Roy Zimmerman at the Unitarian Church

People of Earth... or at least People of Vancouver: The world's preeminent singing political satirist is playing your city on Monday night. If you're a fan of Tom Lehrer, you'll love Roy Zimmerman. Tom Lehrer does, too. And Joni Mitchell. If you're a progressive thinker, you'll love Roy Zimmerman. If you enjoy brilliant lyrics and great musicianship, you'll love Roy Zimmerman.

What's my man-crush on this Roy Zimmerman fella all about? Is he paying me to shill his gig? Absolutely not. While I interviewed him for What's So Funny? last year, I can't say I know the guy. I'm just a huge fan and quite coincidentally (while singing his praises to a friend) checked his website and noticed he was coming back to town. Since he's playing the Unitarian Church at 49th & Oak, there's a good chance you don't know about the show. And since last year, he played to a smattering of people, I'd love to see him get a bigger welcome this time around. I absolutely guarantee won't be disappointed. It starts at 7 pm so it won't even be a late night. And if money's an issue, get a load of this: tickets are $18 or pay what you can. There are no excuses for missing this show. I'll be there.

Still need to be sold? He has so many songs to choose from (all equally wonderful), but here's one that's representative of his musicality, sensibility, politics and humour:

Podcast episode 243ish: Roy Zimmerman

If one hour of uninterrupted conversation is too much for you, this episode will fix that. Interspersed in the discussion with political satirist Roy Zimmerman are songs from the Zimmerman library. Everyone, including me, makes the obvious comparison to Tom Lehrer but that's how good Zimmerman is. He's been at it a long time and has about a thousand songs under his writer's belt and there's not a dud among them. We talk about politics of the left, his musical history, Oliver North and Ray Stevens and plenty more.

So have a listen. Check it out here or at iTunes. There are still people out there who don't know how to use iTunes (I was speaking to one the other night). If that describes you, ask a friend how it works.

July 24: Roy Zimmerman

Any regular listener to What's So Funny? knows I'm a huge fan of Roy Zimmerman. I've played his political musical satire on the show many a time. Tonight, we actually get to hear from the man himself. He was in town playing an under-publicized gig and he took the time to sit down with me and chat that afternoon. The guy is, without a doubt, the best and funniest singing satirist since the legendary Tom Lehrer (and just as good, I'd say). In fact, the reclusive Lehrer even said, "I congratulate Roy Zimmerman on reintroducing literacy to comedy songs. And the songs actually rhyme, they don't just 'rhyne'." He sings in the folk tradition, but even non-folkies like me can appreciate his brilliance. But the folkies like him, too. Joni Mitchell said, "Roy's lyrics move beyond poetry and achieve perfection." And they do. During the hour we'll listen to a few of his tunes and talk about his lefty leanings.

Tonight at 11 PST, as always. Co-op radio 102.7 FM in Vancouver or live stream it.

Roy Zimmerman... not

I was so excited yesterday when I walked into the library and spotted a poster of singing political satirist Roy Zimmerman. It said he was playing a little church in West Van on Tuesday for a suggested ticket price of $15, but they wouldn't turn anyone away because they couldn't pay. (In West Van, yet!) I've been a big fan of Zimmerman for a while now. The guy, like Tom Lehrer, writes really catchy, really smart, really funny, really timeless tunes. Plus, he's a helluva musician. Maybe that's why the L.A. Times called him "a latter-day Tom Lehrer." That's not journalistic hyperbole. He's that good. More people should know him. Why isn't he on the talk shows? He'd make a great singing correspondent on The Daily Show. Something. He's prolific.

I play from his CD Faulty Intelligence on the show all the time. On his website, I noticed he'd be playing Eugene on Saturday and then nothing until Tuesday's gig – his first ever – in Vancouver. So I wrote him asking if he'd be in town on Sunday and if so would he come on the show. Or at the very least call in. This morning I got the bad news. He wrote to say he's had to cancel this leg of the tour. Doh!

Hopefully it won't be too long before he makes it back here. And hopefully I don't have to rely on a poster in a library to inform me he's coming.

Meanwhile, take a look at some of his work. Zimmerman is an unabashed liberal and went to town during the Bush II administration, as you'll see in these clips. It'll be interesting to see what direction he takes under Obama: