Phil Nichol: like being hit by a comedy juggernaut
If you've never seen Phil Nichol then you've a) never seen his hairy arse and b) you've never left a comedy night out of breath. You have to remedy these things immediately - or by Saturday at the earliest. His new show is called A Deadpan Poet Sings Quiet Songs Quietly, which made us snigger at the irony. (Get a taste of the nutfuck insanity with his classic song The Only Gay Eskimo.) Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill NW3, Friday 10 July 8.45pm, £10.50 standbys only / Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment, Monday 13 July 8.30pm, £10 / £8.
In a weird bit of scheduling, Reginald D Hunter also plays those same nights as Phil Nichol, so you're getting two excellent comedians in one. The deceptively smooth talking Georgian will be discussing the The Only Apple in the Garden of Eden and Niggas, presumably in his usual straight talking style. He's also on at Udderbelly this weekend, but that won't be his new Edinburgh show. Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill NW3, Friday 10 July 8.45pm, £10.50 standbys only / Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment, Monday 13 July 8.30pm, £10 / £8.
If you didn't catch Tom Basden last week there's another chance to see him alongside Tim Key on Tuesday. You might have spotted Key doing the downbeat and subtly hilarious poetry slots on Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe and Newswipe recently. The Invisible Dot, Stables Market NW1, Tuesday 14 July 7.30pm, £8.50.
Piff the Magic Dragon (aka John Van Der Putt) is a hacked off dragon that does magic. Seriously, what else do you need to know? He's honing his show Pifftacular, and if you don't laugh he'll burn you to cinder. Alright? Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane SE11, Wednesday 15 July 8.30pm, £6.
