Entertainment For Lively Minds
Kevin McAleer's owls routine
One of the funniest and most original routines I've ever seen was by Kevin McAleer in Edinburgh in the mid-80s - a deadpan comic with a daft slideshow who left huge pauses so you never knew what was coming next.
He's reviving his owls routine in London next month in a 'celebration of alternative comedy of 30 years ago' organised by Stewart Lee (his book reminded me of McAleer)
I saw McAleer in a triple bill with Oscar McLennan, whose act was like something out of a Samuel Beckett play - slightly sinister, full of pauses (again), but absolutely enthralling. Plus Simon Fanshawe - a manic, daft and more conventional comic.
Does anyone know what's happened to McAleer since the mid-80s? And does anyone have any other alternative comedy classics from the 80s?
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She's small but she's got a big head
I had a memory of this clip kept in the brain for years but had convinced myself it was Michael Redmond performing it and so could never find it on youtube. I've just finished reading Stewart Lee's excellent book and this prompted me to search for it.
The most impressive thing about it, apart from its complete originality, is that he doesn't utter a word for almost 2 minutes.
Michael Redmond
and while I'm mentioning Mr. Redmond...
At last, a home for this
McAleer's still working away
He had a wee hiatus in the last 90s where he went back to Tyrone and was driving a bus for the local education board, but since the 2000s he's been gigging away.
The Turn It Up video is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.
Long armed owls
Thanks Olth, lovely to see this, although the slides obviously worked better on stage. Must say, back in the day, I thought he'd go far, he was so original. But never saw him do more than the slides skit.
saw him in 1993 in the Concert Hall in Limerick and
laughed so much i think i might have let out a little bit of wee...
Amazing
I was thinking about this very clip not 2 days ago. No idea why - just part of the roiling jumble of random sketches, film clips and song lyrics that runs through my head from minute to minute (in place of any meaningful or significant thought processes.)
new
He played our local pub a few weeks ago in N Ireland. Still funny.
Yes
SUNDAY 29TH May
At Last The 1981 Show
A celebration of the alternative comedy of 30 years ago curated by Stewart Lee and Paul Jackson at the Royal Festival Hall. At Last The 1981 Show presents acts who were part of the burgeoning new comedy scene, just before alternative comedy took off in 1982. Some you might have seen in that comedic Indian summer – some famous, some infamous, some unfamous - all massively significant.
BILL IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
Nigel Planer as Nicholas Craig and Neil The Folksinger
Arthur Smith
The Oblivion Boys
Norman Lovett
The Greatest Show On Legs
Andrew Bailey
Alexei Sayle
Arnold Brown
Kevin MacAleer
Frank Chicken
Chris Lynham
(and more who cannot be announced, including women)