Matt Berry, York Duchess, 26 November 2010

Comedy and music have limited success. Think Mike Flowers. Orville. Arthur Askey. It's trial and error territory, usually accompanied by a once-fevered liking of a comedy genius turning into a mass-DVD sale and a promise never to mention it again.

On the rare occasions it works well, gigs are comparable to any other live music act, particularly when the artist in question is Matt Berry. Star of many a show, he is an icon to a generation whether it's been a late night episode of The Mighty Boosh, the brilliance of Garth Margheni's Dark Place, the cult classic that is Snuff Box (which should be watched by everyone at least once), the IT Crowd..the list goes on. Often in the shows there is a music interlude, think 'One Track Lover', which can be viewed here or AD/BC, a comedy opera no less.

At the gig itself, York gig goers payed typical indifference and as a result only a hundred or so came out for the Friday night gig. Backed by a band, Berry combined hit songs with unbelievably brilliant banter which included chastising his guitar player for making him like a c*** in front of the audience. The first and last time I've ever heard the c-bomb at a gig, which includes punk bands. Shame really.

When comedy performers do gigs, there's a danger the performance doesn't live up to the hype. Not so in Berry's case, now on his third album it's clear he is serious about his music as screen. Backed by his band, the gig can be naively described as delivering 'proper' music. At the time, his second album Opium had been released with musical interludes from Snuff Box which was aired at the gig.

Since 2010, Berry has released 'Witchazel', which remains one of my favourite albums, and is now on his third. If you get chance to see Matt Berry live - do it! It'll be one of the best music performances you see with heaps of comedy thrown in too.