Review by Steve Bennett

In his own words, Josh Earl is a ‘gentle comedian’ and ‘urban bohemian’: the perfect elements for Navelgazing whimsy aimed at the indie arty set who care more for image than gags. Add in the fact that he’s a librarian from Tasmania – oh, and has a guitar, too – and you’ll probably be able to contain your excitement.

But rest assured you don’t need a quirky hairstyle to enjoy his musical musings, which turn out to be smart as they are self-analytical, as funny as they are endearing.

The title refers to his age, which in these indulgent times can be a hinterland between adolescence and adulthood. Earl was forced to accept this following a discussion with a seven-year-old called Rosa, who damningly considered him not a ‘real’ grown-up.

Her six criteria for entry into that club are that you need to have a proper job, own a house, be mature, married, a parent and able to drive – and on almost every count Earl falls well short. But what better way to win an argument with a tiny child than dedicate a festival show to attempting to rebut her accusatory checklist? Take that, Rosa!

That central idea clearly really exists to provide an episodic framework for his jaunty songs and sharp-but-sweet musings about such inconsequential concerns as apostrophe-obsessed grammar Nazis, nostalgia from his schooldays (possibly the most-mined theme in the entire festival), trying to watch the film Memento with his girlfriend or his frustrations at trying to hold down a dull 9-to-5, in one particularly well-titled ditty.

Earl certainly owes a debt to David O’Doherty, right down to billing himself as someone who ‘is going to gently rock your world’ – and the gags about commercially exploitative book titles which are rather too close to comfort to one of DOD’s lines. But other than that lapse, he’s no clone, with John Hegley’s lyricism ad Flight Of The Conchords’ romantic awkwardness going in to the mix, too.

Beyond the musicality and the wistful atmosphere, what really matters is the jokes – and Earl’s pretty darned good in that department. There are a couple of duds, but overall he’s bright and imaginative with his punchlines, making for a warm and funny hour. XXVII deserves IV stars…

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Melbourne, April 2009

Review date: 1 Jan 2009
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett