Songwriter, Novelist & Governor Wanna-be – Kinky Friedman

Kinky Freidman ran for Texas Governor in 2006.  His grass roots campaign and platform is based on common sense solutions, including banning toll roads, doubling the community service term for juvenile offenders and limiting Texas House and Senate terms to 20 years.  On gay marriage he stated, “I support gay marriage. I believe they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us.”

In 2006, he won 12.6% of the vote, placing fourth in the six-person race. And in 2010, hew is again running for Governor.

But politics was not always his line of work. Friedman grew up in Texas and formed his first band, King Arthur & the Carrots, while at the University of Texas.

In 1971, Friedman had formed his second band, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, a band that played parody, social-commentary and politically-incorrect satirically-focused songs. 

With country and western flavored songs such as “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits In The Oven and Your Buns In Bed,” along with touring with Bob Dylan in the mid-1970s, coupled with an appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” elevated him to a cult figure.  Over his musical career, he’s released 11 albums.

His reported appearance on Austin City Limits, the PBS music series, was the only episode considered too controversial to be aired over the 30 year history of the show.

He also writes, mostly mystery and detective novels and satirical advice books, and he’s regularly read as a columnist in Texas Monthly magazine. As an occasional guest on a few of the 24-hour news shows and talk radio, he’s expanded his recognition.

Kinky has expanded his empire to include his Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, a salsa line and a line of five cigars.

Here’s bringing  his band to The Birchmere outside of Washington DC, for a humorous cabaret-style performance on November 18th. Expect some irreverent songs, with some political humor tossed in to boot…a Texas boot that is.

Kinky Freidman
The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia  22305  (map it)

Dates & Times – Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets - $35.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Pentagon City – Blue and Yellow lines, then a 5-mile cab ride.

Parking – Limited free and street parking is available.

Image – Image by Larry D. Moore, used under a Creative Commons ShareAlike License – © 2006 Larry D. Moore.