Tuesday, 20 June 2023

ISMO, "Watch Your Language" Tour, The Stand, Edinburgh. Tuesday 20th June, 2023


This quirky Finnish comedian may not be a household name but he did win the Laugh Factory's Funniest Person in the World competition in 2014. Despite that accolade being nearly a decade ago, he still sold out The Stand, Edinburgh, fast enough for them to add a second show later the same night. I decided it was worth the effort to head through as I was on holiday that week and he wasn't playing in Glasgow, entirely forgetting how expensive rail travel is, the cost of the rail tickets almost matching the cost of the gig tickets.

I'd never been to The Stand in Edinburgh before. After a slight case of getting lost, we found the right street and joined the queue. At the basement entrance, a tall, gregarious, bespectacled host (in a black shirt, crimson jacket and beltless baggy jeans, held up with white braces) checked off my name from his list and repeated the house rules: phones on silent, no talking during the show, the bar will close during the performance so buy enough drinks beforehand and enjoy the show. He then waved us through to the team member who would take us to our seats (or stools in this case, all the seats at the front of the stage, except for the front row, already taken). The stools were uncomfortable, sitting on them as we were for nearly an hour and three-quarters, but the view was excellent. Apologies to the woman in front for occasionally nudging your bum with my knee. It wasn't deliberate, more the consequence of an involuntary wriggle.

Ismo was good, getting some big laughs. His schtick is to poke fun at the nuances of the English language and other cultural differences that he never encountered in Finland, often playing the overseas fool for comedic effect. He ended on his shit closer, a beautifully crafted routine worthy of George Carlin. He even managed to work in another call back to it at the very, very end, after he told us about his merch on sale outside.
 
I was a bit put off by the noises he makes on stage - a cross between a nom-nom and a nervous giggle as if chewing over what to say next. His delivery could have been slicker too, pausing occasionally to look at his phone to review his setlist of gags and check how long he'd been on stage. I suspect the set doesn't change much between shows so perhaps he was still a bit jetlagged.  

One request for next time, Ismo: please come to Glasgow and save me a rail fare.     

Ticket price: £28 plus £0.80 booking fee (booked direct)
Rail fare: £24.30 (from Johnstone to Waverley return, split tickets) 





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