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A quick wrap-up of Aspen, for those who fell victim to cancellations forced upon them by said festival.

I flew there in an aeroplane. I caught a bus to my hotel.

Waiting for me in my hotel room was a welcome pack containing a Nike Ski Jacket, Tom Baker Sunglasses, a couple of shirts, and a whole lot of other crap including discount vouchers for Botox treatments and Private Jet hire. You getting the vibe?

I was involved in two shows – 20 minute sets at the end an “alternative comedy” night called “The Fat City Lounge”. I opened my set with “So Fucking Rock” and by the end I was panting so hard that I had to ask for tinned oxygen. It was spearmint flavoured. And very amusing. The reasons for the panting were (a) my on-going poor health born of that flu I got a few weeks back, and – more significantly – (b) the high altitude.

On Saturday I went Skiing. Skiing is a sport involving standing on slippery things and going down a hill. It is enormously enjoyable and as a result I have done it twice.

While I was skiing I got a text encouraging me to go to an Awards presentation that I hadn’t realized existed. (I had found no evidence of it, and am not inclined towards faith). However, when I turned up, it did indeed exist. To explain just how much it existed: William Baldwin was in attendance. And the mum from “Who’s the Boss?”. I won the award for best Alternative Comedy performance. I was presented my award by that really cool girl who plays that cool IT chick, Chloe, in the television series, 24. Mary Lynn Rajskub.

Aspen is fun. If you have thousands and thousands of monetry units sitting around somewhere, I’d spend it on a trip to Aspen. There’s loads of shops selling the furs of dead animals crafted into apparel. And many of the local people have teeth that didn’t originally belong to them.

And you can buy oxygen in a can.

If you want to read an article regarding Aspen which is flattering towards me, clicking to this little puppy should fully sate your desire.

So. Four more shows in the UK. Looking forward to seeing loads of my online chums this week. Let’s just pretend I don’t have tonsillitis.

With feelings of great fondness I remain forever yours,
Timothy D Minchin.

Hi guys.

This one for the Aussies. I’ve finally uploaded the details for my Australian tour. You can find out everything by clicking on Upcoming Gigs on the right of the page… or you can use the calender thingy to look up a particular date. Cool huh?

I also just want to make sure the Melbournites know that the show I’m doing at the Comedy festival will be all old material. I’m having a non-writing year due to migration and baby and touring business. I also realized that a lot of people in Melbourne have never seen me, especially the Dark Side material from 05, which I haven’t performed since back when I was a total nobody, rather than the vague shadow of a maybe somebody.

Perth and Wollongong are also going to be a “highlights” show.

Sydney is getting “So Rock”, which is the show I did in Melbourne and Edinburgh last year… even though in Melbourne, I hadn’t given it a title yet.

Adelaide is getting something called “So Rock”, but I might chuck some “Dark Side” stuff in it, because pretty much nobody in Adelaide has seen my stuff. (Unless you were part of the elite group who ventured into the foyer of the Festival Centre during the 2005 Cabaret Festival.)

As for Brisbane… my deep apologies for anyone who was resisting suicide only to see my show this year. I’m not able to get to Brizzy, mostly because the Powerhouse – my venue of choice – is closed during the months I’m in Oz. And other venues made nasty offers. And then we ran out of time. However… I will be back. Promise. Sorry.

t.

Hey guys.

Colin Murray’s show on BBC Radio 1 is ace i reckon… not least of all because he sometimes plays my tunes.

This Wednesday night he’s airing a radio-doco about Stand-up comedy, and I’ll be in the studio chatting and maybe playing a toon or somethin’.

Details below.

Hope your days are nice.

tim
_ _ _

Wednesday 24th January @ 10.30pm as part of The Colin Murray Show
“No Laughing Matter”
BBC Radio 1. www.bbc.co.uk/radio1

A documentary looking at the lives of Stand Up comedians, from open mic nights to big stars, Radio 1 investigates why they do what they do, and see what life is really like for a comic. Russell Brand, Tim Minchin, Russell Howard, Trevor Lock, Lucy Porter and Stephen Grant talk about comedy along with some open mic performers who are trying it for the first time.

