AWARD-winning Irish comedian David O’Doherty will perform the final show of his current tour at Belfast’s Ulster Hall this evening. The comics’ final performance of We Are All in the gutter, But Some of Us Are Looking at David O’Doherty, will also be his last Irish gig before his summer US tour with New Zealand comedy band Flight of the Conchords.
O’Doherty’s performances are combination of stand-up comedy and comedic musical pieces, which he says partly stem from his musical upbringing.
“It comes from my old man – he’s a jazz musician,” he explains. “He is an unbelievable piano player – he can play any sheet music, and can do these beautiful runs. Early on I realised I wasn’t that, so rather than try to compete with his fancy grand piano antics, I sort of went the opposite way with one that you could smuggle into a sports bag, so Ryanair don’t try to charge you for excess baggage,” he laughs.
The comedian once described himself as the “the Lidl Enya, or the Broken Bublé” and is well known for humorous self-deprecation. Reflecting on his early musical ambitions, O’Doherty says: “The old saying, ‘You can’t polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter’ is what I’ve tried to do with my career.”
The Dubliner believes that his very particular style of comedy naturally chimes with Irish humour in general.
“I definitely come from an Irish tradition of comedy,” he says. “The key components of being Irish, as far I’m concerned, are self-depreciation, over-familiarity, and cynicism. They’re like the three prongs of the shamrock.”
Outside of stand-up comedy O’Doherty has appeared on a number of well-known comedy television shows, and just this week he finished recording the new 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown.
He has also published a series of children’s books and fills some of his spare time doing charity work.
“There’s a charity in Dublin called Fighting Words that provides after-work care for kids from deprived areas,” he says. “It tries to get them into reading and writing, and gives them a place to do homework. We have a great laugh with the kids – I do readings and try to make up stories with them.”
This Sunday O’Doherty will be taking part in a football tournament that has been organised as part of World Refugee Day. Refugee centres from throughout Ireland will be taking part in the seven-a-side to raise awareness of refugees. As an avid sportsman, O’Doherty is keen to avoid a repeat of his team's defeat in last year’s tournament.
“We have a few ringers this year – I think Damien Duff might be playing, and Stephen Hunt,” he laughs. “It’s not just a celeb event or anything. These are just kids who have come to Ireland due to horrific situations.”
Despite his philanthropic endeavours, O’Doherty modestly says he doesn’t view himself as a do-gooder.
“I get paid too much to do this,” he admits. “I play a s**t Yamaha keyboard that I got for Christmas in 1986, and I basically can’t believe I’m getting away with it. It’s only fair to do your bit and realise how lucky you are.”
Although his current tour comes to an end this evening, O’Doherty is currently working on material for a new show.
“I’m putting a new show together for Edinburgh Fringe festival in August. I’m lined up for that one. It’s the biggest show I’ve done now, so basically it can’t be s**t,” he jokes.
Looking forward to his gig at the Ulster Hall, he says: “The Ulster Hall is great because a lot of cool stuff has taken place there over its history, so you go on pretty charged up. Red Hot Chilli Peppers played there at the MTV awards that time, and I’ll definitely be filled with their energy. Although, I think they might be the absolute opposite to what I do. I’m like the anti-Red Hot Chilli Peppers.”
:: We Are All in the gutter, But Some of Us Are Looking at David O’Doherty, 8pm tonight, the Ulster Hall. Tickets www.waterfront.co.uk.
