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Original Review:

Shanyaski is a nicely descriptive conversationalist, recounting various incidents with an eloquent turn of phrase and an amiable manner.

Only problem is, there’s just too little of substance in his tales; which leaves him simply relaying overfamiliar situations from which strong punchines are noticeably absent.

His experiences will be shared with most young British men: of going out on the pull, of encountering oranged-skin girls with chavish tendancies and of being terrorised by a gang of pint-sized pre-teen scallies in the street.

Yet Shanyaski doesn’t put enough insight, personality or – more fatally -  jokes into these to make his set anything more than mildly diverting chat.

The few gags he does produce are OK, if a long way from being memorable, and are far too thin on the ground to ever produce a cumulative effect. The songs he performs are nothing special, too.

In his favour, he has improved noticeably in the last two years on Manchester’s open mic circuit – mind you, he was truly appalling when he started; loud, desperate to be liked and singularly unfunny – but he still has a long way to go.

Being generally good company does not a comedian make; even if you are literate enough to use the language effectively.

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I've seen Steve two or three times over the past 18 months and have never been disappointed. Last weekend he performed to a small audience at a local cricket club and, giving it 100%, left everyone very well entertained. I'd encourage anyone in two minds to discount the negative comments and give the guy a hearing because he is well worth it.

Ben, March 2010

I have had the pleasure of working with Steve every night in Edinburgh for the last month and have found him brilliantly funny. I have rarely laughed as much when watching a comic. He's actually a lot smarter and more self aware than most would think and his improvised rants are up there with the best of them. Funny guy and a really nice bloke too.

matt price, August 2009

Just checked him out on You Tube, before risking £15 on a ticket next Saturday. I think I'll stay in with a takeaway.

Charlotte Castle, August 2008

Absolutely brilliant. Came to Lincoln and absolutely stormed it. Original, catchy songs; fantastic observational jokes, and a cheeky charm that could win over any crowd.

Lou, November 2006

Saw him in Rotherham and he performed as though he did not want to earn a living. He had prepared no material and just shared various in-jokes and knowing looks with his entourage who appeared to find him hillarious. Maybe if he acted like he wanted his gig to go well and wrote some original material he would get the whole audience onside.

John Hague, August 2006

Saw him at the New Stuff gig at the Comedy Store tonight and basically he had no right to be there. He hadn't prepared any material at all, and all he brought with him was an ego big enough to assume he could just wing it. Well, sadly he couldn't and his arrogance was simply embarassing. Not a single gag in sight

Dave, March 2006

Irritating. Comes off like a gay bloke doing a parody of a misogynist lad comic.

Mamie Van Doren, October 2005

Brilliant. totally chilled, bubbly guy, banging out loads of laughs. He raised the night up wonderfully. Might not be everyone's cuppa, but certainly was for the 400 strong audience I was sat in.

Mike H, October 2005

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