You can listen to the whole thing live from 10.30, where Tim Minchin will be in the studio to chat about his upcoming UK tour. Or you can download the podcast from Friday at bbc.co.uk/radio1.

Hi there people.

This one for people in the UK… and more specifically, people who were very kindly planning to come to my shows in Maidstone or Nottingham or Aylesbury or Sheffield or Leeds.

I’m afraid I’ve had to cancel those five gigs. Well, I didn’t have to… but I was compelled to. It was a selfish act actually.

You see, I got invited to the HBO comedy arts festival in Aspen, which is a really brilliant opportunity. We (manager / promoter / i) had long chats before we pulled the dates, but it was decided i’d be nuts to pass up on the offer, cos i can make up the uk gigs at some point, but the chance to go to Aspen is likely to be a one-shot affair.

I’m truly and humbly sorry. I’ll make it up to yez.

I welcome any expressions of anger on my page. It’ll be fun. (Obviously haiku form is the most appropriate way to do this).

t.

Hey guys,

Sorry! I’ve been away. Kirsty, I hope someone talked you down… once you’ve cut a canvas bag, you can never turn back. It’s a slippery fucking slope that one, mark my words.

The password-protected post that was here was just a wee Chrissy video-message I made for my and Sarah’s fams in Australia. In the end I buggered it up and it was on public view on youtube anyway, Which was a bit embarrassing because it was quite personal. But that’s ok… not like I was nude or anything. Hohoho.

Hope everyone had a fun one. We went up to see some friends in Claughton in Lancashire. There was turkey and stuffing: the latter being the verb to describe how we consumed the former.

Loving having my very own human. She’s pretty cool – yesterday we drove home in horrendous traffic and it took 8 hours and the wee’n slept about 7 of them. Sweet. With newborns, when it comes to time-spent-conscious, less is most definitely more.

I got: some cds, some books, some socks, some jocks, some jams, some soap, and a special bag thingy to hang on the handle-bars of my bike so that I can ride around London carrying my cds, books, socks, jocks, jams and soap like some kind of affluent, health-conscious homeless person.

So. UK tour starts in a month. Exciting. I have a few corporate type gigs between now and then and an Australia Day thingy.

Oh, and don’t forget to listen to BBC Radio 2 at 6pm on New Year’s Day… for that is when my radio special, “Tim Minchin and Friends” is to be aired. Friends include Reggie Watts, Lucie Silvas and Jeremy Lion. Check out details on the BBC Radio 2 worldwide internet website. (There’s even recordings of a couple of tunes that didn’t make the edit available to listen to right goddam now.)

I’ll remind you of that little puppy again.

Ok. Merry Christmas, Chappy Chanukah, whatever. Peace and goodwill towards men.

And ladies. Of course.

The lovely, lovely ladies.

t.
x

Hey guys.

I really just wanted to let you know that another Duchess Theatre show has gone on sale. Sunday 3rd December 7:30pm.

But I know I need to write interesting blogs, otherwise you’ll all stop reading them.

So to make your visit here today more worthwhile, I’ve uploaded a song that pretty much no-one in the world has ever heard. I recorded it in my bedroom with my Melbourne band, “Rosencrantz”. It’s really silly but pretty sexually inspiring, I think. It’s entitled “Shag With The Stereo On” and it’s about shagging. With the stereo on. You can find it on my downloads page.

Anyhoo. Tickets are now available for Sunday 3rd December at:

The Duchess Theatre
Catherine Street
London WC2B 5LA

Bookings on 0870 890 1103 or online at See Tickets.

Hi guys.

I’ve had a lot of interest in the song I wrote for Spicks and Specks (TV show in Australia). You can see it in all its homoerotic glory by clicking HERE.

You Northern hemisphere types who haven’t heard of the show or its host, Adam Hills, will be confused. (All you need to know is that Hillsong is the name of one of those huge, wealthy, obscene, exploitative church groups near Sydney, and that Adam is a charming, funny, good-looking Australian comedian… with one of his feet missing.)

Adam Hillsong (Not endorsed by the Hillsong Church pty ltd)

At night I dream of your quirky, intelligent face
I wistfully wish for your monopedal embrace.

