Dave Eastgate: I Wish I Had a Band

What ramshackle vulnerability does to rock and roll is bring out the painful-to-watch likes of Pete Doherty. Add comedy to the equation, though, and you get something strangely special. Dave Eastgate’s endearingly clumsy and seeming largely ad-libbed I Wish I Had A Band wanders hazily into weird "anti"-musical-comedy. He is Edward Aczel with eyeliner and a guitar.

The Australian’s debut Fringe solo bracingly demystifies musical comedy to the point that Flight of the Conchords appear corporate scum next to him. “Empty chairs are my biggest fans,” he quips distractedly early in the gig. “They follow me everywhere”. Strings slip out of tune, awkward silences fall, Eastgate is an edgily unpredictable performer – but that’s why you see live gigs anyway.

Choreography is overrated. Eastgate’s weakest moments are when he sinks into some of the more obviously pre-prepared segments. Clearly an accomplished musician and physical comedian, Eastgate fares best as the spontaneous loser.

In his climactic title track, Eastgate mimes a blistering and extensive solo in an ingenious deconstruction of rock posturing. Limbs creaking, his voice hoarsely conjures a slew of fantasy backing dancers and production effects while echoing bathetically round the dismally small room. “I’ve got access all areas! All of this!” Eastgate motions to the drab black curtains and reveals a prosaic backstage made up of crates and duct tape. Then he crowd-surfs the empty chairs. Perhaps if Doherty borrowed some of Eastgate’s understated japes fewer people would call him a wanker.