Kinky Friedman used his show to benefit his Utopia animal rescue ranch



"I'll sign anything but bad legislation," Mr. Friedman announced while noting that contributions for the evening were approaching $15,000. That got a big response from a crowd that seemed just as – if not more – aware of his recent political role as his place in modern Texas music. But he's no one-note songwriter. Sure, he still does "[expletive] from El Paso," but "Wild Man of Borneo" is every bit a tale of dislocation and loss as "Sold American." In between the music, Kinky read a very affecting tribute to the recently departed political columnist and quintessential Texan Molly Ivins and was awarded an honorary sheriff's commission from a county in Kentucky. Author, Musician, and candidate for Governor of Texas, Kinky Friedman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malaysia in the 1960's.

Kinky Friedman used his show to benefit his Utopia animal rescue ranch

Classic Kinky wins 'em over

12:33 PM CDT on Monday, March 26, 2007

By MATT WEITZ / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Also online

What did you think of the concert?

He's been described as a raconteur, a troubadour, a failed gubernatorial candidate and a dyed-in-the-wool Texas Jewboy. Saturday night at Poor David's Pub, Kinky Friedman used his show (a benefit for his Utopia animal rescue ranch) to prove himself the unabashed master of all of those categories, and then some.

The full house was appropriately rapt and rowdy from the first song, "We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You," which elicited from the Kinkster the fact that when it was released, "Some of us were jumpin' rope; some of us were sellin' dope."

Between observations on how God must be an Anglo-Saxon, a solo Kinky found time to deliver one of his more heartfelt songs, the marketing-of-the-dream "Sold American" – a tune that reveals the sentimental heart that beats within a lot of his music.

Although he's most recently been covered for his spot in the governor's race, he still paid tribute to his early, cosmic-cowboy roots with such songs as the tongue-in-cheek, anti-feminist screed "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven (and Your Buns in the Bed)."

After a few solo guitar numbers, he was joined by guitarists, keyboard players and fiddlers, one of who was Dallas' own Josh Alan.

He dedicated "Homo Erectus" as his first song supporting gay marriage. "They have every right to be as miserable as the rest of us," he said.

In between the crowd-pleasers, he used his band to vary the sound. Whether it was a Billy Joe Shaver song ("I've Been to Georgia on a Fast Train"), a Civil War fiddle tune, or Mr. Alan's "Blacks and Jews," the backing band broke up Mr. Friedman's repertoire with its creativity.

"I'll sign anything but bad legislation," Mr. Friedman announced while noting that contributions for the evening were approaching $15,000. That got a big response from a crowd that seemed just as – if not more – aware of his recent political role as his place in modern Texas music.

But he's no one-note songwriter. Sure, he still does "[expletive] from El Paso," but "Wild Man of Borneo" is every bit a tale of dislocation and loss as "Sold American."

In between the music, Kinky read a very affecting tribute to the recently departed political columnist and quintessential Texan Molly Ivins and was awarded an honorary sheriff's commission from a county in Kentucky.

"Now I can do what I want in Kentucky!" the cigar-chomping singer declared. It went without saying, however – based on Saturday show that he doesn't need a badge to do that in Texas.

Matt Weitz is a freelance writer in Dallas.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: March, 2007; RPCV Kinky Friedman (Malaysia); Figures; Peace Corps Malaysia; Directory of Malaysia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Malaysia RPCVs; Writing - Malaysia; Humor; Music; Animals; Texas

When this story was posted in April 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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March 14, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Evacuated PCVs attend Festival on the Niger in Mali 23 Feb Tom Bissell tells the story of how Vietnam came home 13 Mar Mike Honda cites Japan's Sex Slavery 8 Mar Donna Shalala co-chairs presidential commission 7 Mar Sixth Anniversary of Disappearance of PCV Walter Poirier 6 Mar Sam Farr was de-selected during Peace Corps Training 6 Mar Elaine Jones would be good fit for NAACP President 6 Mar Pat Waak re-elected chairwoman of Colorado Dems 5 Mar Astronaut Mae Jemison was PC Medical Officer 4 Mar Guy Consolmagno blends faith and science 3 Mar Doyle Turns Down Federal Abstinence Money 3 Mar Owen Cylke writes: Taxi in the Rain 2 Mar Jody Olsen receives "Founder’s Day" Award 2 Mar Chris Dodd introduces PCV Empowerment Act 1 Mar Michael O'Hanlon writes: Iraq Deserves One More Chance 1 Mar An Excerpt from Jan Worth's Night Blind 28 Feb David Harde sentenced for Medical Marijuana 28 Feb Oscar winner Helen Mirren congratulated by RPCV husband 26 Feb RPCVs distribute mosquito nets 25 Feb Peter McPherson new Chairman of Dow Jones 21 Feb Arabic speakers under-utilized in Homeland Security 9 Feb Dr. J. Michael Taylor co- founded Konbit Sante 4 Feb

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February 23, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Hill announces Draft Accord in North Korea Nuclear Talks 12 Feb Dodd builds connections in New Hampshire 19 Feb PCVs accused of counterinsurgency activities 19 Feb Harris Wofford declares support for Obama 18 Feb Tschetter becomes the first Director to visit Malawi 16 Feb New Fellows Program at Yale University 15 Feb Sidney Slover helps start donut production in Honduras 16 Feb Kevin O'Donnell's Daughter and Granddaughter are PCVs 14 Feb Joe Krueger helps restore Liberia's timber industry 14 Feb Peace Corps Hippies 13 Feb Maryland RPCVs to screen "American Idealist" on March 3 9 Feb Aaron Kase writes: Moon over Africa 8 Feb Margaret Krome writes: 'Rogue nations' aren't only threat 8 Feb Shays says he would Support McCain 8 Feb A Mistrial for Lieut. Watada 8 Feb Chris Matthews drops the F-bomb 8 Feb RPCVs - Believe it or not 07 Feb White House requests $334 Million for Peace Corps 5 Feb Carol Bellamy writes: We need an Earth Corps 3 Feb First Group of PCVs arrive in Cambodia 2 Feb Mae Jemison wears red for charity 2 Feb Dear Miss Lonelyhearts 30 Jan

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Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

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He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

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Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

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The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

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PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

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History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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