But I am just a fan
You are the father of humanity
But if you’ll be my man
I would give a rib to be your Eve

Adam…
Hills are made for climbing and I’ll climb them all for you
And dem
Valleys you traverse I’m not averse to going down into

Wherever in your Eden you might travel I will follow.
And if a serpent holds an apple and entices me to swallow
I will not be tempted by the fruit the serpent proffers
Though I’ve never been that great at resisting offers made by

Adam…
Hills are made for climbing and oh boy I’ll do my best
But if the apple is too sweet and shiny to resist
I swear that I’ll try not to choke as with my guilt I grapple
But if inside my throat I feel a lump, it’ll be my Adam’s Apple.

Hi. As some have already pointed out (thanking you kindly) the album of “So Rock” is available at Middle Eight Music. It’s an Australian-based company, so if you live elsewhere and don’t want to import it (or Dark Side – which is also available from Middle Eight), I’ve got a UK company starting to distribute them soon. I think.

My Australian tour dates are a bit firmer now. It’s looking like:

Wollongong – 17th March.

Adelaide – 19th – 31st March

Brisbane – 9th – 15th April

Melbourne – 17th – 29th April

Sydney – 1st – 13th May

Perth – 21st May

More info as it comes to hand.

orright.

Hi y’all.

Just wanted to let you know about some gigs and stuff.

I’m appearing with the excellent Rhod Gilbert at the Comedy Store in Manchester on the 25 Oct. Which is really soon. Check it out.

Then I’m playing at the Duchess Theatre on the West End (wahoo) on the 12th November. Should be fun. Tickets here.

Then I have a baby. Which should keep me busy for a week or two.

My UK tour runs from late Jan to early March next year. All the exciting details can be found on my gigs page.

I’m sorry I’ve STILL not got any downloads up. For some reason it’s not letting me upload anything, and I need to figure it out. (I’ve just been on the road for ages, so everything’s been on hold a bit til now.)

Also, So Rock IS going to be available online… very soon. Am just waiting on people in Aus. I’ll let yez know. Maybe a week away.

Finally, check out my Myspace page if you’re into that sort of thing. And if you want to join my small but dedicated band of stalkers, you could go here. Nuts. Nice nuts.

Hope everyone is managing to maintain a consistent position between coping and ecstatic.

t.x

Hello indeed.
Just want to say a heartfelt and slightly teary thanks to everyone who saw my show in Edinburgh. It was – yet again – a pretty insane month, made bearable by the people who came to see the show and had fun. God bless the socks of you. I think I went pretty well, despite feeling a bit of “second-album” pressure. Reviewers were mostly kind, audiences laughed and clapped. Can’t really ask for a great deal more than that.
Now I live in London. Yesterday I went up to Alexandra Palace and had beer with friends and looked out over the city and felt rather happy with the whole thing.
Today I have to go to a business lunch. Nothing ever actually gets done, but generally someone with lots of money pays for it. It’s really just the comedy industry equivalent of dogs sniffing each other’s bums. Fine by me. This is why I moved to London. This is what I sacrificed the Australian summer for. Dogs. Bums. Sniffing.
Oh, I have a “myspace” page. All the cool kids are doing it. And quite a lot of the uncool ones. Click HERE to check it out. It’s really just the internet equivalent of dogs sniffing each other’s bums. To thrash the simile.
The crocodile hunter is dead. Peter Brock is dead.
Since Sept 10th 2001, there have been about 45oo deaths caused by terrorism, and about 95,000 caused by the war-on-terror. I have lunch to eat. Keep it in perspective.
Listen to disco. Be well.
The audio CD of “So Rock – Live” will be available online soon, I promise.
tx

Hello.

I think the irregularity of my posts is kind of sexy. I now see myself as one of those enigmatic and aloof, hard to reach, olive-skinned kind of guys.

I am in Edinburgh again. Since I last wrote, I’ve done Dark Side in Brisbane and Sydney (that was fun and sunny), Amadeus in Perth (which was different and hard and good), and Dark Side in Montreal (where everyone talked funny and expected tips).

So, tonight I open “So Rock” at the Gilded Balloon, which is the show I did at Melbourne Comedy Fest, only it wasn’t called “So Rock” then, because I didn’t make up a title in time. I’m looking forward very much to doing the pissing in a hippo joke again. I’ve missed it.

