As soon as Boothby Graffoe takes to the stage I remembered why I enjoy his shows so much... understated, often surreal and always razor sharp, Boothby is the kind of guitar-strumming comedian that you just can't get enough of.

Tonight, at Club Boothby, the man himself was joined by a live band (bloody fabulous) and by a few acts who were, in turn, a bit miss and hit...

Guy Venables was Boothby's first guest... a chain-smoking wide-boy of the comedy circuit. "I nicked a car in Portslade last week to come to Brighton, but the closest parking space was back where I found it in Portslade." A good start, but from there, it has to be said, he went steadily downhill. When someone ends up having to say "I don't mean that gay people aren't normal" and goes on to say that a lot of his friends are gay... well you get the picture.

But back to Boothby (thank god). Hearing him sing his trusty songs with a full band behind him is a real treat, I promise you. This is seriously good music - with lyrics that you daren't ignore they're so damn good! The musicians, Boothby claims, are a fine bunch who only stay with him because he's got their passports...

Jim Tabery and his double-bass were up next. He's performed in various Royal Varieties and was in the London Philharmonic... mailing list. His lines were delivered with Tommy Cooper timing, ending on a song entitled "man sawing his wodden leg off".

Before Boothby let us go we were treated to a full orchestration of "Baseball Playing Spider", complete with audience participation (I still can't get it out of my head... weeks later!).

We all loved Club Boothby at the Spiegeltent! Laughing until you cry is surely good for the soul.