Video: Kinky Friedman plays “We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You” at the Blue Door, returning to Oklahoma Sunday
Check out this video of Kinky Friedman, the self-proclaimed “Governor of the Heart of Texas,” performing his subversive story song “We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You” last year at Oklahoma City’s Blue Door.
The singer/songwriter/author/political upstart is embarking today on the second leg of his “Bi-Polar Tour,” playing 28 shows in 27 days, in the spirit of Oklahoma native Woody Guthrie, Townes Van Zandt and Judy Garland. The tour begins in Kansas City, Mo., with the “Jewish Troubadour” making his way back to Oklahoma City’s Blue Door Sunday night. On Monday night, he will return to Tulsa to play his annual benefit concert for the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
He recently released a new album, “Live From Woodstock,” that he recorded during the first leg of his show-a-night “Bi-Polar Tour” as well as two nonfiction book two collaborations with famed friends that were released this year: “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road” with Willie Nelson and “The Billy Bob Tapes: A Cave Full of Ghosts” with Billy Bob Thornton.
In addition, Friedman ran for Governor of Texas in 2006 — “we won that race in everyplace but Texas,” he said — and he is contemplating another campaign for the office in 2014. That may well be why his “Bi-Polar Tour” has been subtitled “A Fact Finding Mission.”
“You know my definition of politics: poli- means more than one, and ticks are blood-sucking parasites. And they truly are. I mean, we really need term limits on these guys, and I’ve suggested limiting all elected officials to two terms: one in office and one in prison. I think would go a long way,” Friedman told me in a recent phone interview.
“Morality features in this, too. I tell the audience … that ‘Jesus loves you can be very comforting words — unless you hear them in a Mexican prison.’ That’s a good line. That one does well. You know, the show is fun. I enjoy it. Very few moving parts,” he added. “When you think about the songs being more than 40 years old, many of them, it’s remarkable to be able to do this and even draw a crowd … and then when you shift to politics, they’ll take everything out of context and they’ll call you a racist — like they did Bill Clinton and Mark Twain. That’s pretty good company; at least Mark Twain is good company. Bill’s all right.”
To read more of my fascinating interview with the multi-talented Kinky Friedman, click here.
IN CONCERT
Kinky Friedman’s “Bi-Polar Tour”
When: 8 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley Ave.
Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.
When: 7 p.m. Monday.
Where: Oklahoma Jazz Hall Of Fame’s Jazz Depot, 111 E First Street, upper level.
Benefiting: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
Information: (918) 281-8600 or www.okjazz.org.
-BAM
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