OUTRAGEOUS AND irreverent, but always thought-provoking, Kinky Friedman, the crime novelist, songwriter, and ‘Frank Zappa of country music’ is coming to Galway.
Kinky and his band - Little Jewford (keyboards and vocals ) and Washington Ratso (guitar and vocals ) - will play Upstairs in Kelly’s on Monday September 28 at 9pm.
The son of University Of Texas professor, Kinky studied psychology at Texas and founded his first band while there. King Arthur & the Carrots, a group that poked fun at surf music, recorded only one single in 1966.
In 1971 he founded Kinky Friedman & the Texas Jewboys where Kinky unveiled his talent as a witty and very funny writer of country songs that were sharply satirical, but with a pointed message, eg, ‘They Ain’t Making Jews like Jesus Anymore’ (about anti-Semitism ), ‘Wild Man From Borneo’ (inspired by Kinky’s days in the Peace Corps ), and ‘Rapid City, South Dakota’ (about hard times in blue collar America ).
Kinky is also a much respected writer. He has written for Rolling Stone, was a featured columnist for Texas Monthly, and has written 19 unique and outrageous mystery novels such as Greenwich Killing Time and A Case of Lone Star.
They feature a Jewish country singer turned Greenwich Village private eye named Kinky Friedman, who sometimes returns to his native Texas; other characters are drawn from Friedman’s circle of friends in both New York and Texas.
In the 1990s Kinky founded the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch which takes in and cares for stray, abused, homeless, or ageing animals.
In February 2005, Kinky announced his candidacy for Texas Governor and launched a serious, albeit colourful, campaign. Although the final outcome was not in his favour, he revived the independent spirit of Texas and inspired non-traditional voters to become part of the political process.
His latest venture is a premium cigar company – Kinky Friedman Cigars. Five different cigars with Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos and beautiful hand rolled Cuban wrappers grown in Honduras debuted in August to rave reviews from seasoned cigar smokers across the globe.
Tickets to Kinky Friedman at Kelly’s is €20. Kinky will also be doing a book signing in Charlie Byrne’s on the day.
