-neck Country returns Edinburgh thanks to the Scottish-American Prisoner Exchange Programme. This year, Otis Lee Crenshaw returns to the city that awarded him the 2000 Perrier Award.

As the bourbon-sozzled alter-ego of gravel-voiced US comedian, Rich Hall, Crenshaw has something of an established pedigree. The carefully built persona from the early noughties barely needs an introduction to a packed out Pleasance Cabaret Bar and the character’s back-story—including such biographical tit-bits as his seven marriages, all of which to women named Brenda—is barely mentioned. Hall expects a degree of prior acquaintance with Crenshaw, although most of the jokes work perfectly well without. That said, the occasional remark does split the audience into those who have seen him before and those that haven’t.

From the minute he opens the set with a romantic little love song about a member of the Ku Klux Klan, we’re back in familiar territory. Crenshaw’s music is both touchingly melodic and wickedly playful, delighting in being mischievous. Setting up a traditional Country love ballad before veering off course to sing about bedding a bag-lady, he is obviously in love with the genre he mocks so mercilessly.

The act also features Hall’s trademark audience banter, although Crenshaw too often seems to be filling time chatting with the front row at the expense of engaging the whole room. This is a frequent criticism of Hall’s stand up, but one that is corralled to an extent by the musical set list. And what may seem a fault does, in fairness, lead to some stand-out moments – his improvised song, based upon the career of a chosen audience member, is a joy to behold.

Otis Lee Crenshaw lacks the new-car smell that made it such a great ticket eight years ago. However, with a largely fresh set of songs, Hall provides a great excuse to dust off that plaid shirt and Stetson once more.