Go Jonny, Go - to Satiric Verses from Jonny & The Baptists

By E.L.Hardy

Why can't all politics be like this?!

Jonny and the Baptists have made quite a name for themselves on their tour of the UK, perhaps due to the impressively persuasive sway of their musical numbers. This show for the fringe recounts this unlikely duo's experiences and the things they've learnt on their travels: Estate Agents are hated by all, the word Forage actually means bin juice (hurrah!) and UKIP are quite enormously threatened by their music and public appeal. (They don't like UKIP much and, needless to say, UKIP don't like them either.)

Now, there's Jonny on lead vocals and keys. He has some heroic vocal stamina and sings like a rock star (a rock star who annunciates when necessary in wordy choruses). And then there's the taller, quieter Paddy Jones on guitar and backing vocals. Paddy's unpredictable contributions and rugged charm had me crying with laughter - like those socially unacceptable full on belly laughs - and it's pretty awesome that both Jonny and Paddy laugh along too. There's a drunken spontaneity about the whole set; the things that come out of Jonny's mouth seem to be as surprising to Paddy as they are to us. After the pathetic hate mail these two received from UKIP, and the sickening results of the general elections, what else is there to do but laugh? Let us unite and sing and laugh in the face of UKIP, until they eventually boil up and explode into a billion bits.

So bugger it, here's a verse from me to you, Jonny and the Baptists:

I'm a reviewer, you'll think me a knob,

But writing a piece is all part of the job.

It's easy today - I admire your work,

Especially when you rhymed Werkel with twerk.

...I should probably stick to reviews.

PS in short: Maybe Britain isn't broken after all? Get along to this riotous (and slightly geeky) brawl.

★★★★ #UNBORING

Jonny & the Baptists. The Satiric Verses

Pleasance Dome

31st July - 24th August (not 11th)

9.40pm

#reviews