Sound of Music

Matt Berry, underground hero, start of the Mighty Boosh as Dixon Bainbridge, star of the IT Crowd as the misogynistic Renly and Snuff Box as sometimes womanising…well you get the picture. Most importantly you definitely would. Be him. And in the darkness of the Duchess stand about 150 people, split between the dragged along girlfriends, Snuff Box aficionados and a smattering of casual bystanders. On the ticket reads Matt Berry but it should reference the band ensemble including the afro wig wearing bass player resembling Polar Bear’s drummer and the unknown guitar here. The songs of Berry are lyrically and musically diverse, influenced by Led Zep, to the blues, musical indie, hints of jazz and the rich orchestral sounds of York ’s own son, John Williams. Berry is, as on screen, a commanding stage presence with exceptional banter (see Black Magic guitarist exchange – MB ‘can you conjure up black magic on that thing?’, guitarist plays light music solo only for Berry Matt to announc...

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 hi...