Weird Al performed for a packed crowd at the BankNH Pavilion in Gilford on Wednesday, July 22 in what could only be described as a truly odd night.

Puddles Pity Party kicked off the night. I saw his name on the schedule but didn’t immediately recognize it, and I decided not to look him up so I could go in with an open mind. I was pleasantly surprised when a man in a white clown outfit and facepaint started singing with a voice of an angel. He sang covers, had audience participation, and even ran a cry cam that caught people pretending to sob for the camera. It was quite entertaining. As he performed, I remembered him from his time on America’s Got Talent, where he made it to the quarterfinals.

Weird Al kicked off the night with a video on the screen showing him walking through the backstage artist area, singing and shoving a pie in Puddles’ face. Then he came out through the side gate to a cheer from the crowd and walked past fans as he made his way down the aisle to the stage. He quickly announced that before he got into his hit songs, he needed to show everyone a quick PowerPoint presentation. He then performed what felt like a ten‑minute song about synergy and corporate responsibility, which definitely set a weird tone for the night.

Throughout the night he had a handful of costume changes. He threw on a flannel and wig for his mega hit Smells Like Nirvana, switched into the yellow jumpsuits for Dare to Be Stupid, and pulled out the medical head bandana for Like a Surgeon. He moved fast through the set and kept the energy high as he sang parody after parody. He also showed videos throughout the night between costume changes, highlighting key career moments and fun celebrity interactions.

Like most millennials, I grew up with Weird Al. We heard all the hit songs as they came out, and it almost became a guessing game of which ones he was going to parody next. His releases felt like little cultural events, and everyone had an opinion on which song he should tackle next. There were plenty of times when his version ended up being more catchy than the original, and that was part of the fun. His music was something you shared with friends, laughed about in the car, and kept coming back to. Weird Al wasn’t just someone we listened to growing up. He was part of the soundtrack of being a millennial. The nostalgia was definitely in full force that night.

Weird Al is in full tour mode through October, so make sure to catch a show. Visit www.weirdal.com to learn more.

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