Real Kato Blog: Unknown Hinson

Them nabsters... they done nabbed their last free download, baby.

We went to see Unknown Hinson this last weekend.

For the uninitiated, Unknown Hinson is the self-described "King of Country-Western Troubadours". The best way I can think to sum him up is that he's part Johnny Cash, part Dracula, and part Dr. Demento. He also happens to be the voice of Early Cuyler on "SquidBillies", on Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim".

In other words, he is a genius.

I love this interview of him (in character):

We went to see him in Jacksonville, North Carolina, mainly a military town, just on the edge of Camp Lejeune. It's not the kind of place where you'd go see Portishead or anything, but it's an appropriate venue for Unknown... kind of rednecky and, uh, weird. We stopped in at McDonald's to grab a quick bite before going in. The cashier, a young woman, sees my camera and says "Do you take pictures? Like good pictures? Like for graduation parties?" Umm, what am I supposed to say to that? Who the heck hires a graduation party photographer based on the fact that he goes into McDonald's carrying a six year old digital camera? It took her three tries to enter my order correctly (with help from the manager). We were glad to get out of that place. Before leaving, though, we did discover that McDonald's offers a fifty-piece bucket of Chicken McNuggets. Fifty.

Anyway, we went into the bar (a place called Hooligans), endured the worst opening comedian ever (who called himself "the educated redneck"), and settled in to watch Unknown perform.

It was a great concert. Really. The songs were goofy, sure, with titles like "Peace, Love, and Hard Liquor" and "Your Man (Is Gay)"; but Unknown is a genuinely fantastic guitar player and a very talented performer.

After the show we all got our pictures taken with him and the band. The drummer looked like he could have been Rodney's dad:

Wayne peaced out with the band:

Cory got his picture with Unknown:

...and I just had to shake his hand:

Candice had her boob autographed:

... as did Amy:

One of the highlights of the evening: when Rodney went to talk to Unknown, he tried to sit on a box of t-shirts... and promptly fell as the box collapsed beneath him. Unknown says to him, in all seriousness: "I think you had too much of that party liquor."

Afterwards we went back to McDonald's. Cory leans out the window and yells: "HOW MANY MCNUGGETS YOU GOT? That's how many we WANT."

We got a bucket. It lasted about forty-five seconds.

Permalink 6 Comment

Posted by Ken in: life

Comments

Comment #1 from Jenn (Guest)
2007 Apr 17 - 11:12 pm : #

My sister used to work at the Target in Jacksonville, but they moved last summer. You can get a bucket of McNuggets? Do they throw in an angioplasty for free?

Comment #2 from Candice (Guest)
2007 Apr 18 - 10:14 am : #

"get off the phone while you're driving my car!!!!!"

Comment #3 from Crouching Hamster (Guest)
2007 Apr 18 - 8:39 pm : #

Dear sweet jesus.

Comment #4 from rodney (Guest)
2007 Apr 19 - 3:40 pm : #

oh my god thats hilarious lol

Comment #5 from DonnaF (Guest)
2007 Apr 21 - 1:38 am : #

You Crazy Kids!

Comment #6 from Daisy Pickle (Guest)
2007 Apr 29 - 12:26 pm : #

we just saw unknown at jammin java last night and the guy actually had moments of greatness comparable to my beloved Stevie Ray. the earth moved. and he's just weird enough to appeal to my manic side. I can't wait for him to come back.

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