She Likes to Watch

So I don’t have to tell you that Weird Al Yankovic graduated from Cal Poly, right?

Because I’m pretty sure we’ve noted that little tidbit in the Tribune roughly, oh, let’s say 963 times.

Maybe even 964.

He was a DJ at KCPR, recorded “My Bologna” in the bathroom, The Dr. Demento Show, yeah, yeah, yeah. We know, for crying out loud.

But clearly the love affair between San Luis Obispo and Weird Al goes both ways, as evidenced by Al’s 2 ½-hour show At Cal Poly Tuesday night.

A couple of things surprised me about this show: First of all, the variety of ages in the audience. Apparently, Al appeals to both middle schoolers and middle agers. Secondly, I’m a little shocked by how out of it I appear to be.

I was proud of myself for recognizing parodies of James Blunt, Avril Lavigne and Eminem. But when he performed several songs that left me clueless, I found myself thinking: “When is he gonna do ‘Eat It?’”

Fortunately, he did do ‘Eat it.” And there were parodies of Nirvana, The Presidents of the United States of America, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day and, of course, Coolio that I recognized. And some of the ones I didn’t recognize, well, I’ll just assume they were some of Al’s originals.

He also performed some newer material, like “White & Nerdy,” which parodies the song “Ridin” by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone (And, yes, I had to look that up.)

It’s ironic that Weird Al remains relevant and popular while many of the artists he poked fun of are now long gone.

Anyone know what the Crash Test Dummies have been up to the past 15 years?

Given that Weird Al’s success is so tied to video, a mere show of him performing live wouldn’t suffice. So Al cleverly combines video with his act. While he and his band change outfits — and that’s a crucial part of his act — you’ll see fake celebrity interviews from his “Al TV” show, clips of TV shows, like “The Simpsons,” which mention him or feature him as a guest and other stuff that’s just . . . weird.

But funny.

His video for “Weasel Stomping Day” was a hoot.

Al’s longtime band rocked. And while Al himself is far from being a great singer, there were times when he hit a falsetto or belted out a good scream that made you think: “Well, he’s got something there.” And, of course, he plays a mean accordion.

But clearly Weird Al’s gift is his humor, which mocks those (i.e., Kevin Federline)who take themselves too seriously.

A few quick things to point out:

* Yes, that was a straight-up cover of Elvis Costello’s “Radio Radio.” I’m not sure why he does that, but he often performs it. And, I have to say, it’s a pretty faithful cover, with Al doing a credible vocal impression.

* And about the “Atlantic Records Sucks” shirt that Al revealed during “You’re Pitiful”: Al had garnered permission from James Blunt to parody his song “You’re Beautiful,” but then Blunt’s label, Atlantic, didn’t approve. Avoiding a legal battle, Al chose not to include the song on his album. But he does perform it live, offering his opinion of Atlantic in the process.

* The PAC is a pretty great place to see a show. I love the space between rows of seats. Plus, the acoustics are good, and the lights nicely complimented Al’s energetic performance. And, of course, there’s not a bad seat in the house.

–Pat P.