Here Comes Your Man is a lovely hour of storytelling from a bright new talent Matt Hoss. Where so many stand up acts at the Fringe utilise the comedy of destructing others or plundering Brexit, Hoss opts for speaking honestly about what matters to him and what he wants from his life. It is this warmth and geniality that makes the show a delight but it is the fact that this is all made so potent by an aura of fearlessness that makes it special.
Warmth and geniality that makes the show a delight.
Hoss first hits us with a dissection of the title, and its unfortunate relation to a Pixies song, before getting down and dirty with his ideas of love and his tale of romantic fulfilment. It’s not uncommon for a comedian to plunder a relationship for an hour long show, and while it couldn’t be said for certain whether this particular story is enough to stand out and above those, it is well told and cozily digestible nonetheless.
Hoss punctuates the material with his playful riffing and flashes of audience interaction. We feel invited in warmly; weirdly even when he reacts to our hesitance at points to get onboard. Though the material could have been tied together more seamlessly along the way, he does well to keep the core takeaway of the show intact.
Hoss’ frantic and energetic presence is thrilling foundation for his spiel and helps to create an atmosphere of excitement. However, better managing may be required as it can perhaps feel a little overused. His numerous tangents – such as a look at a country and western album based on his break up – are interesting additions to the show, helping to add texture, but at times can feel a little bit unfounded and a tad unfocused. This is, however, Hoss' debut show so it is all part of him searching for his identity as a comedian, which he seems to be well on his way.
Hoss tells us that art is turning negativity to light and after watching him for an hour, I'm sure of it. All in all, Here Comes Your Man is a fun addition to your Fringe schedule made so by Hoss’ fantastic presence. I look forward to seeing what comes next for him – here’s hoping a functional and loving relationship – hopefully at the cost of any future shows.
