Andrew Maxwell

Explicit content warning

08/13/14 • 82 min

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland

Andrew Maxwell is the kind of guy who you would want on your side in a debating hall, on the football pitch or in a barroom fistfight. Andrew is one of the few human beings that tickles the living shit out of me just to hang out with him. He is a street fighting man originally from Dublin, Ireland who has lived in London for the past 20 years.

I first met him 15 years ago at the Comedy Store in London and he has since gone on to be one of the greatest friends I have ever known. He is one of my favorite people to stay up all night with laughing and talking about everything that comes to mind. His brain is packed with vital information concerning life, history and the general Ninja secret of high level comedy performance.

Regarding the Edinburgh Fringe festival, he has been one of my main sources for advice and guidance that I have sought out over the years leading up to me finally participating in it this year.

He is an exciting performer to watch because he never backs down from the challenging remarks he offers on any topic and his television specials are made with great intelligence equally his great humor.

He is not only one of my favorite people to hang out with but a performer who inspires me every time I see him. Never lazy, never without great thought put into each performance. We recorded this at my kitchen table in my rented Edinburgh apartment just a few hours after I saw him perform this year's hour show at the Assembly Rooms on George street.

In the conversation we talk about the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence, his great moments at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, near death experiences and as he puts it "The proper way to rinse a cunt."

It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Andrew Maxwell!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

Audience: Ashna & Suraya

End song: Lightning’ Hopkins - Mojo Hand

Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment, August 2014

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland

Regarding the Edinburgh Fringe festival, he has been one of my main sources for advice and guidance that I have sought out over the years leading up to me finally participating in it this year.

It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Andrew Maxwell!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

Audience: Ashna & Suraya

End song: Lightning’ Hopkins - Mojo Hand

Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment, August 2014

Previous Episode

Yisrael Campbell

★★★★★ Tom Rhodes Radio Review for Yisrael Campbell in ‘Circumcise me’

Greetings from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!

At a later date I will talk about my personal history with this festival but for now I want to tell you about the magnificence of the biggest and greatest arts festival in the world. There are literally thousands of shows happening here on all manner of topics but the one thing that all of them share is that they each belong to the family of storytellers. I have been racing around the city as much as possible taking in as many different shows as I can and one of the shows I have loved most and that knocked me out is 'Circumcise me' written and performed by Yisrael Campbell.

It is the story of his life and how he went from growing up Catholic in suburban Philadelphia to being an orthodox Jew living in Jerusalem. As is pure in every hero's story it was a bumpy ride to reaching the top of his spiritual journey. Yisrael is a reformed alcoholic, philosophical sage and stand up comedian with clear eyes discerning the continual crisis Israel faces and how best to deal with tragedy when it strikes your life.

I first encountered the bright light of his personality after my first show of the festival run that he attended. I enjoyed his show 'Circumcise me' so much that I went to it twice. I laughed, I cried and stood on my feet clapping wildly when it finished. His story is epic how he became the person that he is today and I would much rather watch a film about his life instead of another dull super hero sequel.

Until then we have his show and this conversation about his life's journey.

At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival review's are very important so let it be known that Tom Rhodes Radio gives 'Circumcise Me' 5 stars! 5 Bravos! and 5 Hallelujahs!

(5 stars are the best you can get on an Edinburgh review) If you are in or anywhere near Edinburgh during his run I highly recommend you put this show on the top of your list of must see shows. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Yisrael Campbell!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

Audio Cameo: Ashna making lasagna in the background

End song: The Weight - The Band

Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment

Next Episode

Scott Capurro

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland.

When I moved to San Francisco in 1991 openly gay comedians did not play at the regular clubs in the city, they performed at Josie's cabaret and juice joint in the Castro. It was at Josie's that I first saw Scott Capurro perform. He stood out among all the other comedians that night because he made my sides hurt with laughter.

It was only a few years later Scott would be the first openly gay comedian to bust through the barriers of the regular club scene there. He was like the gay Jackie Robinson busting down the door for all the other gay comedians who would eventually be able to work the regular rooms.

Scott's comedy has always been dark, twisted and controversial just the way I like it. I once had an interviewer ask me of those years in the 1990s when I lived in San Francisco "Did you know you were a part of history when it was happening?" The answer is "No." I just was enjoying my friends killing audiences and getting inspired by them to lift my game higher by always bringing my best.

For many years Scott has lived in London and is a veteran taking part in his 17th Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has stirred up controversy and created many firestorms from crafting his thoughts into jokes at this festival.

We talk about his years of doing Edinburgh Fringe, his life in London and the tragic passing this week of Robin Williams, who Scott costarred with in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire.

Just recently has Scott reappeared in my life and I have to say that I have missed him. He is never lazy in creating his material for the stage and never one to back down from bringing out thoughts that upset more conservative tastes in the audience.

To me he is more than just a gay comedy icon, he is a friend who I respect greatly and a performer I love to watch crushing the bugs of prudishness. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Scott Capurro!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

Audio Cameo: Graham Brophy

End song: I Loves You Porgy - Diana Ross

Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment , Edinburgh August 2014