Pointing his target at corporations, appealing to the lowest common denominator and anthropomorphism, John Gordillo's Cheap shots at the Defenceless is a satirical look at aspects of modern life that annoy him.
The show is a mixture of classic stand-up with powerpoint slides used to illustrate or enhance jokes. While this is a technique that doesn't always work, for Gordillo it does, as his comedy is of a much more nebulous variety. Furthermore, he often refers to details on the slides rather than simply using them to back up his humour. An especially funny example of this was a collection of fried chicken shop signs that illustrated their ridiculousness. In addition whereas many comedians might shudder at the idea of not having a clear message from their show, it is almost as if Gordillo is thinking of his overarching point and how his whole set ties together as he is delivering it. Even if unintentional this is still a refreshing trait.
Gordillo's style of comedy will not appeal to all. I was laughing often enough to enjoy myself but I felt that I was nodding my head in agreement with Gordillo's gripes as much as I was laughing at his jokes about his kvetch - it’s possible that if you don't agree with him then it’s difficult to find humour in his complaints.
Often poignant and definitely interesting, Gordillo is a comedian who is very difficult to pigeon-hole and that is no bad thing. I walked out feeling as if some of the bile that courses through the audience had been cleansed.
