Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Weird Paul returns to Cedars

On a Monday night sometime in 1991, Weird Paul Petroskey played a show at Cedars Lounge.

The Pittsburgh-based musician just released an album on Homestead Records and was touring to promote the album. Cedars was his first stop and the crowd’s reaction was less than supportive.

“There wasn’t many people there,” Petroskey said. “I heard two people asked for their money back.”

After a December show, with a much different audience reaction, Weird Paul is coming back to Cedars Saturday night to play with Khaled and the Bright Blues.

Petroskey will be playing a solo set. He said he usually plays with a band, but his bandmates are in multiple bands and they have other shows Saturday.

Despite that, Petroskey promises a great show. He said since he’s the only one on stage, he tries harder to keep the audiences attention. He will play guitar during the first half of his set, then will sing over prerecorded original music.

“I feel like I go over the top a little bit more and act a little wilder when I play by myself,” Petroskey said. “It’s almost like doing karaoke, but to your own music. “

Petroskey’s unusual mix of punk/pop and comedy makes for not only great music, but hilarious entertainment. The almost local version of Weird Al Yankovic says he tries to play music that’s fun to listen to and fun to watch at the same time.

“Usually, I mean, I hope what I’m giving the audience is entertainment,” Petroskey said. “When I go to see someone performing, I like to be entertained. I try to be funny and I try to play music that's fun to listen to and makes you wanna get up and dance.”

Petroskey has been playing for just over 20 years and has accumulated almost 600 original songs. With that kind of selection, he said he has no problem making each show unique. He said there are certain songs that he plays at every show that always go over well, but he always tries to do at least one new song every show.

When it comes to the music itself, Petroskey said most of the lyrics come from something he hears, or mishears, someone saying. He said eavesdropping, along with a creative mind, are how most of his songs are written.

“It’s basically just stuff swimming around in my brain,” Petroskey said. “A lot of it is something I overhear — something someone says. It comes out really skewed and off-beat.”

Petroskey said his goals during each show are to make the audience smile, have a good time, and get them to think a little bit. “But most of all,” he said, “I just want to make people laugh.”