Kinky Friedman

In 2006, Richard S. Friedman — an entertainer who fronted the Texas Jewboys, a band known for such songs as “Asshole from El Paso” and “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” — ran for governor of Texas on the independent ticket and carried over 12 percent of the vote. Friedman came in fourth in a field of six. “It’s a giant step down from musician to politician,” says the singer-songwriter-columnist-novelist better known as Kinky Friedman. “But I took it. I took it for Texas.”

On a phone call during a Washington stopover, Friedman pauses to light up one of his many cigars of the day. We talk during what is the second week of the BP oil spill, and talk turns to politics. “Leave it to America,” he says, “to elect a black president without any soul.” Friedman, known as the Mark Twain of Texas, is peeved at the White House. “The only thing I like about Obama is that he smokes. But enough of Obama. What I’m sayin’ is all these politicians, all these elected officials, should be limited to two terms. One in office, and one in prison.”

Friedman is touring the West Coast for the first time in 20 years. His band includes two of the original Jewboys. During his heyday as a musician, Friedman opened Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue. But when Austin City Limits filmed the outspoken Texan for broadcast, they shelved the tape, calling him too controversial for Middle America. After his music career slowed, Friedman became a magazine columnist, a novelist, and, in keeping with his legendary smoking habit, a cigar maker. He lists seven countries that he says out-smoke us but have a higher life expectancy than Americans. “Why? All we can conclude is that speaking English is killing us. Don’t give me that health bullshit.”

Mojo Nixon also performs.