This spring, starting April 27th in Kansas City, Missouri, Kinky Friedman, author, musician, politician, and self-proclaimed Governor of the Heart of Texas, will be performing dates throughout the Midwest and East Coast as part of his Springtime for Kinky Tour of 2011. Often returning to places he has not visited in two decades, the Kinkster will appear solo (primarily) and promote his most recent books, What Would Kinky Do? and Heroes of a Texas Childhood. There will be a book signing at each venue.
Buoyed by his Go West Young Kinky Tour last spring and his monster appearance on the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in October, Kinky will take his show to many of his favorite American cities. Playing the songs for which he is best known, such as “They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Sold American,” reading passages from his books, and carrying on his hilarious running commentary on the state of the union, Kinky, the prodigal son of Texas, will, indeed, return to the scenes of his crimes of years gone by.
Though years have passed since the last full-on Texas Jewboys show, Kinky continues to be associated with that infamous band of his early career, partly because of his long friendship with Bob Dylan (Kinky did, of course, travel with the Rolling Thunder Revue), but mostly because of the band’s total outrageousness and those legendary songs. On the projects list for 2011 is a Willie Nelson CD of Kinky's songs, which will be no less than the third tribute album to Kinky and his work. Willie, who has a new Sony record deal, and who has been swapping stories and playing chess with Kinky for decades, will confirm these tunes as American standards.
Meanwhile, Kinky continues to “spit out books like sunflower seeds,” with a brand new deal to co-write one with old pal Billy Bob Thornton. And he is now being immortalized onstage with a play called Becoming Kinky . . . The World According to Kinky Friedman, written by Ted Swindley, who created the long-running hit Always . . . Patsy Cline, and starring up-and-comer Jesse Dayton.
Kinky may be finished with politics, but politics may not be finished with Kinky. He continues to be a popular guest on cable news channels, appearing with hosts as diverse as John Seigenthaler and Bill O’Reilly, and his regular contributions to Texas Monthly never fail to take proper shots at the insanity of Texas politics. He also contributes to such national media as The New York Times and Playboy, more often than not skewing deserving politicians wherever they may be.
And that’s not all in 2011: an Australian tour is on the agenda for June. Kinky will be joined by long-time Brian Wilson collaborator Van Dyke Parks, as the two old friends visit Kinky's second favorite continent. But in the meantime . . .
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Springtime for Kinky Tour 2011
Wed., April 27 KANSAS CITY, MO Knuckleheads
Thurs., April 28 LITTLE ROCK, AR Juanita's
Fri., April 29 ST. LOUIS, MO Off Broadway
Sat., April 30 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK The Blue Door
Sun., May 1 NEWPORT, KY (CINCINNATI, OH) Southgate House
Mon., May 2 NASHVILLE, TN 3rd and Lindsley
Tues., May 3 CLEVELAND, OH Wilbert's
Thurs., May 5 MILWAUKEE, WI Shank Hall
Sat., May 7 BERWYN (CHICAGO), IL Fitzgerald's
Sun., May 8 PHILADELPHIA, PA World Cafe Live
Mon., May 9 NEW YORK, NY Highline Theater
Tues., May 10 ROCHESTER, NY Water Street
Fri., May 13 ALEXANDRIA, VA (WASHINGTON, DC) Birchmere
Sat., May 14 WOODSTOCK, NY Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble
THE DISCO BISCUITS
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Black
Black worked with Entress to bring the perfect cast of characters together – top-notch musicians, including singer/songwriter Mark Erelli on vocals, guitar and lap steel and Nashville’s favorite fiddle player, Stuart Duncan. With Entress’ guidance the players have created a rich and compelling album. The music spotlights traditional roots instruments like Dobro, fiddle, mandolin, pedal steel and upright bass as well as the smooth and classic sounds of the electric guitar. “Making One Time was an incredible experience for me,” says Black. “As happy as I am to get the music out there, I’m also sad that the creation process is over. My favorite part of making this record was witnessing these incredible musicians doing what they do best. I can’t wait to get back in the studio with them again.”
“This song was a first taker in the studio,” says Hoge. “We tracked all of it with just the four band members going live. It just had such a great 'live' energy. We later tried to beat the original guitar solo, but we weren’t ever able to top the feel and emotion of that first take so we just went with it. And the lyric is pretty relatable for guys and girls...it’s definitely a fan favorite out on the road.”
Traditional West African dance drumming, music and storytelling. BaoBao Festival entertains, educates and builds community in Colorado through artistic performances and educational events inspired by West African tradition and culture. This multifaceted collaboration between local and international performing artists (including former members of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble, the Streetside Hip Hop Dance Troupe, and others) engages and entertains world culture fans of all ages. The festival, started by Boulder resident Adjei Abankwah, a lead dancer and choreographer with the Ghana National Dance Ensemble for 11 years, has been a perennial favorite among Boulder and Denver audiences.