Phil Nichol
Published: Thursday 8th December 2016
So, you're driving home for Christmas (doo, doo, doo), but you're top-to-toe in tailbacks (doo, doo, doo): what to do? Podcasts! Obviously. They make every spare hour an absolute pleasure, providing you download a decent one.
And one very welcome new entry into the Giant Podcast Bin (credit: Adam Buxton) is co-hosted by today's First Gig, Worst Gig victim, Phil Nichol, although the title does rather neglect his role.
"My new pod-thing is called Zen With Mike Wilmot," says Nichol; Wilmot being his fellow London-based Canadian. "You can find it in the self-help category on PodOmatic where it has risen to the No. 2 podcast after three episodes. If comedy is the best medicine then Zen With Mike Wilmot is a head massage."
Which is what the world needs right now. Nichol, for the uninitiated, is the Edinburgh Comedy Award winner who initially rose to fame in the fine musical trio Corky And The Juice Pigs, and has a new solo album out now, more of which below. His 2015 Edinburgh show, I Don't Want to Talk About It, was a work of audacious genius too, and single-handedly inspired at least one summer festival to start booking Edinburgh previews. Good show.
But let's go further back, and some occasionally wince-inducing memories.
First gig?
I was a member of a Theatre Sports impro troupe called Dumb Ideas when I was 15 years old, then I was part of a radio comedy team called The Little Bits Of Gravel (as in 'the little bits of gravel' on the road to success).
With a couple of the guys from that team I put together Corky And The Juice Pigs, a musical comedy trio which formed the night before a beer-sponsored comedy competition in March 1987.
We won our heat at that competition and ended up performing on the National TV finals hosted by Eugene Levy of American Pie/Mighty Wind fame who presented the show as his comedian character Bobby Bittman. Hello?! Great first gig!
Best gig?
My first appearance on MADtv performing [the song] Only Gay Eskimo was a career highlight. We were very nearly the next big thing. Haha!
Worst gig?
The year after I won the Edinburgh Comedy Award (then if.comedy). I performed the award-winning show The Naked Racist at the Pleasance Grand in Edinburgh; an emotional rollercoaster as the anti-war statement riled a more mainstream audience.
I had hecklers. Over two hundred people walked out. I had tickets thrown in my face and was spat at. I ended up sitting on the stage holding back tears while refusing to continue.
The five hundred people that were left cheered me on and gave me a standing ovation 10 minutes from the end. The finale saw 111 naked 'protesters' dance through the audience in the name of peace and all was redeemed. However, I was broken and cringe as I write this. Ouch!
Who's the most disagreeable person you've come across in the business?
Other than the comedian who slept with my girlfriend? Haha! I'm so tired of hearing about promoters who just don't pay the comedians for the work that they have done! Come on, you promoters, stop taking advantage of the good-natures of my comedian compadres. Comedians tend to be carefree, naive and forgetful but that is no excuse for ripping them off.
The weirdest gig?
In 1990, Corky And The Juice Pigs performed a lunchtime gig on the steps of the cafeteria at Monash University in Frankston, Australia high on acid while the students chatted, played ping pong and ate free candy floss from the machine at the side of the stage. After the gig, the promotor Robbo came screaming backstage in a Metallica t-shirt to tell us it was 'the best gig he had EVER seen'. Weird! We went bowling for the rest of the afternoon.
Is there one routine/gag you loved, that audiences inexplicably didn't?
Nope. There are lots of 'jokes' that haven't worked though. If it doesn't work for the audience then it doesn't work.
What's your best insider travel tip, for touring comics?
Pack light and be ready to change your plans at any point. Go with the flow.
The most memorable review, heckle or post-gig reaction?
After being booed off at the Krater Comedy Club at Komedia in Brighton, I was destroyed. Whilst commiserating backstage two sweet young university students came to find me. They gave me the longest, heart-felt and soothing hug and explained that it wasn't my night, that tomorrow would be better. It was.
How do you feel about where your career is at, right now?
I've just finished my 20th year as a solo stand-up and I'm heading into my 30th year in comedy. I've just released a solo music album entitled Ethel's Little Ditties. I've taped two new hour specials of stand-up that should be available early in 2017.
I have a No. 2 hit self-help podcast with my dear friend and comedian Mike Wilmot. I have appeared in four sitcoms in the past two years including Catastrophe, and I'm touring the world playing loads of great cities and festivals.
Next year will see the launch of Muscle, my glam rock project that will take you to the 11th dimension and back (album launch dates TBA). I'm over the moon with excitement.
You can find Phil and Mike's new pod-thing at podomatic.com
Phil's album Ethel's Little Ditties is available on iTunes and Spotify.
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