Original Review:

Show Rating:

He’s smooth, professional and reassuringly honest, admirably sidestepping the temptation to be provocative or controversial to play instead to his more straightforward strengths. With a natural, relaxed delivery, he offers anecdotes about drug-taking, teenage angst and getting older, broken up with clever re-workings of songs and impressive skits.

He’s an adept guitarist with a strong handle on mimicry, particularly when it comes to the nuances of different musical genres. So you can hear a perfectly illustrated example of the inane platitudes of pop music, an endearingly childish critique of James Blunt’s music, or just a silly Chris de Burgh piss-take.

It’s nothing you haven’t heard before, but like a naturally funny friend, he puts it better than you could.

Deering constantly encourages audience interaction by asking people to shout out which camp they fall into on certain subjects (Harry Potter, The Smiths, James Blunt again) and the songs they want to hear. It creates a cosy and very appealing sense of shared intimacy, which radiates back towards him.

By the time he has people up on stage, air-guitaring like their lives depend on it, the audience is long won over. Like all good performers, he makes it look effortless.

Deering won’t offend your mother, mock your politics or make you question your existence. He will give you an hour of pure, uncut, good fun and a spring in your step when you leave – and there’s a lot to be said for that.

Reviewed by: Nione Meakin