“Weird Al” to Play War Memorial Auditorium April 17 for Scaled Down, Deep Cuts Tour

Beloved comedian and parody artist extraordinaire “Weird Al” Yankovic has been touring the world since first finding breakout success in the early ’80s, carving out a weird and unique niche that has earned him a loyal following, certifiable hit records (including his first-ever #1 with 2014’s Mandatory Fun), a feature film, a TV show, and a cemented spot in the pop culture zeitgeist, synonymous with parody and musical comedy. Though, of course, best known for his breakout parody hits like “Fat” (“Bad”), “Eat It” (“Beat It”), “Smells Like Nirvana” (“Smells Like Teen Spirt”), “Amish Paradise” (“Gangsta’s Paradise”), “White & Nerdy” (“Ridin'”), “Like A Surgeon” (“Like a Virgin”), and many more, all of which were brought to life by zany and hilarious video, that Al and his band have been meticulously recreating on the road for decades, Yankovic’s more diehard fans surely know that the funnyman has a lot more in his catalogue to offer.

Sure, his career was built on parody, but every single album in the singer’s 14-record catalogue has also included original material as well, often as experiments in style parody- the art of adopting a certain performer’s identifiable style without parody any single track (see Beach Boys and Brian Wilson influenced “Pancras” below). Some, like the DEVO inspired “Dare to Be Stupid,” became hits in their own right, and others, like the experimental “Albuquerque” have cult followings, but many Al originals (and, sure, plenty of parodies too) have been forgotten or overlooked over the years, rarely included in his extravagant, choreographed, costume-filled, intensely-produced live shows. That’s why the singer, now 57, has for the first time announced a stripped down, original song focused, and comparatively intimate run called “The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour.”

In a lengthy statement, Yankovic warned that this experiment might not be for everyone, while acknowledging that it’s something a subset of diehards have been hoping for for years, promising the “deep cuts and obscure tracks. The songs that were never hits. The ones you barely remember.” With “No costumes, no props, no video screens, no computer servers,” the band will, for the first time ever, have the freedom and flexibility to play a different and less formal show each night, and have opted for smaller rooms throughout a massive 2018 trek. The fan-focused tour hits Nashville on April 17 at War Memorial Auditorium, as part of the newly rebranded Nashville Comedy Festival (formerly the Wild West Comedy Festival). Comedian Emo Philips is slated to open, another genuine treat for comedy nerds, and tickets are available Friday, Oct. 20 at 12 p.m. CDT right here!

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2/27—Poughkeepsie, NY—Bardavon 1869 Opera House
3/1—Tarrytown, NY—Tarrytown Music Hall
3/2—Mashantucket, CT—Foxwoods Resort Casino – Fox Theater
3/3—Portsmouth, NH—The Music Hall
3/4—Boston, MA—Wilbur Theatre
3/7—Montreal, QC—Place Des Arts – Theatre Maisonneuve
3/9—Toronto, ON—Danforth
3/10—Grand Rapids, MI—20 Monroe Live
3/11—Ann Arbor, MI—Michigan Theater
3/13—Buffalo, NY—University At Buffalo Center For The Arts
3/14—Ithaca, NY—State Theatre
3/16—Atlantic City, NJ—Caesars Atlantic City – Circus Maximus
3/17—Long Island, NY—The Paramount
3/18—Lancaster, PA—American Music Theatre
3/20—Washington, DC—Music Center At Strathmore
3/23—New York, NY—Apollo Theater
3/24—Pittsburgh, PA—Palace Theatre
3/25—Cleveland, OH—Playhouse Square – Ohio Theatre
3/26—Lexington, KY—Lexington Opera House
3/28—Louisville, KY—The Brown Theatre
3/29—Indianapolis, IN—The Center For The Performing Arts – The Palladium
3/30—Champaign, IL—Virginia Theatre
3/31—Des Moines, IA—Hoyt Sherman Place
4/2—Rochester, MN—Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall
4/3—Minneapolis, MN—Pantages Theatre
4/4—Minneapolis, MN—Pantages Theatre
4/6—Chicago, IL—Vic Theatre
4/7—Chicago, IL—Vic Theatre
4/10—Milwaukee, WI—Pabst Theater
4/12—Wabash, IN—Honeywell Center
4/13—Chattanooga, TN—Walker Theater
4/14—Augusta, GA—Miller Theater
4/15—Atlanta, GA—Tabernacle
4/17—Nashville, TN—War Memorial Auditorium
4/19—Springfield, MO—Gillioz Theatre
4/20—Longview, TX—LeTourneau University Belcher Center
4/21—Austin, TX—Moontower Comedy Festival – Paramount Theatre
4/22—Midland, TX—Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
4/24—Houston, TX—Stafford Performing Arts Center
4/26—San Antonio, TX—Tobing Center For The Performing Arts
4/27—Dallas, TX—The Majestic Theatre
4/28—Wichita, KS—Orpheum Theater
4/29—Kansas City, MO—Folly Theater
5/1—Denver, CO—Paramount Theatre
5/3—Grand Junction, CO—Avalon Theatre
5/4—Saint George, UT—Tuacahn Amphitheatre At Tuacahn Center For The Arts
5/5—Tucson, AZ—Fox Tucson Theatre
5/6—Sante Fe, NM—Lensic Performing Arts Center
5/8—Phoenix, AZ—Mesa Arts Center – Ikeda Theatre
5/9—Palm Springs, CA—McCallum Theatre For The Performing Arts
5/11—Los Angeles, CA—The Theatre At Ace Hotel
5/12—San Diego, CA—Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay
5/15—Sacramento, CA—Crest Theatre
5/17—Santa Cruz, CA—Golden State Theatre
5/18—Modesto, CA—Turlock Community Theatre
5/19—Oakland, CA—Fox Theatre
5/20—Napa, CA—Uptown Theatre
5/22—Redding, CA—Cascade Theatre
5/24—Eugene, OR—McDonald Theatre
5/25—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall
5/26—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall
5/27—Spokane, WA—Martin Woldson Theater At The Fox
5/29—Seattle, WA—Moore Theatre
5/31—Calgary, AB—Grey Eagle Resort & Casino – Grey Eagle Event Centre
6/1—Regina, Sask—Casino Regina – Show Lounge
6/2—Edmonton, AB—Rive Cree Resort And Casino – Entertainment Centre
6/3—Medicine Hat, AB—Esplanade Theatre
6/5—Winnipeg, MB—Burton Cummings Theatre For The Performing Arts
6/6—Fargo, ND—Fargo Theatre
6/8—Columbia, MO—Jesse Auditorium
6/9—Clear Lake, IA—Surf Ballroom
6/10—Green Bay, WI—Meyer Theatre