If Brian Cox is “The Sexy Face of Quantum Physics” (which he is), then Andrew O’Neill is “The Sexy Embodiment of Ig Nobel”: His comedy is one of Laughter, thinking and randomness. Back in August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival I came up with a convoluted plan to see a small part of the show Andrew O’Neill is Easily Distracted, by going to it, leaving after 30mins, getting a taxi to my own show, and arriving late after my friend Simon D. Heaven had done his half first, which I normally did. After being told quite correctly that this idea was stupid I’ve been waiting for a chance to see the show come round again. Reason for this story: to illustrate the point that I freaking adore the comedic stylings of Andrew O’Neill. For the unfamiliar, Andrew O’Neill is a comedian, transvestite, metalhead, whovian, amateur occultist, musician and creator of “Fuck Steampunk” magazine. With material funny enough, lyrical enough and often surreal enough to discuss these subjects without feeling at all preachy or ‘going on about it’.

At the deceitfully named “Library” venue in Leeds, he did an awesome show about everything from the uselessness of stereotypical views of gender, to Doctor Who and Metallica. And while I’ve heard talk about formulas or “the right way” to approach these controversial topics, Andrew handles them in the way that I think people should just give up and accept is the best: believe in what your saying, and be genuinely funny. It’s harder to make things this way, and far less automatic, but that’s kinda the point.
I find it so weird that people look at comedians, film and games and say “whoa! How did they make that work?!” when the story is usually the same; they made it work by saying what they wanted to say, in a way that worked for the medium, without half-heartedly watering themselves down. It’s how Bioshock Infinite worked, how Eddie Izzard worked – and it’s how Andrew works in pretty much everything that he does.

Honestly I don’t like to review comedy, this is more of a “this person is good, and you should check them out” than anything else. The tour dates can be viewed [here], and that you should also check out Andrew’s Band The Man that will not be Blamed for Nothing who do punk/metal songs about Steampunk and Victoriana.