Vienna, VA – We could not have asked for a better night to enjoy a wonderful show under the stars at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA. The parody party performance with Weird Al Yankovic, with the support of Puddles Pity Party could not have been scripted any better as they wowed a sold out crowd at the Filene Center on July 22, 2025.
This was my second time catching Puddles, the first being at the Tin Pan in Richmond, VA late last year. Check out the more complete review HERE.
There was a very special moment during his set as he paid tribute to the great Ozzy Osbourne. He is known to have a little fun with the audience with his cover of “Crazy Train“, sometimes getting members to come up and ‘play’ his authentic paper rock guitar. On this night, as he put up a picture of a younger Ozzy on the backdrop, the normally jovial mood turned somber. As Puddles did his tribute version, you could feel the respect, the sadness, and the love for the man who made the song famous. It was beautifully done.
Check out Puddles’ “Crazy Train” cover below:
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Puddles Pity Party Setlist
I’m Always Chasing Rainbows
Come Cry With Me
Crazy Train / Let It Go
(Ozzy Osbourne cover) (In tribute to Ozzy)
Who Wants To Help The Clown
Love should open any door
Estoy sentado aquí
Come On Up to the House
In the End
Stairway to Gilligan’s Island
My Heart Will Go On / Enter Sandman / One
I did not know exactly what to expect from Weird Al. I tried to envision how he would bring his parody music and videos to the stage. What was soon obvious is that not only was Al super talented in parody land, but be could also be a quick change artist!
The night kicked off with a video, Al coming out of the shadows, through the park, planting a cream laden pie in the face of Puddles before taking the stage. Now this is what I call an opening that only Al could pull off!
We quickly learned he was not all that “Tacky“, but that was how he opened to the roar of the sold out crowd. After an animated “Mission Statement” the polka gods rained down upon the Filene with “Polkamania“, which included a melody of so many all time 2/2 favorites. Ok, it’s really 2/4, but 2/2 sounds so much more Al!
A highlight of the night was the drum solo. Never before in the history of live music has a a drum solo concluded in just a single polka measure. It was classic.
We got a taste of The Al Yankovic Story movie with “Another One Rides The Bus“, which was a snippet from the movie and the song. The ‘cameos’ in the clip were awesome!!
Throughout the night Al made several quick changes. Starting out in his normal Al attire, he paid homage to Kurt Cobain in “Smells Like Nirvana” adding a Devo touch to “Dare to be Stupid“.
I do believe there was a government plot, likely at the hands of the CIA, to overthrow the night. In a rapid fire coup attempt, Al… or someone who looked like Al… did a rapid fire medley that included “Party in the CIA“, “My Bologna“, “Ricky“, “I Love Rocky Road“, “Eat It“, and “Like a Surgeon“, along with many others. Intermixed with a quick changes, this sequence brought back memories of the days where the M in MTV meant something.
There are way too many songs to cover in this review, but I will say this was the complete Al experience. Of course we got a taste of the late Michael Jackson with “Eat It” and “Fat” as well as so many other well known and less well known parodies.
Before going into the final stretch, we had a reprise drum solo… about twice as long as the first… so two polka bars.
On a whim, I went and checked out “eBay” and yes, there are several Al items for sale, including posters, pins, and even some albums. Everyone needs to check it out! He was indeed “White and Nerdy” which was the perfect lead in to the quick change to the hit that had an interesting backstory… “Amish Paradise“. The end!
Ok, we know it was not the end as the journey had just begun… as it had once in a galaxy far far away.
The encore started with learning that “We All Have Cell Phones” before being swept into the story as “The Saga Begins“. The stage was filled with storm troopers, jedi, and a princess. It was classic. Finishing up the night Finishing out the night was a chat laced, accordion accompanied version of “Yoda”
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As one looks at the setlist, one cannot help but be amazed. It is one thing to have a sense of humor, it is another to be able to twist words and find new meaning in what already exists, but to be able to do both, tell a story, to a tune is just amazing. The Puddles / Al combo was unbelievable. I think it is safe to say that those who were leaving for the night had much bigger smiles on their faces than when they had arrive a few hours before. Al is a must see!
Weird Al Setlist
Tacky
Mission Statement
Polkamania!
Drum Solo
Everything You Know Is Wrong
One More Minute
Another One Rides the Bus
(Scene from “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”)
Smells Like Nirvana
Dare to Be Stupid
Party in the CIA / It’s All About the Pentiums / Bedrock Anthem / My Bologna / Ricky / Ode to a Superhero / I Love Rocky Road / Eat It / Like a Surgeon / Word Crimes / Canadian Idiot
Fat
Captain Underpants Theme Song
Now You Know
China Grove
(The Doobie Brothers cover)
It’s My World (and We’re All Living in It)
Skipper Dan
Drum Solo
eBay
Stop Forwarding That Crap to Me
White & Nerdy
Amish Paradise
Encore:
We All Have Cell Phones
The Saga Begins
Yoda
Show Date: July 22, 2025
