America’s Jewish Troubadour, Kinky Friedman, is going south in 2012, specifically the southern United States, and he’s bringing gifts for the natives. Foremost among these gifts is a solo performance described as Mark Twain meets Groucho Marx . . . at the corner of Johnny Cash and Lenny Bruce.  He’ll also be carrying books, posters and music, surely enough for anyone.  But, for the Southern Discomfort Tour, Kinky also comes with a Mexican refreshment: his brand new Kinky Friedman’s Man in Black Tequila, “positively guaranteed to bring out one’s inner Kinky.”

The Kinkster, who has just wrapped up a highly anticipated new book with Billy Bob Thornton titled The Billy Bob Tapes, and who has started writing one with Willie Nelson, will begin the Southern Discomfort Tour in Texas, then swing through the Deep South, often to places he’s never been. At most stops on the tour, Kinky will conduct special tequila tastings of the new high-grade, top-shelf tequila, either before or after performances.

Kinky will sing all the tunes for which he is famed, including “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore,” and “Ride ’Em Jewboy,” and, naturally, he will continue his long-running commentary on current politics and the state of the union, as well as give a book reading.  An official signing party will follow each show; Kinky vows he “will sign anything but bad legislation.”