Texas' near-answer to Jesse Ventura – he lost his surprisingly legit 2006 gubernatorial campaign to current presidential nominee Rick Perry – country music wise-cracker Kinky Friedman is making a rare tour stop in Minneapolis on Saturday at the 400 Bar. The show is part of his Hannukah Tour 2011 ("Lighting candles for America, city by city"), which the self-described Texas Jewboy is using to promote a slew of new product, including his cigar line, a Kinky Nano and a jump drive featuring three of his audiobooks. Yes, he's a surprisingly legit author, too, and is reportedly working on a new book with Billy Bob Thornton. He's promising to sign "anything but bad legislation" at the show.
Ticket prices are more in line with campaign fundraisers than 400 Bar gigs ($40), but the Kinkster is always entertaining and does a lot of not-for-profit work. In fact, this current tour is bookended by two fundraisers for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, which Friedman himself runs with a passion. I say all this to hopefully offset whatever negative reaction there might be to this horrifically un-p.c. video clip below -- intended to serve as an introduction/reminder/warning for what's on tap Saturday. Hey, I could've picked "A----le From El Paso."
