Reclining on a stonework makeshift chaise lounge, Scott of musical-comedy-poetry duo Fever Peach is the very picture of aloofness as their audience shuffles in. The crown on his head and bare chest do nothing to detract from this, whilst Andrew – chief musical maestro of the duo – prepares his guitars in readiness. And they start! Loud and fast and in your face, Scott climbing onto vacant seats, speaking clearly and with purpose the poetry groupie’s tirade, over Andrew’s electric screeching guitar, channelling John Cooper Clarke on 80s kids’ mayhem telly Tiswas. Into a punchline that relieves the delicious tension both musically and comedically. These guys may act like raw punks but they’ve got skills.
The pair are skilled wordsmiths and musicians, former comedians both, peppering their talents together to produce this witch’s brew of new flavours that scream humour and quietly deliver trigger-warned verse. They’re unpredictable; just as likely to revel in puerile Mum-jokes with a shout-along gleeful song that would serve a mosh pit well, as to serve up a tense and strangely moving spoken word piece on domestic violence delivering a quiet fear and sadness.
Intense Goblin Nightmare Woman gives the impression of being ragged but when you look at its edges it’s been tightly choreographed to showcase the diversity of the act. Moving from tight harmonies for a single gag, to beat epic poem, via ‘Working Class Intellectual’ – a poem itself that raises all manner of issues of identity, privilege, access, and gate-keeping in rapid punches – all background scored to run fluidly. Together it creates a rollercoaster of an hour that holds attention on a number of different levels throughout, resulting in a weird and wonderful something that feels completely new.
Just the Tonic at The Caves – Just the Wee One, 20:10, 4-27 August 2023 (except 7th, 14th & 21st)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/fever-peach-intense-goblin-nightmare-woman
