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* I just don’t know what to say about this…

“Weird Al” Yankovic and Huey Lewis & the News will perform at the 2008 Illinois State Fair, according to the performers’ Web sites, and the Grandstand lineup will be confirmed Thursday.

Yankovic is scheduled to perform Saturday, Aug. 9, and Lewis on Sunday, Aug. 10. The Web sites say only that the performances will be at the fairgrounds, but these probably will be Grandstand shows.

Words fail me.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:03 pm

Comments

Wow! I didn’t know those guys were still alive.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:09 pm
Weird AL is still putting out records. Huey Lewis hasn’t of late, but heck, I like their music.

Comment by Crimefighter Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:11 pm
Why is this a shock?

The state fair has never been a leader at getting the top contemporary acts to perform here.

The Beach Boys were still playing the fair in the mid-1990s, so why is it a shock that the top acts of the 1980s (pop music really did stink when I was in high school) are now coming to Springfield.

Now if it ever gets to the point that Culture Club or Flock of Seagulls performs at the state fair, then we would have something worth shuddering over. Can you just envision an aged Boy George wandering about the fairgrounds, trying to figure out what a corn dog and shakeup really are?

Comment by Gregory Tejeda Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:11 pm
Weird Al and Huey will sing their latest hit: “I Need a New Gov”

Comment by If It Walks Like a Duck... Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:12 pm
Maybe the electrical system at the fairgrounds will fail again.

Comment by Shorty Circowitz Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:14 pm
Perhaps Weird Al will do a new version of Material Girl for Ali Ata - “Material Witness”

Comment by Name Withheld Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:18 pm
Suddenly, it’s hip to be a square again.

Comment by Kiyoshi Martinez Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:19 pm
Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1985.

Comment by God's Country Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:21 pm
Is it too early to get tickets? When do the go on sale? Are the hotels sold out?

Weird Al rocks!!!

Comment by Garp Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:21 pm
Well - what do you expect from a state whose government still thinks the year is 1974?

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:25 pm
Somebody please make sure Al is appropriately briefed. Maybe he has a song about Public Official A. The tune “YMCA” might work. Or, if anybody still remembers it, the old Lorne Greene bit about “Ringo” would work with “Rezko.”

Comment by Excessively rabid Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:28 pm
It certainly indicates the age of the booking agents.

If there aren’t going to pick the latest hot groups, they could at least book someone like John Prine.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:33 pm
Hey Weird Al is quality now!

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:35 pm
Little known fact: Weird Al took the title of one of his CD’s from Blago’s mantra — “Dare to Be Stupid.”

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:38 pm
I thought the fair was turning it around the last few years, Rascal Flatts, Big and Rich Martina Mcbride, one of the top teen pop groups last year, Velvet Revolver….now this year we have this. Let me guess no money to book good acts because they haven’t passed a capital bill.

Comment by Mike Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:38 pm
I seem to remember the Associate Dean trying to bring in Weird Al in 1992. We made fun of him then.

Kiyoshi wins.

Comment by archpundit Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:40 pm
Much like Weird Al, Blago takes other people’s original ideas and makes a mockery of them. As for the comparison to Huey, Blago may be getting more than “a couple days off” to vacation with George, not that he was doing much anyway.

Comment by Douglas M. Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:41 pm
But will Miller be racing again?

Comment by archpundit Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:41 pm
It’s funny when Rich posts something that doesn’t ask for humor, the best jokes are posted. Keep it up, commenters!

Comment by phocion Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:48 pm
My guess is the other potential artists demanded a MOU with the Governor to ensure electrical outlets would not burst into flames when they plugged in an amp… and, naturally, the Gov’s puppet master pulled the string on the contract doll to say “we dont’ do business that way”.

Comment by dc Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:50 pm
Where’s the electrical failure when you need it?

Comment by You go Boy Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:50 pm
Actually Weird Al does a really good show (if you find him funny)… He plays smaller (but not too small venues in Chicagoloand, COD, the pavilion at Navy Pier and sells them out) so he may actually be a bit of a draw.

