Kinky Corner

Last night I went to 229 Great Portland Street - a new venue for me - to see the legendary Kinky Friedman perform a solo set. It was part of the European leg of his Bi-Polar Tour - 34 gigs in 35 days culminating, appropriately, in a show in Germany. Appropriately because, as he revealed, Germans are his second favourite race. "My favourites? Everybody else".

Kinky is best known for his humour and his "robust" approach to political correctness, and there was plenty of that on display last night. But he has always had a sensitive side as well - just listen to songs like "Rapid City, South Dakota", one of the highlights of last night's show for me - which means he manages to avoid the trap of becoming a one-dimensional caricature.

One of the most pleasant surprises last night was a very touching version of the old Irish rebel song, "Kevin Barry", which you can find below. He also covered "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" and Woody Guthrie's "Pretty Boy Floyd", so I've bunged in some versions of them for you as well. And we'll finish off with probably my favourite cover of a Kinky song, from the excellent tribute album "Pearls in the Snow".

"The Ballad of Kevin Barry" - Kinky Friedman

"The Ballad of Ira Hayes" - Johnny Cash

"Pretty Boy Floyd" - The Byrds

"Autograph" - Delbert McClinton

Here is some more kinkiness for you.