Neurotic preoccupations about not being gay (but maybe being a bit nerdy) ruled the routines for much of Local Laughs. A snaggle (OK call that 10) of local stand-ups cheered the beery hearts and casual chain-smoking suave of the Easter Monday, Balaclava crowd. Perched precariously on a stool cushion with a 60 millimetre circumference at the back of the bar, I passively smoked my way through two cubic tonnes of nicotine and dug the diverse line-up.

There was deliciously indecent carnal wit direct from NSW’s Anna Hoffman who had dry delivery, balanced poise and a strangled guitar ditty about looking a bit like a lesbian. Coriander loving Josh Thomas’s stage presence was fresh and awkward, self-effacing and charming and contained buzzy material about family ‘outings’. Matt Kenneally, looking uncertain, served up sharp, contemporary, political gems’we didn’t want him to stop. Ben Payne delivered a cautionary tale about having a vasectomy with gravitas (ahem) and pure timing. There was a biology story from a man comic! Yes! And Jess Moir’s routine was all energy and squeaky excitement, some worn gags, but she lobbed us fabulous observations about the Catholic Church and bling. Sam Bowring divided the audience with a villainous sleaze and please routine. Yet there was still gleeful delight left for athletically wordy absurdist the Bedroom Philosopher whose polished performance included a song of wicked nerdery c/o the blogger’s diary. All held together with MC Yianni’s self-conscious chatty repartee.