Not ideal but better than yet another country act or Styx and REO again.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 2:58 pm
Weird Al is a genius. They could have done better, like get a pure original musician, not a comedian who can parody thunes on the accordian.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:01 pm
Part of the charm of county fairs/streetfests are the hokie old acts. But the State Fair should do better.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:01 pm
Where’s the screening of the Oscar-nominated hit “Breakin’ 2 - Electric Boogaloo”?

Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:01 pm
Next up. . .Brian Adams, Hall and Oates and UFO.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:06 pm
Although Weird Al has been around a long time, he has actually had a hit in the last two years, unlike most of the rock-genre acts the fair normally books. Will the dust from the Grandstand track cause any problems for Al’s Segway?

Comment by cover Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:15 pm
We are getting foghat at Naperville’s Rib Fest along with Ted Nugent

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:15 pm
*****FAKE/SNARK*****

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3/29/08 SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Agriculture announces “Eddie and the Crusiers” will reunite ***FAKE/SNAKR*** giving the State Fair added excitement to parlay an already outstanding lineup. “Eddie and the Cruisers”, a band which had two movies made about it, is excited to pretend to be relative to music again ***FAKE/SNARK***.

There was no comment from other movie-made bands at the time of this release***FAKE/SNARK***

###

Comment by From the Land of Silos and Cows Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:19 pm
Twenty-plus years ago at DeKalb Cornfest, Steppenwolf started at 11 a.m. one Sunday in the beer garden. Three blocks away, the town’s biggest Lutheran, Methodist and Catholic churches were getting out as John Kaye bellowed loudly for all the parishioners to hear, “GD, I’m the Pusherman.”

After that, the beer garden couldn’t open til noon on Sunday.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:23 pm
I hope no one complains when I drive to the fair in my Delorean blarring, ‘The Power of Love.’ Weird Al can help me power up my flux compacicator with scraps from the set of ‘Eat it’

Comment by SouthernILRepub Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:25 pm
1.21 jigiwatts!

Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:28 pm
88 Miles per Hour!

Great Scott!

Comment by From the Land of Silos and Cows Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:28 pm
I have this dream of the Feds tapping Public Official A on the shoulder during the show while Huey is warbling “If This Is It”. When they start “Workin’ For a Living” Pat Quinn bodysurfs the crowd.

Comment by Independent Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:35 pm
It’s just plain embarrasing, although i’m not shocked. It seems like some lame band has to cancell before we get someone good. I don’t remember what run of the mill pop band cancelled last year, but thank god they did……and who did we get?….Joe Walsh! Outstanding show.

Comment by Cooper Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:43 pm
I have always been a fan of Huey Lewis and the News. Cant wait to see them again. Apparently none of you have seen his video with Garth Brooks?

Comment by paladin Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:56 pm
A bit different from 1967 when one of the Grandstand shows at the fair featured as the headliner the Association (who were quite popular then) and had as the opening act an English band by the name of the Who.

That pairing ranks right up there with Jimi Hendrix as the opening act for the Monkees (I think it was at Shea Stadium at about the same time.)

Comment by Just the Facts Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 3:56 pm
A fantasy bill would include Mister Mister and The Outfield.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:02 pm
What? No Willie Nelson and the Weed Eaters?

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:08 pm
Huey Lewis and Garth Brooks performing together. Yep, it’s official, I’m in Hell

Comment by Cooper Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:15 pm
Grand Funk was supposed to be on the bill w/Joe Walsh but backed out. Maybe some hairbands like Ratt or Warrant will show up this year.

Comment by Douglas M. Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:17 pm
What else would you expect for Springpatch. Acts that are booked into the convention center sometimes cancel due to poor ticket sales. Others that go on with the show perform to a half filled center. Springfield is getting exactly what it asks for.

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:21 pm
Hell, yeah! I am there! Rich, you don’t know what’s cool.

Comment by Undercover Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:23 pm
At least I’ll have ZZ Top to see on the 15th. Will be my first concert at the fair in years. For obvious reasons.

Just the Facts–I saw that Monkees concert in St. Louis. Everyone wondered who was this Hendrix guy??!!

Comment by Fed Up State Employee Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:27 pm
I can’t help but wonder what kind of deal the Gov made with these guys. Is it possible that Weird Al and Rod are related? They both have a hair thing and don’t make a lot of sense.

