LIVE REVIEW: Andrew O'Neill beats the technical problems and delivers a lecture on metal

THE History of Heavy Metal...it's a big fucking topic, spanning generations of bands, a growing multiplicity of genres and sub genres and a cult following somewhat obsessed with the music that inspires copious alcohol intake, insane high acts of stage diving and entering mosh pits.


Is this a suitable topic for comedy? Probably not yet when Andrew O'Neill played Belfast's Black Box on October 3rd as part of the Belfast Belly Laughs comedy festival he managed to have most of his audience laughing, sometimes giggling and even some guffaws.


Of course, O'Neill knows a thing about metal. In his other shows he has always played on his identity as a heterosexual transvestite, vegan, amateur occultist, comedian and metalhead. He plays in a steampunk band and has been in death metal acts previously.


Unfortunately for O'Neill he had to first apologise for a laptop that was refusing to co-operate in loading, thereby denying the audience the slide show illustrating his show.


But, as a stand-up comedian he has his emergency jokes and routines, which he delivered with real panache before an interval to see what could be done with the laptop.


For some of the uninitiated in attendance a comedy routine about metal was well, well away from their comfort zone. Some must have cringed when O'Neill emerged with a white flying V and a loud system to get the riffs going.


While the metalheads in attendance could enjoy the in-jokes about the genre, he was still able to grab the attention of those lurking at the bar in fear of the noise.

At times it did come across as a lecture more than a comedy show (a future career for O'Neill as a favourite lecturer at a really cool university music course...) but his self-deprecating attitude, quick retorts to hecklers and the alcohol challenged made the act fly by.


References to many bands, many genres, how to tell death metal from black metal were legion: we don't want to spoil it for those still to see the show, but if you are even a remote fan of metal then this is a show worth going to.


On a personal piece of advice, make sure to have a few pints, wear your favourite band shirt and be ready to have fun poked at you, as well as ears blasted with some familiar riffs.


In short O'Neill has combined stand-up with metal. Fans of metal have always enjoyed a joke at their own expense - Spinal Tap, Bad Touch...even Steel Panther are enjoyed by metalheads who all realize that it seem ridiculous to the outside world, but in the sweaty confines of a concert venue we have a release few other musical genres can equal.


When O'Neill lists his favourite love song as Hammer Smashed Face by Cannibal Corpse you know where the comedy is...

Review by Jonny

You can follow Andrew O'Neill on Facebook here.

The Facebook link for his Steampunk band The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing is here.

COMIN' ATCHA: Comedy, heavy metal's history, hetrosexual transvestitism, and the Black Box - what can go wrong...

IT has been claimed that heavy metal has the ability to laugh at itself - whether it be Manowar, Spinal Tap, pouting black metal wannabes or the ridiculousness of some of the stage props we know that outside the genre it's laughable; and we also know that to us it makes sense.


We can be swept away with Amon Amarth's stage show and Viking credentials as surely as we can join the drinking fest that is Alestorm's silly but wonderful Pirate Metal.


Which makes our beloved artform all the more ripe for stand-up comedy. Tomorrow (October 3rd) sees "one of our own" present his "History of Heavy Metal" in Belfast's Black Box (doors 9:30) as part of the Belfast Belly Laughs comedy festival.


Andrew O'Neill is the comedian who is presenting this history in a combination of stand-up and riffs from his beloved Flying V.


Mr O'Neill is described as a heterosexual transvestite, vegan, amateur occultist, and metalhead. Had that last description not been in place his credentials would not be up for matching metal and comedy: but he qualifies on the basis that he really is "one of our own".


Given Mr O'Neill also plays in a steampunk band "The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing" which is preparing audiences to:


"Expect a robot Sid Vicious covering Slayer in an 1877 East End Music Hall: a murky mix of Doctor Who, Doctor Watson and Doctored History. Not for the faint hearted or those of a delicate disposition."


But Mr O'Neill is here to tell the "History of Heavy Metal". For those not setting off to see Madball this is the perfect chance to evaluate this jester's history of our dark art - though I suspect that he may be challenged about Norn Iron's place in the pantheon of metallic madness...


Tickets are available at the outrageous price of £7 - and let's hope that Mr O'Neill can hang about to Saturday to see Darkest Era, Terminus and Stereo Nasty at RockD in Limelight2....

Escaping to a December party?

Fed up with the office geeks and schoolyard arseholes planning Christmas parties with stupid dance music and X-Factor rejects as a soundtrack to turkey stuffed nightmares? As well as the healthy crop of gigs for us 'older' folks (Mastodon, Trivium, Municipal Waste, Biffy Clyro, Black Stone Cherry) littler ones will have the chance for some hard rockin' oblivion in December.

Those dame fine chaps Escape Fails will be bringing their "post-hardcore wrecking ball" to the Black Box on December 13th for an all-ages show.

Support from Circadian and at least one other act.

More details to follow...Christmas crackers, tinsel and mistletoe optional...

Half sans bar, half avec bar...cunning ploy!

Come Saturday, November 8th there's a novel wee event happening at Belfast's Black Box: two gigs in one day. The half and half deal will see an afternoon 'dry' all ages show...and then in the evening ID will definitely be required when the bar opens...

Sorrowfall and Darkest Era are lined up so far to play both events. More details soon.

Falling upon an unsuspecting UK...

Sorrowfall are bringing their Prayers for the Faithless to an unsuspecting UK. Kicking off at the Rosetta on August 30th they will hit stages across the country until 8th November at the Black Box...