Texas’ Kinky Friedman May 10

There is no question when you come to a Kinky Friedman show you are going to hear about the state of our union. Heck, he ran for governor of Texas 2 years ago and got 13 percent in a 6 man race. But Kinky Friedman is just what the doctor ordered these days with all the gripin’ and fightin’ repubs and dems do these days. Kinky’s views are two-sided. He knows exactly what to say to make both sides happy and ticked. Heck his website touts he is good friend with both Bill Clinton and George W Bush. Richard S. “Kinky” Friedman is an American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly who styles himself in the mold of popular American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain. Arriving on the wave of country rock following on from Gram Parsons, The Band, and the Eagles, his break came in 1973 thanks to Commander Cody, who contacted Vanguard Music on his behalf. Friedman rose to stardom in the ’70s, with the Texas Jewboys as his sick and twisted sidekicks. An equal opportunity offender, Kinky, with his outrageous lyrics and crazed stage persona, may have offended some, but drew people like Don Imus, Robin Williams, Bob Dylan and John Belushi into his spiritual fan club. He toured with Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue and appeared on the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live. His repertoire mixed social commentary (“We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You”) and maudlin ballads (“Western Union Wire”) with raucous humor (such as “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed”). www.kinkycigars.com