People I’m looking forward to seeing at this festival:
– Tony Law (I think he’s excellent… and have heard his new show is really different and ace).
– Mark Watson (I’m reading his book at the moment. He’s smart and nice and funny and good).
– Rhod Gilbert (Caustic Welshman, very excellent).
– Charlie Pickering (Another stand-up who’s pushing the genre boundary. Nominated for best show in Melbourne).
– Geraldine Quinn (Aussie musical satirist. Think Janis Joplin with gender issues and a history degree).
– Claire Hooper (Another good aussie Sheila doing a late night spot. I haven’t seen this show, but she’s brill and it aint just stand-up).
– Danny Bhoy (Doesn’t need the plug but he’s nice and good and is doing all new stuff).
– Boothby Graffoe (Love him).

I could go on for ever. All the Aussies are ace. Wil Anderson doing his first Edinburgh in 7 years. Adam Hills as always. Loads of great first timers. Go to everything at the Gilded Balloon!

Oh – and I’m hosting Laughapoolooza on Saturday nights (from next week) at the Assembly Rooms.

If you see any good shows, post a comment and let us all know. (Or if you’re one of my friends and are angry at me for not plugging your show, send me a scathing email).

xx

I’m doing two performances of my new show, “So Rock” in Perth on June 10th and 11th at 8pm.
Only 400 seats on sale all together. Cool and exclusive huh?
For details and tickets and all that, go to the Bocs Ticketing website, or phone 08 6488 2440.
The show is being recorded for a new CD. Fun.
t.

I reckon I’ve never been as anxious as I was a week ago today… and now I feel all relaxed like a truck driver who’s been slipped a rohypnol at a roadhouse by an amorous chico-roll maker name of Betsy.

Shows at the HiFi are selling out mostly. Which is grand. New material is going nicely… it’s quite dark in bits, which came as a bit of a surprise.

I’ve had a few reviews, all of which have been more than kind. Not that I care about reviews of course. Much. Check them out if you like by clicking HERE

Cheerypip.
tx

Hi. Like my new, snazzy website? It’s pretty new and snazzy. Probably the most significant change, other than the aesthetic features, is the development of an “MP3s and Downloads” page. Unfortunately I haven’t figured out how to upload shit yet, but when I do… well fuck me if you won’t be able to download the very same shit.

It appears that – with 5 days to go until Comedy Festival – I have managed to gather enough amusing material to fill an hour. Which is a nice relief. Whether anyone other than I will be amused by it is yet to be seen. Feeling pretty pumped though. And I’ve got a name for the show too. Obviously all the posters and stuff just say Tim Minchin, but between you guys and me, it’s called “So Rock”. OK. Sorted.

In other reasonably exciting news, I’m closing the Comedy Festival Gala next week. I’m sure those of you who have seen a bit of my stuff will be able to guess what song I’m closing with. Hint: there’s going to be a choir. And a trumpet player. And some pyrotechnics. So fucking rock. It’ll be on tele some time the week after next.

Some of the subject matter to be addressed in my new show includes:
– People who feed their kids crap food and make them fat.
– The possibility of the existence of genuine psychics.
– The viability of training a flock of birds to poo written messages.
– The infallible brilliance of the theory of Intelligent Design.
– Environmentally friendly shopping bags. Sorry, can’t help it.

So. I should go practice stuff. Come along to my new show if you’re in Melbourne. If you’re not in Melbourne, do something else fun. As often as possible.

A wee update from sunny London.

My album, DARK SIDE LIVE, recorded at the Spiegeltent in Melbourne just before Chrissy is now available online.

Just pop along to Middle Eight Music, and they’ll kindly send it to you wherever you are on this moist planet.

How exciting.

In other news, here’s the only review I’ve got (so far) for my London season of Dark Side, which finishes next Saturday. It’s from the Metro, and is quite charming.

Back in Australia in a couple of weeks, and will be locking myself to my piano to try and get some new bits ready for Melbourne Comedy Festival. Which’ll be a fucking hoot, I’m sure.

Right ho,
t.