Simon Munnery at Bom-Banes, Brighton Fringe

If Brighton had its own Lonely Planet guidebook, Bom-Banes would be in it. Located in George Street in Kemp Town, its a shoebox of a cafe/restaurant/theatre/music venue that has the typical Brightonian personality being quirky, charming, hand-painted and talented. They have a regular 'musical' event which customers can dine on Belgian beers and food then be entertained by the hosts of Jane Bom-Bane and Nick Pynn who have a rich Fringe past. Expect a review for this at some point.

For May's Fringe, Bom-Banes had secured some intimate gigs in their basement including one of our favourite festival comedians, Simon Munnery. I say intimate as there is literally only room for about 16 people where dining chairs have been rearranged, a sofa used in an alcove and a dining table/bench put against the opposite wall with cushions. ESSENTIAL TIP: go for the normal chairs otherwise you'll be very uncomfortable. If you sat in the front row, you would have to watch your feet if the performer took a step forward!

Simon Munnery is an acquired taste. He has an awkward manner and a lot of his jokes are an analysis of ordinary happenings and sayings. He'd previously done some TV work as Attention Scum, some radio and festival work as his alias Alan Parker: Eco-warrior and I remember some really weird but funny stand-up performances at Glastonbury as he wore an orange dress and a bucket on his head (this liking of strange things won't surprise many of those who know me).

The first half of his stand-up performance was very much a personal, reflective one as we learned about his new family, living in a rented stately-home like country house near Bedford and making fun out of his recent health problems where he'd suffered from nerve damage in his left arm and demonstrated how he would now point directions to anyone in a zig-zag way. The second half was back to his normal routine stuff, some of which we'd heard before like his Bob Dylan songs, then changing the pace with some strange poetry, a couple of one-man sketches like Sherlock Holmes and the Cook's Assistant with an aubergine. His last surreal joke (maybe a true experience) was catching his dad masturbate brought us to tears of laughter.

It was quite strange to see him that close and buy a DVD from him in person (more awkwardness or was it part of the act that he admitted he'd only brought four DVDs with him earlier). After learning about his nerve damage in his arm and hand (which you couldn't help looking at whenever he held his guitar and mic stand) I just felt sorry for him and slightly star-struck by stumbling over my words when asking about the DVD content. More awkwardness!