one4review | On 23, Aug 2023

Matty Hutson achieves top marks in every aspect of the show. He’s an excellent musician (guitar, keyboard, electronic manipulation), and writes music that you wouldn’t be surprised to hear on a streaming service. It is melodically pleasing and harmonically sound. His lyrics might be less expected on Spotify, but they do excellent in a comedy show: each line contains something new, and every other one has something funny, so you’re never bored by repeated choruses. Songs are just long enough to do what he wants them to, so no opportunity to lose an audience who’ve drifted off in the middle eight.

He also does some ‘non-musical comedy’ and some other elements, any everything is cued up on the on-stage screen – sometimes after he’s told us what he’s going to do, and sometimes before – so we both know where we are, and what to expect. We’re primed to find things funny, and we do.

Mr Hutson’s crowd work is also superb: within the flow and style of the show, but also gentle and warm. He’s quite unassuming as a presence, which means the focus is on the music rather than him directly, though a lot of the lyrics and content are about his experiences, so he’s definitely in there. There is a theme to the show, and it gives momentum towards the finale, which comes with call-backs and exuberance. A superb and fun show.

Reviewed by Laura

Pleasance Courtyard
19:15 (1hr)
Until 27th