Weird Al Yankovic performs at Brisbane’s QPAC

It has been more than 10 years since Weird Al Yankovic graced a Brisbane stage and while he moved away from his classics he opened up a trick bag to keep the crowd guessing.

Comedian Weird Al Yankovic played Brisbane’s Queensland Performing Arts Centre on March 20, 2023

Weird Al Yankovic’s energetic, zainy tour lit up the Queensland Performing Arts Centre last night in Brisbane as fans of the comedic music superstar flocked to see the legend live.

The song parody specialist known for hits like ‘eat it’ and ‘smells like nirvana’ had not performed in Brisbane in more than 10 years.

Weird Al Yankovic has not played in Brisbane for more than 10 years.

His self-deprecatingly titled ‘The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity’ Tour moved away from the big hits and brought out more obscure numbers.

The performer jokingly said at the start of the show “get ready to listen to some wildly unpopular songs”.

It was as if the crowd was watching 10 different classic rock bands in one performance. Yankovic weaved through all the rock and roll genres while delivering his trademark anecdotes and wacky characters.

He closed the show with fan favourite tune ‘Albuquerque’, an 11-minute, hilarious tale about a man who wins a first-class one-way ticket to the town.

As the band exited, the all expected encore happened and QPAC was treated to a rambunctious medley of scat singing, dancing and a select few snippets of Weird Al’s staple parody classics.

Cover of cd "Even Worse" by singer Weird Al Yankovic.

It was every bit bizarre as it was enthralling, something Weird Al has exemplified since he burst onto the music scene in 1981.

Brisbane concert goers were not put off by the lack of household name hits in the set list.

They gave Yankovic a standing ovation as he finished the show.

His band of guitarist Jim West, bassist Steve Jay, pianist Ruben Valtierra and percussionist Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz were exceptional, the rhythmic glue that held the show together.

The crowd were warmed up by legendary comedian Emo Philips who got the crowd cackling with his eccentric, set-up punchline deliveries.

Phillips, a comedy legend, showed he’s still just as relevant as he poked fun at COVID-19 and ‘woke’ culture in his own typically, surreal way.

Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic and Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna in a scene from Weird: The Al Yankovic story.

Daniel Radcliffe starred as Yankovic in a biopic released last year titled ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’, based loosely on the musician’s life.

Yankovic briefly mentioned the film and joked about the audience streaming it illegally online.

Weird Al Yankovic will play at QPAC tonight to conclude his tour of the country.

Originally published as Weird Al Yankovic performs at Brisbane’s QPAC