Silky: It Was This Show or Have Kids

They say to make people laugh for a living must be the hardest job in the world, but there are some performers for whom it seems effortless. Silky is one of these. His show – loosely based around his dilemma over continued touring versus family rearing – while not a comic masterpiece, is certainly endearing.

He doesn't rely on ‘set-up-punchline’ jokes; it’s more a scattered anecdotes approach. Most stories revolve around his perceived immaturity, acting the daft laddy, silly things he didn’t mean to say. It's very good fun.

Some of his appeal comes from unchecked rawness: it’s moving as he talks about his girlfriend, heartbreaking when he mentions his father. Although there’s an unusually small number of people here, it feels intimate rather than awkward. He is totally engaged with us.

It’s not perfect – some jokes bomb – but he makes note, moves on, and finds another which lands perfectly. Or picks up his guitar. Or ad-libs. Whatever, he enjoys himself, and we do too.