Everyone’s favorite former Texas gubernatorial candidate, political commentator and self-proclaimed “author, columnist, musician and beautician” Kinky Friedman is going bipolar, as in Kinky Friedman’s BiPolar Tour, which starts in New England on June 6 and continues through to July 1. As he has done on his recent “sojourns through America,” Kinky will be performing solo, dispensing the wisdom of the Jewish troubadour, and signing books.
 
The Kinkster, whose solo performance has recently been described as “Mark Twain meets Groucho Marx . . . at the corner of Johnny Cash and Lenny Bruce,” will be hitting the road fresh on the heels of the release of his brand new book, The Billy Bob Tapes: A Cave Full of Ghosts, co-authored by and about the life and times of Billy Bob Thornton. With a foreword from Angelina Jolie, The Billy Bob Tapes promises “colorful tales of [Billy Bob’s] modest Southern upbringing, his bizarre phobias, his life, his loves . . . and, of course, his movie career.” And, as Kinky has often said, “the Kinkster will sign anything but bad legislation.”
 
Kinky Friedman rose to stardom in the ’70s, with his seminal band the Texas Jewboys. An equal-opportunity offender, Kinky, with his outrageous lyrics and crazed stage persona, may have offended some, but drew people like Don Imus, Robin Williams, Bob Dylan and John Belushi into his spiritual fan club. He toured with Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue and appeared on the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live. His infamous appearance on Austin City Limits, the only performance ever filmed by ACL and never broadcast because of content, has finally been released on DVD, to the delight of fans everywhere.
 
While cooling his jets from touring in the ’80s, Kinky wrote a wildly popular series of mystery novels featuring himself as the detective. In the years since, the real Kinky has branched out into children’s books, memoirs, historical reflections and editorials, all to great success, and all powered by his razor sharp wit. It should not be a surprise to anyone that he and Billy Bob Thornton hooked up. Also not surprising is the fact that Kinky and Willie Nelson have become good friends, and that they, too, are writing a book together.
 
Kinky’s commentaries have appeared in such diverse media as The New York Times, Texas Monthly and Playboy, and, since adding politics to his résumé, he has been a regular on cable networks of every stripe. His books are now read the world over, and his tour schedule reflects this. From Bill Clinton to Nelson Mandela, everybody loves a Kinky Friedman book.
 
And apparently everybody loves a good Kinky Friedman performance, as well, as reviews of his shows have been off the charts nearly everywhere. Kinky Friedman is the real deal, an amazing performer, and one of America’s brightest literary lights. The Kinkster truly is the Jewish troubadour of our times, with a show for the ages.
 
Kinky Friedman’s BiPolar Tour:

Wed., June 6  NORTHAMPTON, MA  The Iron Horse
Thurs., June 7  FALL RIVER, MA   The Narrows Center For The Arts
Fri., June 8  SOMERVILLE, MA  Johnny D’s
Sat., June 9   NEW YORK, NY   Highline Ballroom
Sun., June 10  RINGWOOD, NJ   Live At Drew’s (House Concert)
Mon., June 11  ALEXANDRIA, VA The Birchmere
Tues., June 12  ANNAPOLIS, MD  The Ram’s Head Tavern
Wed., June 13  ASHLAND, VA  Ashland Coffee And Tea
Thurs., June 14  SELLERSVILLE, PA   Sellersville Theater
Fri., June 15  PHILADELPHIA, PA  World Live Cafe
Sat., June 16  AMAGANSETT, NY  Stephen’s Talkhouse
Sun., June 17  PIERMONT, NY The Turning Point
Mon., June 18  ALBANY, NY  The Linda - WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio
Tues., June 19  NEW HAVEN, CT  Cafe Nine
Wed., June 20  COLLINSVILLE, CT  Live@Bridge Street Live
Thurs., June 21  ASBURY PARK, NJ  The Saint
Fri., June 22  STANHOPE, NJ  The Stanhope House
Sat., June 23  WOODSTOCK, NY  Bearsville Theater
Tues., June 26  ROCHESTER, NY  Water Street Music Hall
Wed., June 27  BUFFALO, NY  Sportsman’s Tavern
Thurs., June 28  TORONTO, ON Hughes Room
Fri., June 29  WATERLOO, ON Starlight Lounge
Sat., June 30  MONTREAL, QE  Petit Campus
Sun., July 1  CHICAGO/EVANSTON, IL  SPACE