Craig Campbell: Thrilling Mic Hunt @ The Stand

The only thing gentle about Campbell's current show is its introduction. From there on in it's a hilarious, engaging and fantastically loud experience.

The chaotic and frantic nature of his story telling about the realities of being a stand up and the myth of Canada as the promised land takes a wee while to adapt to, but once the show takes flight it becomes several laughs a minute. The disasters of Canada's domestic airlines might not seem like immediate comedy gold, and for that matter neither do the LA riots of the 90s, but in Campbell's hands they become hilarious and subtly thought-provoking.

There's a certain sense of poetic justice when Campbell describes the typically subdued Scottish enthusiasm, and is greeted with incredible enthusiasm. It's this subtle combination of observation and taking the mick out his audience that makes his set so compelling. It turns out that time can literally fly when you're having fun.

Which is more than can be said for some Canadian planes.