Comment by Downstate is in IL Too Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:45 pm
Have any of you actually SEEN “Weird” Al’s show in the last 20 years? He is still hip and cutting edge, about as far from a “Dinosaur” as you can get. He played in Champaign last fall, and it was a great time, great music, great stage show and of course really really funny. Just because someone has been around a while (and performing at the State Fair) doesn’t mean he’s washed up.

Comment by What planet is he from again? Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:54 pm
Didnt the ZZ Top show fall through? I hope not, that was one I would actually go to!

Comment by Sick Of It! Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 4:55 pm
This is great news. Al is my favorite singer. I’ve been to five “Weird Al” concerts. The first was in 1987, and the last one was in 2007.

Comment by PhilCollins Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 5:30 pm
This is an embarassment…

Comment by Diane Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 5:40 pm
Captain, time to fire up the “2008-Summer in H***-The Sequel” merchandise.

Comment by Fox Mulder Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 6:02 pm
Original word was that ZZ Top was going to back up Brooks and Dunn. Latest is now that ZZ Top will be the headliner with B&D opening.

Comment by Fed Up State Employee Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 6:03 pm
Wow. Not to flame, but talk about *uninformed*.

Huey Lewis…yeah. An old act. You’re all right…not really hip.

But not only is Weird Al a GREAT act in person with videos, multiple concert changes and a lot of energy, but do you know when his biggest ever hit - his ONLY number one song - was released?

September 2006.

*2006*

Oh yeah. TOTALLY archaic.

Huey…meh. But Weird Al is a GREAT act to have.

Comment by Peter Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 6:32 pm
To Just the Facts —- I’m giving away my age, but I was actually at the Association/Who concert. Wonderful show by the way. Folks, let’s face it. The Grandstand holds around 12,000 give or take a 1,000. They are never going to be able to book “top” artists because the venue is not big enough. You either get acts on their way up, acts on their way down, or golden olders whom half of the people will like for one reason or another. It gets down to a numbers crunching thing because of the seating/standing capacity. Personally (and I don’t work for the Dept of Ag), I think that they’ve done a pretty good job of late given what they have to work with - and I’m a fair junky who does go to the Grandstand shows regularly. Cheap ticket prices. Good nights. And the beer sales go to charity. What’s not to like on an August evening.

Comment by Observation Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 6:55 pm
Why did Grand Funk Railroad cancel last year?

Comment by The Cypress Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 7:01 pm
Hey, Illinoisians “enjoy” 1980’s incomes with 2008 prices, so why not make them “enjoy” 1980’s “culture” at 2008 prices?

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 7:21 pm
Observation - I’m giving away my age as well. I was also at the Who/Association concert. My father worked in the ticket office and snuck us in. After the Who finished their set by completely destroying their guitars, drums, etc., the Association was a bit of a downer.

Comment by Just the facts Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 10:15 pm
To quote Homer Simpson in the Episode ‘that 90’s Show’

Homer Simpson: He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 10:21 pm
I confess I too was at the Association concert. Right in between the Bob Hope and Paul Revere & the Raiders concerts……..

Comment by Frustrated Democrat Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 10:27 pm
Right on OneMan.

Scully and I hope Huey will play “I Want a New Drug” for Stu Levine.

Comment by Fox Mulder Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 10:44 pm
As the Association asked the musical question:

Cherish is the word to describe…

Comment by The Cypress Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 11:08 pm
I meant Cherish is the word I USE to describe.

Comment by The Cypress Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 11:10 pm
I was but a kid back then, but which Association song would be better for Springfield in August?

“Windy” or “Along Comes Mary?”

Comment by Fox Mulder Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 11:22 pm
I am SO going to see Weird Al, and I’m bringing the entire family with me. I predict a sold-out and packed grandstand. This would have been more of a coup last year on the heels of his extremely popular new album and the hit single/video parody of “riding dirty” called “White and nerdy”. Al is a tremendous “get” for the fair; an awesome stage show you can bring all ages to. You will laugh your touchus off.

Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Apr 30, 08 @ 1:52 am
Seriously, I LOVE Weird Al, and even Chamillionaire himself praised the video of “White & Nerdy.”
Now if they could just get Spinal Tap, that would be the icing on the cake

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 30, 08 @ 2:04 pm