Weird Al Coming to Lafayette in 2022
The king of the musical parody will be gracing the Heymann Center stage in October.
"Weird Al" Yankovic will perform at the Lafayette venue next fall. The October 8 show is part of Yankovic's "The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour." Actor/comedian Emo Phillips, a longtime associate of Yankovic's, will perform the opening act.
According to a press release, Yankovic's setlist for Lafayette will be unique. The five-time Grammy winner will composing a different setlist for each of his shows on the North American Tour. Fans of Yankovic's greatest hits will be in for a surprise, as they won't hear the songs with which they are most familiar. According to Yankovic and his promoters:
[R]ather than focusing on the hits from his career, the show will feature Yankovic’s non-parody material – the somewhat more obscure pastiches and original songs that have largely escaped the pop culture radar but are adored by his long-time fans.
In addition, the show will be barebones, featuring no costumes and no video screens--only Yankovic and his band.
So, what exactly is a "style pastiche?" It's a parody of a genre and not necessarily a parody of a specific song. For example, Yankovic recorded a pastiche of Zydeco music for his 1999 album Running with Scissors. That song, "My Baby's in Love with Eddie Vedder," poked fun at the lead singer of Pearl Jam.
That same album featured three other style parodies, including takes on trucker country, ska music, and the bands Nine Inch Nails and the Rugburns.
Over his 40-plus-year career, Yankovic has tackled other bands and genres in his pastiches. "Dare to be Stupid" (Devo), "You Don't Love Me Any More" ('90s ballads), and "Christmas at Ground Zero" (holiday songs) are among the style parodies that received the most mainstream attention.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, December 10. Click here to view available tickets.