Not every man could inform his followers that he hasn't written a song in 25 years, but then, not every man is Kinky Friedman. Having been pipped to the post on his run for Governor of Texas in 2006, the amiable, cigar-wieldin' Kinkster found time in his presumably manic schedule to remind the people of Glasgow just why he became known in the first place.
With him came, on the "right-wing", Little Jewford. This basso profundo keyboardist extraordinaire, who could surely knock Michael Buffer off his perch, almost stole the show from the Kinkster. On the left with was the reserved yet dangerously talented Washington Ratso.
Together, they regaled an expectedly appreciative Glasgow audience with a dip into Kinky's back catalogue, beginning with "We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You". The songs played were largely taken from Kinky's much revered "Sold American" album, but we were also treated to "The Ballad of Ira Hayes", Delbert McClinton's "Autograph" and Kinky's lone venture on "Pretty Boy Floyd", the latter being the encore following the trio's departure after a joyous rendition of "Asshole from El Paso".
Credit must also go to Kinky for recognising that Jewford was kitted out in Liberace's shower curtains, Jewford's playing of "three" kazoos simultaneously (I'm not sure if the one in the rear end counts), and Ratso's delivery on "Jambalaya".
Kinky dedicated a segment of the second half of the show to reading from his book - his 28th book, he omitted to mention - "You Can Lead a Politician to Water, But You Can't Make Him Think". The applause heard as Kinky concluded his passage was well-earned. Kinky remarked that writing so many books is "the index of an empty life". To each their own, Kinky.
This show was the first of two performances by Kinky, the result of exceptional demand to see the Kinkster. While Kinky may not have grabbed the reins of the Lone Star State he's more than welcome back to Glasgow anytime. Ain't that something?