Abandoman interview

Amy Keenan meets Rob Broderick and James Hancox, the improv hip hop comedy duo known as Abandoman...

Abandoman are the freestyling comedy duo that took over musical comedy in 2010. It's a tough genre to crack, but Irish front man Rob Broderick and guitarist James Hancox (a Manchurian born and bred) have managed to create an award winning set that is completely original.

It hasn't been an easy journey for them. When they described their act - improv hip hop comedy - people tended to be sceptical of their performance. Abandoman suffered from 'the Susan Boyle syndrome', but thanks to rave reviews from their live gigs and winning two big awards, they have managed to earn the respect of the comedy world...

"The Hackney award told people that we were a credible act," said James. "Beforehand we would tell people we were an improv act and they would just say, 'Oh', and then we would say it was musical comedy..."

As well as mentioning that they were a hip hop band, they'd have to point out the rapper was Irish! Irish rappers are about as common as Jedward fans, but if the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year 2010 and The Musical Comedy Awards 2010 are anything to go by, then Abandoman are top of their genre.

Rob has been a fan of hip hop since he was 13 and first heard Ice T: "I remember when I first started listening to it and thinking it was much better than With Or Without You - I get it, you're upset!"

It was after he moved to England to pursue stand-up comedy, that he met James. In 2009, Rob was the compère for a show which James, as part of a "charming folk duo", was performing in. "James was backstage and I asked him if he'd play guitar whilst I freestyled some raps. We did it and we had fun. I took James' phone number and wrote 'James Guitar', didn't bother to check his surname."... "And it's still like that!" says James.

The following night Rob's favourite hip hop crew, Atmosphere, were playing in London. Rob called up to get a ticket and ended up scheduling himself in as a support act thanks to a last minute cancellation. James impulsively said 'yes' and that's how it's continued for them. "It's gone from that first 'yes' to saying yes to everything that comes our way".

Abandoman have gone on to play at Edinburgh Fringe, festivals such as Bestival and Rockness, been on the airwaves for stations such as BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music, and on television shows such as The Stephen K Amos Show and Dick and Dom's Funny Business.

The duo have great promise for 2011: their unique ability to improvise each gig, yet still keeping the comedy running throughout, means that they are the 'improv hip hop comedy band' to keep an eye on. "Every single word is invented there and then, and has to be. Someone said to us the other day that you can't rely on the audience and we were like: "Well we're f****d!"

Here's Abandoman performing at Edinburgh 2010...