Homepage News Reviews - Acts - Shows - Screen - Radio - Books - Clubs Interviews Awards 2006 Edinburgh 2005 - Reviews - Blog - Previews Features Archive Awards 2005 Edinburgh 2004: - Previews - Shows - Diary Guestbook Forum © Emporium Of Mirth 2004 Editor: Lauren Murphy Reporters: Fiona Wilkie Natalie Joanne	Emporium of Mirth Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music Crimes Against Music opens in true rock and roll star, with frontman Mitch Benn bellowing “GOOD EVENING RADIO 4!”. Which, if nothing else, certainly grabs the attention. Having long been a regular on The Now Show and It’s Been a Bad Week (Radio 2), this is Mitch’s long-awaited own show. It’s musical comedy at its best, combined with sketches and routines performed by the cast (Mitch, Robin Ince and Alfie Joey), which explores the intricacies of the rock star lifestyle. What has come across more than anything in the first two episodes- about fans and death respectively- is Mitch’s love and knowledge of music. Something which, I fear, may be lost on the vast majority of Radio 4 listeners, many of whom would probably be more at home listening to Melvyn Bragg and Jenny Murray than The Smiths and Nirvana. Indeed, the show has a definite Radio 2 slant (with the opening introduction of the cast similar to Radio 2 show Jammin’). Perhaps an attempt at Radio 4 culture was why Richard Stillgoe is name-dropped ten times (count ‘em!) in the first two episodes, in the context of rendering Mitch only the second best comedy song writer in the universe. I, for one, beg to differ. I am aware this admission makes me the butt of the jokes in the first episode, which is punctuated with Mitch regularly pointing out that he has his own real fans now. So, I spent the rest of the episode alternately laughing at myself and being paranoid that he was going to mention me by name... The second episode opens with “Rock and Roll Hall of Death”, a song from Mitch’s second album, Radio Face. Apart from a ruined joke about the death of Peter André’s career (how dare André have the cheek to reprise the pop-star role after a stint in the jungle?!), this remains one of my favourite pieces of musical comedy, bringing together all the weird and wonderful ways in which rock stars have managed to get themselves killed at a young age. Sounds horrible, but it’s truly delightful. Mitch has something of a reputation for being a master of the voice, a skill which he puts to good use in his musical parodies of stars like Morrisey, Elvis and even Rick Astley (who, not many people know, sang Stock, Aitken and Waterman’s Requiem). But, the true genius of Mitch lies in his ability to be funny, yet still a fantastic musician. His lyrics are always spot on, creating comedy from observation and rhyme, while his band provide excellent accompaniment, with backing vocals provided by bassist Kirsty Newton. She is also given a solo in the second episode, in a teen-tragedy spoof song in which she sings about all of her ex-boyfriends she has managed to kill in various ways. The impressions don’t just come from Mitch; John Peel is given a guest-spot in every episode courtesy of his impersonator, Robin Ince. Funny voices, funny songs and funny sketches... what more could you ask for in a radio show? Crimes Against Music will be re-airing in the coveted 6:30 slot on Radio 4 from April 22nd. For more information on Mitch Benn, go to: www.mitchbenn.com or, join the mailing list: groups.yahoo.com/group/punt_dennis_mitchbenn Reviewed by Nat RSS  Printable version	Visit our Siamese Twin Sister Site!