"Fine and dandy: shaggy-haired Russell Brand and Noel Fielding perform their double act The Goth Detectives"
Thank Goth for the Mighty Boosh and Brand
By Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard 29.07.08
Neither are really goths, neither are really detectives, but Russell Brand and Noel Fielding triumphed as their oddly-named occasional double act last night. It was clear from the rambling start that they were distinctly underrehearsed, but as co-hosts of this fundraiser for the Focus 12 drugs rehabilitation charity that helped ex-junkie Brand kick his addictions, they were sublimely shambolic.
The main planned element saw them solving the audience's problems, which made them more like skinny-trousered agony uncles than Satan-worshipping sleuths. The idea soon petered out, though there was much more entertainment to come, most of it involving silly strutting and sarcastic wisecracks at the expense of The Lion King and YouTube and greeted by screaming more redolent of Beatlemania than comedy gigs.
All the special guests were hits too. Never Mind The Buzzcocks host Simon Amstell's mirthful misanthropy struck a chord and James Corden and Mathew Horne from sitcom Gavin and Stacey workshopped some enthusiastically performed character-based routines - trendy teachers, happy clappy Christians, pretentious magicians - which were hardly radical, but boded well for their forthcoming BBC sketch show.
There had been talk of a Noel Gallagher cameo, yet his absence was hardly noticed as Fielding and Brand closed each half with more structured solo sets.
While Mighty Boosh lynchpin Fielding was solid, delivering his familiar fable about pursuing a unicorn to the ends of the earth only to discover that it was a horse with a Cornetto on its nose, Brand surpassed himself with his trademark blend of self-mockery and smutty braggadocio.
His best new material was inspired by his recent sojourn in America. Others might claim that they like the anonymity of working where they are not stars, Brand was frank enough to admit that he hated not being recognised.
This is a man who takes egocentricity to ludicrous extremes. Apparently the only thing he has ever Googled is his own name. There might have been controversy over here following his prank call to a crime hotline at a recent Northampton gig, but Brand's US career is rampant. He is due to host the MTV Awards and has various films in the pipeline.
His stand-up days may be numbered, which would be sad. It would give me great pleasure to announce that this preening dandy is wearing thin. Annoyingly he continues to be one of the most original, insightful comedians working today.
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