Silky: It Was This Show or Have Kids

• Suzanne Black
• 20 August 2013

This article is from 2013.

Honest, heartfelt, slickly-delivered, irresistible and, yes, occasionally disturbing stand-up

Silky has made a reputation for himself by singing gently disturbing songs and this is the lure for his 2013 show. It's a trap. What Silky is really peddling is honest, heartfelt, slickly-delivered, irresistible and, yes, occasionally disturbing stand-up.

Ostensibly about his reluctance to grow up, Silky welcomes us into his life and takes us through a roster of his friends – many with children – and the way he met his current girlfriend, with whom he is sickeningly happy. There are plenty of laughs along the way from this accomplished joke-smith. Then things take a turn for the heart-rending when he maneuvers the topic around to his family and his desire to start his own. It's testament to his ability to control a room that the audience goes along with him as things get real.

There are a couple of funny tunes towards the end to leaven the mood and allow the audience to leave on a high note, but Silky could have left the guitar at home. Relatable, warm and, crucially, very funny, his stand-up stands on its own.

The Stand II, 558 7272, until 25 Aug, 2.30pm, £8 (£7).