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Weird Al to Play at Monmouth

Tickets to see Weird Al Yankovic at Monmouth University go on sale Friday, March 4 at noon

So far this year at Monmouth University’s Multipurpose Activity Center, a wide array of talent have performed to the delight of many.

Legends like Bob Dylan and Jackson Browne have played to thousands, as have hard rock bands like Korn, Disturbed and Sevendust. Just announced, another act will be joining that list and will soon be coming to Monmouth to play to the masses, and he will be bringing with him…an accordion? 

That’s right, the one and only Weird Al Yankovic is set to play at the MAC on Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be going on sale on Friday, March 4 at noon and can be purchased through Macatmonmouth.com, Ticketmaster.com, phone charge at 800-745-3000, Monmouth University event box offices, and Ticketmaster retail outlets. Ticket prices will range from $43 to $53 and $63.

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Weird Al is arguably one of the most popular family-friendly musicians touring the country today, delighting audiences far and wide with his many popular song parodies. He has lampooned songs from everyone from Michael Jackson to Nirvana to newer acts today like Avril Lavigne and the rapper Chamillionaire.

He began his career in 1979, first covering “My Sharona,” by the Knack with a song he called, “My Bologna.” The song was played on the Dr. Demento radio show, and he followed with humorous covers of the work of other popular musicians like Queen with “Another One Rides the Bus.” 

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In the 1980s, he continued to make humorous song parodies with titles like “I Want Rocky Road,” “Addicted to Spuds,” and “Like a Surgeon.” During this time, many acts not only embraced Weird Al’s parodies, but also joined in on the act, like Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits, who jammed with Weird Al in his video for “Money for Nothing.” 

What makes his parodies unique, besides for the humorous nature of the songs, is a heavy utilization of the accordion. Many of his shows feature a strong polka influence to them, making the songs seem much different than how they were originally perceived. 

Weird Al continued his music into the 1990’s and 2000’s with hits like “Amish Paradise,” “Canadian Idiot,” and the mega-popular hit “White and Nerdy.”

This will be Weird Al’s first American performance of 2011, as he has been playing in just Australia so far this year. Following the show at Monmouth University, he will move on to play in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Washington.

For more information on the legendary song lampooner himself, please visit his website at www.weirdal.com.

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