‘Weird Al’ Yankovic brought polished musical madness to Morton

1 hour ago

Allison Scavo,

“Weird Al” Yankovic. // photo by Allison Scavo

“Weird Al” Yankovic
with Puddles Pity Party
Morton Amphitheater
Friday, June 19

If there is anyone who can turn absolute musical chaos into a polished production, it’s “Weird Al” Yankovic. His stop in Kansas City was part concert, part comedy show, and part costume party with fans fully embracing the spirit of the evening in their own versions of his songs in fashion form.

One song was never just one song. One might seamlessly flow into one another for upwards of nine songs in one three-minute segment, somehow making it one giant song. The mashup that somehow jumped from Cardi B’s “WAP” into Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” should not have worked, but it absolutely did and had me in tears from laughter. The transitions were so smooth that we barely had a chance to process what had happened before they were singing the next tune.

“Weird Al” Yankovic. // photo by Allison Scavo

The pace of the show was relentless. It felt like every song came with a new costume, and sometimes multiple costumes. There were moments when Yankovic seemed to disappear for only a few seconds before reappearing in an entirely different outfit, or would strip his current one into something else. The costume changes became part of the entertainment, adding another layer of gags and hilarity.

Yankovic has been doing this for decades, but there was nothing dated about the performance. The musicianship was excellent, his sense of humor is still unmatched, and the production moves at a pace that would make anyone with ADHD feel normal. Just utter chaos, but in the funniest way.

Puddles Pity Party. // photo by Allison Scavo

Puddles Pity Party may be known as the sad clown, but his opening set for Weird Al Yankovic in Kansas City was chipper and upbeat. The absolute sensation, beloved by millions on TikTok and YouTube, brought hilarity and impressive vocals. His facial expressions, background visuals, and perfectly timed reactions kept the audience laughing and guessing his next move between songs.

Towards the end of his set, Puddles stepped off the stage and into the crowd. After wandering through the audience, and asking for help with traditional circus music playing overhead, he selected a lucky person to join him on stage for a song. The crowd cheered them on as Puddles handed over a guitar and together they shredded.

By the time he left the stage, it was obvious why Puddles Pity Party has developed such a loyal following. He is funny, talented, and completely unique. Opening for Weird Al was a perfect match, and he set the tone for a night filled with laughter and entertainment.

The venue added to the experience, as well. Morton Amphitheater, brand new to Kansas City, offered plenty of room to spread out, along with cornhole games, multiple food options, and several places to hang out before the show. It felt less like simply attending a concert and more like spending an evening at an event. Even if you weren’t there for the music, there was always something to do.

“Weird Al” Yankovic

“Weird Al” Yankovic setlist
Tacky
Mission Statement
Polkamania!
Drum Solo
Everything You Know Is Wrong
One More Minute
Smells Like Nirvana
Dare to Be Stupid
Party in the CIA / It’s All About the Pentiums / Bedrock Anthem / My Bologna / Ricky / Ode to a Superhero / I Love Rocky Road / Eat It / Like a Surgeon / Word Crimes / Canadian Idiot
Fat
It’s My World (and We’re All Living in It)
Captain Underpants Theme Song
Now You Know
You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon cover)
Skipper Dan
Drum Solo (Reprise)
eBay
Stop Forwarding That Crap to Me
White & Nerdy
Amish Paradise
—
We All Have Cell Phones
The Saga Begins
Yoda