Kinky Friedman is a Texas country singer, novelist, songwriter, humorist, and politician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI support gay marriage because I believe they have right to be just as miserable as the rest of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kinky Friedman, the Texas folk hero known for his flamboyant career as a singer-songwriter, satirist, raconteur, and one-time gubernatorial candidate in 2006\u2014during which he humorously claimed to be “pro-football” rather than pro-life or pro-choice\u2014died on June 26 2024 at Echo Hill, his ranch near Medina, Texas. He was 79.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Trip to The Lone Star<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In the early 80s and whilst on a trip to New York I read a review about a bar in town called The Lone Star Cafe<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It seems that The Lone Star was a haven for Texas-style bad behaviour in New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a raucous, often-overcrowded place with free-flowing tequila, a pretty good barbecue and boasted a roster of great performers such as Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This sounded like an irresistible evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On arriving at The Lone Star, the outside of the building looked somewhat out of place in this swanky part of town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The roof was decorated with a huge forty-foot statue of an iguana and a sign below that read, \u201cToo Much Ain\u2019t Enough.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n The inside was much smaller than I expected. The bar area was crowded so I made my way upstairs where there were some tables behind a circular balcony, this overlooked the undersized step-on stage below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Appearing that night was Kinky Friedman & The Texas Jew boys<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I found myself a good table almost overlooking the stage and whilst waiting for Kinky to arrive I ordered a beer and some food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the next table was a young couple. I could hear the young man continuously raving to his lady friend about Kinky Friedman and what a great show we were about to see, he sounded like he was Kinky\u2019s biggest fan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This continued until Kinky and his band arrived on stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having finished my meal, with my arms crossed leaning on the balcony, I had a perfect view as the band stepped on stage to a rapturous welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They forged into their first number They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the first number, as the applause was dying down, Kinky lit a huge cigar and proceeded to insult various members of the audience, which seemed to go down very well with everyone except the people he was offending. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This monologue was only broken every minute or so by Kinky taking a big puff on his cigar and telling everyone if they wanted to see a great show come to 53rd and 3rd the following Friday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After about ten minutes and for the umpteen time of Kinky telling everyone if they wanted to see a great show, he would be appearing at 53rd and 3rd on the following Friday, the young man on the next table lunged out of the dark and shouted, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201dHow about a fucking show tonight?\u201d And disappeared back into the darkness as quick as he had appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was still in my crossed arms position leaning on the balcony when Kinky looked in my direction, our eyes met with laser precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point he proceeded to take off his guitar and still looking straight at me said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomeone up there don\u2019t like me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now everyone in the place was focused on me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point a voice from downstairs in the audience shouted,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t like you either Kinky.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The place erupted but within seconds the same guy screamed out, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCause Kinky I love ya!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The crowd went crazy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By now a massive bouncer had joined Kinky on the stage, they were both chatting and looking up at me, he was still refusing to continue with the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I now noticed the couple on the next table seemed to have left a little earlier than they had planned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There was no way to make it known that the real rebel amongst us had, in true Elvis tradition, left the building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sensing there was definitely some unrest in the atmosphere, I decided to retire into the darkness and look for the nearest way out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I asked the waiter for the bill and beat a hasty retreat through the upstairs exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lucky enough there was a yellow cab outside dropping someone off; I was in that cab faster than a rattlesnake\u2019s strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst heading back to the hotel I felt a little disappointed with the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although The Lone Star<\/em> had really lived up to its review, \u201cGood barbecue food, bad behaviour, raucous and crowded, plenty of free-flowing tequila\u201d and of course, the music – thanks Kinky Friedman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I assume the slogan outside \u201cToo Much Ain\u2019t Enough\u201d only applied to Texans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I had definitely had enough of good old Texas hospitality for one evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kennydenton.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Lone-Star.jpg?resize=692%2C482&ssl=1\")
A Rude Interruption<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Left Holding The Baby<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Time To Head Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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