Three Weeks:
"Spoofing classic pop songs, James Sherwood seamlessly interweaves the political and satirical into the inspired ditties tapped out on his keyboard�He has a sharp wit. All this makes for an oddly enjoyable evening's worth of entertainment, where the crowd is not only tickled pink, but informed of the grammatical errors in some of our favourite tunes. Particularly good was a crowd-rousing song about surviving eight years under George W Bush - no mean feat! Imagine Bill Bailey on a smaller scale, mixed with an Elton John who reads Private Eye, and you pretty much get the measure of this show. If you like the sound of that, then you'll love this." ****
One4Review:
"Accompanying himself on keyboards, James Sherwood casts a critical eye over the lyrics of many well known pop songs. He has a pleasing singing voice which does help to put across the humour in a persuasive way.
�He has a particular obsession with grammatical accuracy. He can demonstrate examples of errors in the use of the subjunctive tense and split infinitives. Sounds pedantic, but he can reveal the faults and their remedy in a very witty manner.
�As a songwriter, he explained how topical songs can quickly become redundant, despite many hours of toil. For example, he had penned a Tory bashing song. Given the current state of the opinion polls, this song is now well out of date, but he performed it anyway.
�The highpoints of his show are when he performs his own songs with fully developed inventive lyrics. His combination of musical humour and patter between songs is a winning format." ****
FringeGuru:
�One number right at the start, an entertaining commentary on feeling happy despite bad weather, had the whole audience singing along. And an hilarious, premature anthem for the end of the Bush era - also went down a storm.
�The extended links were entertaining enough, endearingly presented by the slightly rumpled Sherwood. He'd read his audience well - bringing out a knowingly intellectual theme which clearly chimed with the room. An extended section where he ruined classic songs by "correcting" their grammar was a particular highlight. And one of the best-developed numbers was an unashamed nerd-fest, full of references to mathematics and science; I was far more pleased than I should have been to understand it all.
�Sherwood can actually sing - he turns on his full-belt performance for the most amusingly inappropriate of lyrics - and his own compositions are a pleasure too. Never before had I appreciated the sexual innuendo now so apparent in cricket commentary, nor quite seen the damning-with-faint-praise undertone of singing "You are so beautiful... to me". There were deft recurring themes and the whole show was well-received by a credibly-sized crowd.
�With writing credits including Radio 4's The News Quiz and appearances on Loose Ends, Sherwood's far from a struggling newcomer. Right now, this good-value show in an unusual, city-centre venue makes a more than worthy warm-up for an evening on the Fringe." *** and a half
The Scotsman:
�His entire set, from humorous songs to witty repartee, is beautifully, painstakingly sculpted. There's no flab and no filler: everything is meticulously judged and delivered with the flinty discipline of a highly organised mind.
�Sherwood sings a series of brilliant songs, brilliantly spoofing everyone from Paul Simon to Guns 'N' Roses. He indulges in some brilliant pedantry, before giving some brilliant examples of how he might put hecklers down in song.� ***