The Big Interview David McSavage Hes got his eye friend of mine used to live above The Quays pub in Temple Bar; each Saturday she would brace herself before leaving her apartment because of a certain Dublin comedian/busker, namely David McSavage. For several years, McSavage was practically a fixture in Temple Bar Square where his love-it-or- loathe-it stand-up saw him insult unsuspecting passers-by, to the delight of the assembled hordes. The eagle-eyed, acid-tongued comedian would sense weakness at 50 paces and woe betide any pedestrian unfortunate enough to stand out from the crowd. I feel sorry for your mate, Savage, 43, admits. Youre going about your business and some p***k is geared up to have a go of course youre going to be annoyed. But the fact is theres a slagging culture so deeply ingrained in Ireland that we just cant help enjoy watching random people getting the p**s taken out of them. It was a brand of comedy that didnt go down well with everybody, however. McSavage earned himself a court appearance in 2006 for selling DVDs on the street without a licence and on more than one occasion the victims of his ridicule showed their disapproval by becoming aggressive. For McSavage, however, getting the occasional clout was all part and parcel of the experience. It was an occupational hazard, he says. A good reaction meant people laughed and a bad reaction involved them wanting to kill me. For his latest project McSavage, the son of former foreign affairs minister David Andrews, is off the streets and safely ensconced within the RT studios. While Dublins pedestrians might breathe a sigh of relief, those in positions of power should be ducking for cover his six part sketch show, The Savage Eye, which airs A each Monday, examines different aspects of Irish life from the arts through to property and sex, with some scorching potshots at politicians and the clergy along the way. Its also something of a rarity for the national broadcaster: a comedy show thats occasionally painfully funny. Did McSavage worry about how his caustic vision of modern Ireland might go down in certain quarters? I was more worried about whether or not it would be funny. With stand-up, laughter is an instant review. Here you hand it over to an editor and by the time it comes on screen it can be subverted or altered to a certain extent. But we are living in historic times and all the institutions we once had such reverence for banks, politics, the Church have been found wanting. We should be allowed to discuss these issues freely and to satirise them. And McSavage doesnt hold back as he examines the avarice and abuses that have dogged the nation in recent years. One recurring character, for instance, is the Child-Snatching Priest, a man of the cloth with a penchant for abducting children. It might sound tasteless but McSavage manages to make us chuckle rather than grimace. When people complain about comedy being offensive, what theyre really saying is that something isnt funny. Having said that, he adds, I certainly mean no disrespect to the victims of abuse. The Catholic Church isnt going to disappear and Im sure itll be around for another thousand years anything I say wont make a blind bit of difference. His favourite episode, however, is Happy To Be Unhappy in which he examines the miserable Irish psyche or as he aptly describes it the pornography of What Ive learned, though, is that just because people laugh at your jokes, doesnt mean they like you The Dublin comic tells Daragh Reddin about his transformation from street performer to TV funnyman GIG Paolo Nutini Roulette In Town Tonight Attic Studio presents the story of an unhappily married couple who decide to go their separate ways but a surreal road trip to Las Vegas makes them question their decision. Written by Douglas Hill Until Dec 5, The International Bar (upstairs), Wicklow Street D2, 6pm, 10 (sat mat 2pm). Tel: 085 275 8434 Hulk Adrian Crowley co- curates this evening of music featuring one- man electronica maestro Hulk (pictured) who describes his music as sounding like science fiction for the middle ages Tonight, Whelans, 25 Wexford Street D2, 8pm, 15. Tel: 1890 200 078. www.whelanslive.com Gloria The Goethe Institut present a Christmas concert featuring Haydns Little Organ Mass, popular carols and choruses from masses by Bach and Bruckner Tonight, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace D2, 8pm 22. Tel: (01) 417 0000. www.nch.ie metro Arts & Entertainment life Book Now Randy Newman You know youre listening to a Randy Newman album when the titular first track is a cheery tune where the seasoned US singer/ composer meets his maker (even though hes not actually religious at all). Harps And Angels, Newmans most recent album is a jazzy, bluesy affair; Newman is the man behind scores to Toy Story and Monsters, Inc after all. Happily, he cuts through any cloying cutesiness with timely observational swipes taking in such themes as terrorism, modern parenting and the economy all delivered in his unmistakably good-natured, drawling patter. And his back catalogue isnt shy on gems either as tracks such as Think Its Going To Rain Today, Baltimore and Louisiana testify May 7, 2010, Grand Canal Theatre, Grand Canal Square D2, 59.80 to 65.70. Tel: 0818 719 377. www.randynewman.com 12 metrolife Monday, November 30, 2009 The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town We have a pair of tickets to see RANDY NEWMAN at Grand Canal Theatre, May 7, 2010 For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the simple question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With the answer, please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Entrants must be over 18. Strictly one entry per person. Q. Where is Randy Newman from? A. Los Angeles B. Las Vegas If theres one thing that gets on Paolo Nutinis nerves its being described as a pretty-boy singer. Speaking to him, you get the distinct impression that he wouldnt have minded missing out in the looks stakes if it meant people took him more seriously as a songwriter. Fair enough, if someone says youre good looking, you take the compliment, says the 22-year-old son of a Glasgow fishnchips merchant. The thing is, I didnt get into music to be a pin-up. It never had any interest for me. I couldnt understand why they would want to put me in that position. It is for this reason that he feels his new album, Sunny Side Up, is his audiences first chance to encounter the real Paolo Nutini. Unlike his airbrushed debut These Streets, its an LP with all the rough edges very much attached and a ripple of quality songwriting running through the centre. Admittedly, his Rod Stewart-esque croak still takes getting use to. But theres a bluesy sensibility at work which makes it impossible to dismiss the record as the outpourings of mere chart totty. Is there a danger his new, grittier sound might scare off his fan-base, the younger elements of which only recently weaned themselves off Westlife? You cant think about it like that. Music is a journey. You have to be true to what you feel. If you are faking it, people will sniff you out sooner or later. Im older now and Ive learned a few things. And the label left me alone. Apart from the single, nobody was telling me I had to do this or that. We were allowed work in complete isolation. I think that was for the best. Eamon de Paor Tonight and tomorrow, Olympia Theatre, 72 Dame Street D2, 7.30pm, 30 (tonight returns only). Tel: 0818 719 300. www.paolonutini.com index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html