2025 tour with opening act Puddles Pity Party

Living in central Minnesota it’s not often big name performers come through our neck of the woods. So when I learned the king of parody, Weird Al Yankovic was coming to Minnesota to perform at a local venue, I knew I had to attend. I anticipated an entertaining night, and sure enough, Weird Al did not disappoint.

This was my first concert at The Ledge Amphitheater, which opened in 2021. Built on a former quarry in central Minnesota, the 6,000-seat outdoor venue is absolutely stunning. It has an open feel, allowing large crowds to move around freely, yet it is intimate enough that every seat feels like a good one.

Opening for Weird Al during this tour is Puddles Pity Party, a.k.a. Michael Geier. Puddles became well-known after a brief appearance in season 12 of America’s Got Talent.

While the duo of singing clown and king of parody seems like a perfect match, Puddles did push the boundaries of what was otherwise a very G-rated evening. Weird Al has always been family-friendly, so I was slightly taken aback when Puddles paid tribute to Kevin Costner’s bare backside, which lingered on the large screen. Although it was meant for laughs, it felt a bit out of place given the audience and a headliner who prides himself on being family-friendly.

One of the first things you notice at any Weird Al concert, having seen him live three times, is the wide age range of his fans. From little children to grandparents, it was like witnessing a rite of passage as an older generation introduces the younger one to his unique brand of music. There was a tangible excitement in the air. Weird Al had come to our remote corner of Minnesota, and the venue, along with the atmosphere, was wonderfully set against a beautiful September night.

Even with the title “Weird Al Yankovic Bigger & Weirder Tour,” the show largely adhered to a familiar format that fans who have seen him live have come to love. Al performed a song or two, followed by a video featuring some kind of absurdity, usually involving him. This allowed the performer to change into one of his many costumes.

The “Bigger” part of the tour’s name refers to the additions to the band. Weird Al’s band has been together for as long as I can remember, including Jim West (guitar), Steve Jay (bass), Ruben Valtierra (keyboards), and Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz (drums). Occasionally donning costumes, they mostly serve as the straight men playing off Al’s antics. The new additions include Probyn Gregory (horns, guitar), Scheila Gonzalez (horns, keyboards), Payton Velligan (guitar), and Monique Donnelly (background vocals).

While adding a couple of backup singers and musicians might not seem significant, they injected a noticeable energy into the performance and elevated the show. Velligan, in particular, had an abundance of energy that even the 65-year-old headliner seemed to draw off of. Despite being new to the band, each member was given several opportunities to shine, especially Gonzalez, who played various horn instruments often during a single song.

The evening featured a wide range of Weird Al songs, from early classics like “Fat” and “Yoda” to newer hits like the theme to Captain Underpants and Milo Murphy’s Law. It’s no surprise that clips from his 2022 biographical musical parody film, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, were used throughout the night.

My only gripe about the show is that the musical numbers performed are consistent throughout the tour, with no adjustments based on the location. Performing 40 minutes from Darwin, Minnesota, home of the largest ball of twine in the state it felt like a missed opportunity not to include his song “Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota” in the night’s playlist.

Amidst political turmoil and on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, there was something special about seeing such a wide range of my community gather as one to enjoy this family-friendly show on such a beautiful night. As the “Bigger & Weirder” tour winds down, one can only hope this isn’t the last tour from the man who has shown so many generations that it’s okay to be a little weird.

For info on the final leg of the tour check out https://www.weirdal.com/

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