Redbone/Wainwright... and SON OF THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES

Last night I rushed out last minute to the Birchmere, as I discovered that Loudon Wainwright III and Leon Redbone were playing together.

So yeah. Going was a moral imperative.

First of all, I should admit that I was shamefully unfamiliar with Leon Redbone, aside from the name. And as such, I wasn't exactly "in" on the joke. But then, upon coming home and looking up his Wikipedia page, I think the joke is that NO one else is in on the joke! There's not even a known birthdate for the guy!

How the hell old IS he? Not as old as he acts on stage; it was like watching a senile Ent sing old-timey jazz, and I say that as a good thing.

For my own sake, I like to believe that Leon Redbone is actually Andy Kaufman. In either case, having last night's concert as my first experience of Redbone was an ideal one, and was a grand surprise.

But I was really there for Loudon. What I do in THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES, Loudon does in music, except he's way more unapologetic about his own flaws and jerkwadiness. Loudon Wainwright III and William Hurt are on the short list of people I deeply admire and enjoy, but would never want to know.

He sang a ton of songs from KNOCKED UP (which I haven't seen, nor heard the soundtrack yet), great tunes, and some older ones, most of which I'd never heard either. I only recognized a couple, and he didn't even sing any of my favorites like "Prince Hal's Dirge" or the wonderful "Swimming Song," but he's as much a storyteller as a folk singer, so that hardly mattered.

I'd just never seen a folkie get so into his guitar playing. He was far twitchier than I expected, and whenever he needed to lick his lips, he'd stick his tongue out and just waggle it all around in a roundhouse cunnilingus maneuver. I was reminded of the tentacles in THE THING. But in a good way.

Best thing about Loudon is that he really got me in the mentality of the new HEFNER MONOLOGUES show, the one about Dad and the rest of my family. Until I can think of a more striking and original title, I think SON OF THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES will do just fine.

Because yeah, I should really have this alternate show in my rep. I need a family-friendly one. With just my one show, that limits my venue possibilities by, like, half. YOU tell ME how to clean up a show whose first line is "And it would have been the most beautiful moment of my life if I didn't have the hhhhhhhhhugest fucking erection."

To tie it all back together, man oh man, I'd love to perform at the Birchmere. If Rollins can do it--and I am KICKING myself for forgetting that Henry Rollins performed there just two weeks ago...!--then I damn well can, someday!

(no subject)

Thanks to tompurdue, for pointing out the final Washington Post article on Captain America in which I'm interviewed. Heh, I don't know if the writer was sloppy or just too literal a transcriber, because yeah, that long-winded and convoluted speaker is definitely me.

Meanwhile, someone on scans_daily badmouths Dave McKean's art. Consider that for a moment: someone... truly and honestly... calls Dave McKean's artwork eye-burn worthy.

I... y'know, of course all art is subjective and no single given artist is going to appeal to everyone, but... DAVE MCKEAN! Specifically, ARKHAM ASYLUM Dave McKean! I... I just... why should I even have to explain that... it... sighhh.

I just don't get people sometimes.