The Blackout 2: Blackout Harder

Me: I came across London for this.
Andy: Well, you're a fucking idiot mate.

I ended up at Up The Creek for a second Thursday in succession for The Blackout. This time as a punter, as my friend Andy had informed me via text that he was performing there. I hotfooted in from Highbury & Islington to Cutty Sark via Shadwell, a change from the Overground to the Docklands Light Railway which involves far more steps than I had expected. Nonetheless, I made it in time for the second half, keen to witness Andy's 2-5 minute set.

Andy is a funny young man with an offbeat sense of humour who performs poems as part of his act. Unfortunately, as I mentioned last week, The Blackout can be a cruel mistress. As MC Dan Schreiber pointed out afterwards, it appeared Andy had fallen victim to some sort of practical joke on the part of the audience.

Andy: I'm going to do a poem now.
Punter: We don't want to hear it.
Andy: *consults row of lights behind denoting number of cards raised* Well, I'm afraid no-one's with you on that.
*First card is raised, shortly followed by the second card*
Andy: You people are the reason arts council funding is being cut.
Punter with third card: We want to hear it.
Andy: Thank you.
*Andy performs poem*
*Punter raises third card*  

Andy tweeted on the way home: "Imagine rolling past Canary Wharf on the DLR as the massive Reuters news ticker announces nuclear war". I'd like to think he would have posted that anyway and wasn't driven into despair by the night's events. Some evenings, stand up is a thankless business.

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