Music

Keeping it weird

‘Weird Al’ proves he’s still got it after 30 years

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Weird Al Yankovic performs at the Henderson Pavilion Friday, August 20, 2010.
Photo: Mytae Carrasco

Nearly 30 years into his career, musical parodist “Weird Al” Yankovic is finally hip. He’s been invited by arty post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor to play the exclusive All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in England later this year, and following that he will launch his first-ever European tour. The music snobs have finally caught on to something that the nerds and squares have known for years: “Weird Al” is awesome.

Weird Al @ Henderson Pavilion

Yankovic’s concert at the Henderson Pavilion August 20 drew all kinds, from families with young kids to people who looked old enough to be grandparents, from tattooed punk-rockers to nerds with thick glasses and awkward haircuts. The entire crowd was united in appreciation for Yankovic’s goofy, wholesome, pun-tastic songs, and he delivered an energetic and varied set, with a healthy mix of parodies and original songs from throughout his career.

The Details

"Weird Al" Yankovic
Three stars
August 20, Henderson Pavilion

The show also included numerous video interludes to allow for multiple costume changes. While the clips of various Yankovic TV and movie appearances were amusing, their sheer volume really hurt the show’s momentum. Perhaps to make up for lost time, at one point he ran through 11 songs in one mega-medley, with only minimal wardrobe alterations. The biggest crowd response during that segment came for “Another One Rides the Bus,” Yankovic’s 1981 debut single. At that moment, all Yankovic needed to captivate his fans was his accordion and his creativity.

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