I have been waiting to see Weird Al Yankovic since 1982 when I heard him play “Another one rides the bus” on the Doctor Demento show. He billed himself as “the worlds only rock and roll accordian player.” He was funny and amazingly gifted. Over the next couple years he had a number of his songs on the Doctor Demento show and he has just been getting better ever since.
The best things in life are free.
These words were true on July 25th because Weird Al’s concert was free with the gate admission at Edmonton’s Capital Ex. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I knew his music but had never seen him live and I was not disappointed. A large video monitor started the concert with some of his mock MTV interviews and then Al and the band came out. For over two hours Weird Al kept the audience laughing and singing along. There were many costume changes as the band and Al would transform themselves to look like whoever they were parodying. During set breaks the monitor would play some more bits from some of Al’s movie appearances or more of his mock interviews. Al’s ability to capture the essence of the singer and then take it to the extreme is truly amazing and his band consists of 4 of the best players on earth who can play any song in any style with absalute fidelity.
What else can I say. If you ever get the chance to see him, go. You’ll laugh until your sides hurt.
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