Two whole stand-up shows and a story album by Daniel Kitson

February 23, 2012 4:35 PM

Two whole stand-up performances by comedian Daniel Kitson can be downloaded on a pay-what-you-want basis (even if you want to pay nothing). These are the 2004 and 2005 Edinburgh performances (2004 performance previously on MeFi). Kitson has also recorded a story album with musician Gavin Osborn, selling for ₤2.50, and the first three tracks, of eleven, can be streamed online. [via The Bugle]
posted by Kattullus (11 comments total)

Sweet! I am still kicking myself for not downloading when it was up and it now appears I can hear it again. I thought it was genius.
posted by zzazazz at 4:43 PM on February 23, 2012

Kitson has also recorded a story album with musician Gavin Osborn, selling for ₤2.50, and the first three tracks, of eleven, can be streamed online.

I saw this live, a couple of years ago at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and it was sweet and delightful. It's certainly worth a few bucks.

Kitson's stand up gigs are great too - he's the charming, self-effacing, genial uncle of standup.

Hopefully, this implementation of the self publish/low cost model will turn out as well for Kitson as it did for Louie CK a few months ago.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:46 PM on February 23, 2012

Yeah, Kitson is amazing. I've listened to the 2005 show a few times and it's always wonderful. His depiction of his friendship with Sam is beautiful and poignant, as well as hilarious. Not often you can describe a stand-up performance like that.
posted by Kattullus at 4:50 PM on February 23, 2012

Thank you so much, I just snoozed and lost on Kitson tickets in Melbourne.
posted by Trivia Newton John at 5:03 PM on February 23, 2012

Kitson's stand up gigs are great too - he's the charming, self-effacing, genial uncle of standup.

Until he calls someone a cunt that is. It really is just like family with Kitson.
posted by howfar at 6:16 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

I love this guy, I'm just not sure how to describe him or what he does.
posted by estuardo at 7:59 PM on February 23, 2012

Yay Kitson. Are these the midnight shows he did with Gavin at Regents Park a few years back? I went to them and they were great. He's more of a storyteller who's incidentally funny than a straight-up stand up comedian, and though I love the narrative part of his act it's all the stuff in between (and especially if you see him warming up for Edinburgh, the digressions and sad/funny insights he has in conversations with members of the audience), that really make me wish he was one of my friends. I quite like a bit of well-placed bawdiness as well, so him cracking out the c-bomb every now and then doesn't cause any ripples.

If you're reading this Daniel, I've thought about what I can bring to the table re: our imaginary friendship and it is very good scones and a fun attitude. Drop me a line!
posted by everydayanewday at 8:36 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

I had a chance to see him in Brooklyn last month and I had to cancel. Still bummed about that. Thanks for posting this!
posted by mlis at 9:49 PM on February 23, 2012

I actually think what Kitson does is fascinating. It's almost like alchemy. He takes what are usually negative traits, his stubbornness, insistent romanticism, personal anger and bitterness, elitism and insularity and transmutes them into nobility. When he talks about weltanschauung, he is talking about himself. He's always talking about himself, and yet with such a critical eye on his own failings and with such love for the world that it is dazzling, not narcissistic.

Look. Basically Kitson is the Nietzsche of comedy.
posted by howfar at 5:19 AM on February 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

It was only a couple of days ago that I was performing my six-monthly check of Mr Daniel Kitson's website to see if he'd made any more material available so this post means that I'm getting the album with Gary Osborn almost six months early. Which is nice... but I'd have preferred some more straight stand-up (the 2004 and 2005 Stand shows having been available for some time now). Ah, well.
posted by MUD at 5:21 AM on February 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'd never heard of Mr Kitson - he's fantastic. Thanks, Kattullus.
posted by koeselitz at 1:57 AM on February 25, 2012