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The Palais, Melbourne, 10th March 2023 // Photo – Lucas Packett Photography

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‘Weird Al’ Yankovic
+ Emo Phillips
@ The Astor, Perth,
18th March 2023
(Live Review)

Review by Melanie Griffiths

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The Palais, Melbourne, 10th March 2023 // Photo – Lucas Packett Photography

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From Palindromes to Power Medleys:
Weird Al Yankovic
Delivers Hilarious and
Unlikable Songs in Sold-Out Show

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The Palais, Melbourne, 10th March 2023 // Photo – Lucas Packett Photography

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Since the 1980s, Weird Al Yankovic has entertained fans with his hilarious and creative song parodies. Yankovic’s comedic take on popular hits has earned him a reputation as a master of musical satire, and his music has become a cultural touchstone, inspiring countless other comedians. For a sold-out crowd at Astor Theatre to hear this unique artist was a rare treat. And Yankovic and his band delivered.

The night started with Yankovic’s pal and eccentric American comedian Emo Philips getting the crowd warmed up before the tall, age-defying Grammy award winner strolled on stage flanked by his seasoned band.

From the outset, the musical parodist and observer of pop culture warned the audience that his Australian tour was a “different” type of show. Despite the tour’s title and the warning on his website, he conceded that people might be disappointed because,

 “Tonight we’re going to play a lot of deeply unlikable songs.”

However, fans were eager to hear his original work, with many Hawaiian shirt-clad devotees singing along throughout. Though Weird Al’s last album release is approaching its tenth anniversary, his impact still runs deeper than the lyrics of a Bob Dylan song.

Given the current climate of social media attention-seeking, Yankovic made the perfect choice to kick off the set with “Lame Claim to Fame” with lines like “My best friend’s brother, well he was an extra in Wayne’s World 2” the laughs rolled in. Sitting on a stool between his seated bass player and guitarist, the ringlet-haired musical shapeshifter bounced his knees and flicked his wrists singing with pronounced gusto.

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The Palais, Melbourne, 10th March 2023 // Photo – Lucas Packett Photography

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Yankovic then set a cracking pace with 1992’s “Airline Amy” which gave the band their first opportunity to show their personalities as they riffed in the second half, to 2003’s “Bob”. A song that originally started as a track comprised entirely of palindromes turned into a tongue-in-cheek ribbing of Bob Dylan’s musical style.

“Dare to be Stupid” was the first dip into his 1980s discography, reworked into a jazzy lounge tune that included Yankovic switching from a tambourine to a cowbell. And in between each song, the singer would regale with a wit drier than a Perth summer wind the inspiration behind each song. It appeared he was preaching to the converted as eyes lit up with each new song introduced. From the do-wop of “One More Minute” to whipping out his trusty accordion for “My Baby’s In Love With Eddie Vedder”, to the jaunty pace of the ska-driven “Your Horoscope” Yankovic pivoted across several musical genres with ease. And even with his lyric-heavy songs, his voice kept up with the pace.

It’s one thing to be able to put out a funny song, even an insightful album but the brilliance of Weird Al is his incredible ability to write intelligent songs that embrace different musical genres that are pertinent to the current times. He crafts songs that value the music, just as much as the lyrics and delivery.

A head-banging outing of “I”ll Sue Ya” filled with Tom Morello guitar licks and Limp Bizkit ego was a high point as was the new-wave, Talking Heads-esque “Dog Eat Dog” an ode to the corporate slave. Yet it was the sumptuously over-the-top “Craigslist” that tipped the concert into a musical experience. Yankovic projected the smarminess of a lizard king, drenched in blood-red lighting and backed by the sounds of a Fender Rhodes keyboard before sinking into “Nature Trail To Hell”.

As the chords of the closer “The Biggest Ball of Twine In Minnesota” caused everyone to erupt in applause, Yankovic’s tall frame went side of the stage in full view, apathetically checking his phone as the audience demanded an encore, hilariously illustrating the absurdity of encores.

So with feigned surprise, Yankovic and band launched into The Exciters’ “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” before giving a power medley of his most popular songs, albeit with a Yankovic twist, reinterpreted as jazzy numbers. “Amish Paradise”, melted into “Smells Like Nirvana”, “White & Nerdy” and “Word Crimes” before the crowd sang and took the night home with a thunderous sing-a-long of “Yoda”.

With the “Time Warp” playing as the doors opened, the sold-out crowd spilled out onto the pavement delighted. For a night of deeply unpopular songs, Yankovic proved his musical satire still reigns supreme.

4/5

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The Palais, Melbourne, 10th March 2023 // Photo – Lucas Packett Photography

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Check out Lucas Packett Photography’s full gallery of the Melbourne event HERE

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Follow “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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The Palais, Melbourne, 10th March 2023 // Photo – Lucas Packett Photography

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AMNPLIFY – DB