Back in March I reviewed comedy poet Tim Key in combination with upcoming pop punk quartet Ramona. Four months later I saw Key’s fellow We Need Answers presenter and stand up comic/cider spokesperson Mark Watson and Ramona in quick succession, and so I’ve condensed the two experiences into another little article for your enjoyment/derision. I’ve added subtitles to break the reviews up, but they’re only necessary if you are reading this while inebriated or impaired by stupidity.

Mark Watson @ the Cambridge Comedy Festival

Mark Watson is an incredibly likeable comedian, his onstage presence both shy and exuberant, often in a paradoxical combination that sounds a little confusing on paper. He is not the kind of animated buffoon that might one day fill the O2 Arena, and he does not go in for the hyper-masculine, combative style of delivery which is a must for all comics who want to stand out on the fickle world of TV panel shows. This hasn’t stopped him making a name for himself with critically acclaimed shows at Edinburgh, including record-breakingly lengthy one-man stints in front of an audience. He also writes novels, and has admitted that writing is his passion and stand up comedy his accidental profession. In all, an interesting chap.

I saw Watson while he was trialling new material for his Edinburgh show, which he is then taking on tour in the autumn, and it is clear that although his style relies on digression, he is only successful because of the solid underlying structure which quietly holds the set together. Watson’s popularity comes from the fact that his jokes are essentially observational and broad, but despite the lack of edginess or a political agenda his originality and imaginative use of language keep people like me laughing. Watson’s comedy manages to be life affirming without being simplistic, and intelligent without being pretentious. I saw Stewart Lee’s 20 minute deconstruction of his role in the Magner’s Pear Cider ads last year, but having witnessed Watson live I’m willing to allow him his position as occasional corporate spokesperson.

Ramona @ The Portland Arms, Cambridge

I love the simplicity, energy and musical honesty* of punk rock. I also like the brevity of the tracks, and two and a half to three minutes seems about the right length for any song. After that it’s just repetition or deviation, so I’m all for imposing the rules of Just a Minute on the charts. This is why Ramona is my kind of band. After gigging incessantly, with festivals including T in the Park and Wireless Festival under their belts, they have added professionalism to the passion which was clearly visible in the early days.

When I first saw Ramona they had been together for just a few weeks, but as maturity sets in the whole group has become tighter, brisker and more engaging, with the set hammered out at a breathtaking speed that’s definitely habit-forming. The tracks are parasitically catchy and arranged so that there is very little down time, and in a half-hour slot that’s the perfect set-up. Seeing them cope with longer periods onstage will definitely be interesting, but I’m pretty certain they’ve got some slow numbers stashed amongst the spiky bursts of sound that punctuate their current catalogue. Keep you eyes on MySpace for news of their first single that’s due in September.

*Don’t ask me what that means.