Renaissance cowboy Kinky Friedman rides again
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Saddle up for a night of raucous humor and fine music as the one and only Kinky Friedman brings his stories, songs, and larger-than-life persona to Johnny D’s this coming Friday night. — Photo by Brian Kanof

By Jim Clark

“Being multi-talented is a curse.” So says wildly multi-talented country singer, songwriter, humorist, politician novelist, journalist, and all around raconteur Kinky Friedman.

His storied career goes back decades, to the early 70’s with the formation of his infamously named Kinky Friedman and His Texas Jewboys – an apparent nod the the great Bob Wills and His Texas Cowboys.

Throughout the years, The Kinkster has played and collaborated with some of the brightest luminaries in the vast musical firmament, including touring with Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue, recording with Eric Clapton, and Ringo Starr, to name just a few.

And now, after a 30-plus year hiatus from recording, Friedman has a new album out, The Loneliest Man I Ever Met, and he will be performing many of the songs from the disk when he rides in to Somerville this week for a show at Johnny D’s.

The album features songs written by many artists that Firedman admires, among them some of his own close personal friends, such as Willy Nelson and Merle Haggard. Nelson even sings with Kinky on his own composition Bloody Mary Morning.

Other composers featured on the album include Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Warren Zevon.

While Friedman’s trademark brand of irreverent humor remains evident in many of these recordings, the overall feeling on this album suggests a more sober, even somewhat melancholic sensibility, in contrast to his usual acerbic wit and tendency to skewer the overly politically correct among us.

Still, Friedman’s unfailing good humor and sharp observations on life, love and politics have remained unswerving throughout his storied lifetime.

Aside from music, Friedman has tried his hand as novelist, penning a series of highly popular detective novels.

He has also been extremely active in local politics in his home state of Texas, even taking a run for governor in 2006. He has also not ruled out making another bid for the seat in the future.

An unabashed humanitarian, he founded Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, located near his hometown of Kerrville, TX, whose mission is to care for stray, abused and aging animals. More than 1,000 dogs have been saved from animal euthanasia by Friedman’s hand.

Seemingly unfettered in a world of limitless possibilities, Friedman also markets his own brand of cigars.

A Rennaisance Man of the West, Friedman treads a path of his own making, with no apologies. A true American original, having the opportunity to watch him at work, up close and personal, is a rare thing to be experienced.

Kinky Friedman seldom rides this way, but when he does it pays to listen.

Enjoy his show at Johnny D’s on Friday, October 23. You’ll be glad you did.