Show name: Adam Flood: Life and Death of the Party
Performer: Adam Flood
Venue: Monkey Barrel, CabVol 2
Time: 10pm
Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
Reviewer: Quincy Macdonald
Deep in the den of Monkey Barrel CabVol 2, you can find a unique offering at the Edinburgh Fringe. Adam Flood (real name, allegedly) fills the stage wearing fluorescent green speed dealers, a matching tracksuit top and an irrepressible yet emotionally honest attitude. As a DJ/stand-up comic, he uses his own music to build tension and enhance his good-natured comedy.
Right from the start, it’s Adam’s exuberance that elevates an already impressive space. He hits the ground running, blasting music, utilising the spotlight and talking to the crowd about what they made for dinner last. His style is eager, but it’s actually the depth he projects that gets you to sit forward and want more. What is this mid-30s comedian going to tell you about the club, and why did the club life choose him?
He reels quickly through personal experiences of being a young boy in Stoke-on-Trent, his recent breakup, visiting friends and his bafflement at their lifestyle, all the while primarily aiming his punches back at himself. Working with the music, his one-hour act moves fast, guiding you through the stages of going to the club. It was particularly when he was describing the all-too-familiar afters/after-party that he had the room, and myself, roaring with laughter.
If you are worried that you need to be a current club-goer to enjoy this show, this is definitely not true. There are no jokes that require specific knowledge of Berghain, Studio 54 or La Belle (all equally famous clubs). Adam is as comfortable poking fun at nightclub culture and museums in the same breath.
Starting at 10pm, this stand-up is a perfect lead into a night out or an explosive end to a good day. In its totality, there are plenty of quick-witted jokes with the audience and introspection that will leave your mind with something to chew on after the show. It’s the high energy you need at 10pm.
While the show has a weak point, ending on a downtempo instead of a deserved grand flourish, as a whole, the experience is unforgettable.
