It’s hard to believe that Weird Al” Yankovic has been doing his thing since 1976! He’s recorded more than 150 parody and original songs, and preformed more than 1,000 live shows. No matter how much time passes, “Weird Al” manages to remain as relevant as ever, and always seems to be having fun right along with his audience. Granted, Al’s at his best when mocking popular songs, but his original songs have continued to improve over the years.

“Weird Al” Yankovic Live! The Apocalypse Tour is the entertainers first concert on Blu-ray, and his first widely released concert DVD since “Weird Al” Live!.in 2000. Recorded in July 2011at Massey Hall in Toronto, this concert proves that “Weird Al” still has boundless energy, even in his fifties. He wears dozens of amusing costumes, integrates some of his classic music videos, and interacts with the audience. I’ve never been to a “Weird Al” show, but it looks like everyone was having a blast.

His latest tour is in support of Apocalypse—Al’s first CD in five years. Naturally, the new album dominates the set, its songs comprising about a third of the show. As with much of his previous work, the new songs are perfect for his type of on stage performance. Among the new parodies are “Perform This Way” (a clever send-up of Lady Gaga’s over-the-top persona), “Party in the CIA” (Miley Cyrus’ pop confection with an undercover twist), “TMZ” (an homage to Harvey Levin & Co., set to the twangy sounds of Taylor Swift), and “Another Tattoo” (a very funny take on B.o.B’s “Nothing on You”). Since a “Weird Al” show wouldn’t be complete without some polka, we get a mash-up of some of the biggest pop hits of the last few years, with a few “Weird Al” originals mixed in.

As one might expect, the rest of the concert features some of the entertainer’s biggest hits: “Fat,” “Amish Paradise,” “Eat It” and “The Saga Beg ins.” Also included is 2006’s “White & Nerdy,” Yankovic’s first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Call me crazy, but I’ve always found “Weird Al’s” vocal range quite impressive. Somehow, his voice is both pitch perfect and appropriately annoying. His longtime bandmates—Steve Jay, Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz, Rubén Valtierra, and Jim West—are a talented crew with the versatility to move between “Weird Al’s” various styles. Much of the music and vocals in the special are live (Al’s backing track sometimes takes over for him, most notably during the highest notes in “Another Tattoo”), yet they still sound dead-on.

Here’s the full setlist:

1. “Polka Face” (pop song medley)
2. “TMZ” (parody of “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift)
3. “Smells Like Nirvana” (parody of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana)
4. “Skipper Dan” (original, in the style of Weezer)
5. “Party in the CIA” (parody of “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus)
6. CNR (original, in the style of The White Stripes)
7. “Let Me Be Your Hog” (original, brief comedy bit)
8. “Canadian Idiot” (parody of “American Idiot” by Green Day)
9. “Wanna B Ur Lovr” (original, in the style of Beck)
10. Medley:

  • “Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies” (parody of “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” by Jerry Scoggins and Flat Scruggs and “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits)
  • “Whatever You Like” (parody of “Whatever You Like” by T.I.)
  • “Another Tattoo” (parody of “Nothin’ on You” by B.o.B. and Bruno Mars)
  • “eBay” (parody of “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys)
  • “I Want a New Duck” (parody of “I Want a New Drug” by Huey Lewis and the News)
  • “Theme from Rocky XIII” (parody of “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor)
  • “Spam” (parody of “Stand” by R.E.M.)
  • “My Bologna” (parody of “My Sharona” by The Knack)
  • “Ode to a Superhero” (parody of “Piano Man” by Billy Joel)
  • “Lasagna” (parody of “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens)
  • “Eat It” (parody of “Beat It” by Michael Jackson)

11. “Amish Paradise” (parody of “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio)
12. “Craigslist” (original, in the style of The Doors)
13. “Perform This Way” (parody of “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
14. “White & Nerdy” (parody of “Ridin'” by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone)
15. “Fat” (parody of “Bad” by Michael Jackson)

Encore
16. “The Saga Begins” (parody of “American Pie” by Don McLean)
17. “Yoda” (parody of “Lola” by The Kinks)

 

The Alpocalypse Tour made its debut on Comedy Central on October 1st. Just three days later, an extended cut was released on Blu-ray and DVD. If like me, you’ve never been to a “Weird Al” show, this Blu-rat is a fine experience.

 

Presented in 1.78:1, the 1080p transfer varies from fair to excellent. Up-close shots on stage are splendid, exhibiting fine detail, while medium shots experience a noticeable drop in clarity. Long shots—given the darkness in the auditorium—often look downright blurry. To some extent, the unevenness is inherent in the nature of the venue. However, there’s little doubt the transfer could’ve been handled with a bit more care.

The audio is presented in a rather disappointing Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo mix. For those hoping for an enveloping mix, this is a real letdown. I’m not sure if this is the studio cutting corners or what. It doesn’t seem like it would have been that complicated to mix the audio in 5.1 for this release. It’s not terrible, just utterly underwhelming.

The disc has an impressive slate of special features:

  • Three Bonus Performances: “Frank’s 2000-inch TV,” “You Don’t Love Me Anymore” and “You Make Me.”
  • Music Videos: “Perform This Way” (2:56), and “Polka Face” (4:47).
  • Al’s YouTube Clips! (3:36): Assembles some of the entertainer’s cell phone videos and digital shorts. Included are: “Grammar Lesson”, “Tech Support”, “The Eternal Question”, “Message from Police Dept.”, “The Grandeur of Nature”, “Shopping Trip”, “At the Zoo”, and “Weird Al Shreds!!!”
  • TV and Web Appearances: This consists of four viral videos produced for AOL, College Humor and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.