Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, I can now die happy. Last night I shook Harry Shearer’s hand, and listened to him sing one of the funniest songs of political satire I have ever heard in my life. It’s called “Addicted to Oil” and is done in the voice (and, happily, with the mannerisms) of our very own Commander In Chief, George W. Bush.

Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls

Yep, that Harry Shearer.

Harry was at Mississippi Studios last night, supporting his lovely, talented and also very funny wife, whose name is Judith Owen.

I was there because I had heard that Harry was going to be opening for Judith, which turned out (rumors being what they are) to not be quite the case. He was there primarily to play bass as she sang and played keys, although we did get to hear two of his newest in the middle of the set.

The band that opened for them is called Brandon Chandler and the Revival, who were fabulous. Kind of an updated white boy Motown soul thing.

Judith is an amazing performer, and a lovely person. She has an incredibly versatile voice that just leaps and dazzles all over the place. Fabulous. One comment I will make by way of mild critique is that, musicianship and (FUCKING SPINAL TAP FUCKING MONTGOMERY C BURNS JESUS!) Harry Shearer aside, her concert felt like a therapy session! She as much as said that music is a form of therapy for her, and she was very blunt and forthright about the process that led to many of the songs. This made for great song stories, told in a very engaging and guffaw-inducing way…but…damn. My head kinda felt shrunk afterwards!

Anyways. I learnt me a few things last night:

One, Harry Shearer is not as tall as one might expect.

He is also very funny, warm and engaging. He was wiping away tears during one of Judith’s songs! How sweet is that?!

He has a new record of political satire coming out soon, called “Songs of the Bushmen”. Everyone in the administration gets the Harry Shearer treatment! Whee!

Also (VERY IMPORTANT), as Harry and Judith were leaving for Seattle, he divulged (drumroll please) that Tap will almost certainly be touring again! Can you believe that? What a hoot…I hope they come to Portland.

And now I will wrap this here blog up with (what is to me anyways) an amusing anecdote…

Judith opened the show saying that she always opens and closes her concerts with “total crap British pop songs”. In the case of last night, she used Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple to open, and Eye of the Tiger by Survivor to close. She actually does a very credible job of rescuing, re-purposing and breathing new life into both of those old chestnuts, believe it or not!

This of course opened the door for me to tell my Survivor story (click for a link to a previous blog on the subject) to both her and Harry after the show. I think they were amused, I know I was.

I mean, given the contents of Spinal Tap, and Survivor’s dubious place in the rock pantheon…and their current status playing smalltown summer festivals…do I need to draw you a picture? :-)