Weird Al Yankovic – Treasure Island Amphitheater – Welch MN – June 28th 2025

Treasure Island Amphitheater presents Weird Al Yankovic 

Review and photos by Kyle Hansen

Puddles Pity Party doesn’t just perform—he haunts, enchants, and unsettles, all in the best possible ways. Standing nearly seven feet tall in full sad-clown regalia, Puddles takes the stage without a word… and then opens his mouth to reveal a booming, velvety baritone that somehow channels both Sinatra and Freddie Mercury in a single breath.

At the Treasure Island Amphitheater, where he opened for Weird Al Yankovic, the crowd wasn’t quite sure what to expect—until his first few notes of “I’m Always Casing Rainbows” . That moment alone turned curiosity into reverence. His voice is rich and emotionally resonant, but what makes a Puddles show extraordinary is the contrast between his clownish melancholy and his vocal power.

There’s no talking—Puddles is entirely mute. Yet through exaggerated pantomime, sad-eyed glances, and exaggerated interactions with the crowd, he tells a full story with no dialogue at all. His cover of  “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne with full drama, with the help from a guest in the first couple of rows. At one point, he slow-danced and put his phone up so we all could by on his Cry Cam.

His love of Kevin Coster is unreal. He has videos going the whole time.

It’s absurd. It’s weird. It’s deeply moving. And it’s hilarious—especially the way he leans into the awkward silences between songs, letting the discomfort stew until the next big vocal payoff.

Under a wide Minnesota sky at the Treasure Island Amphitheater, “Weird Al” Yankovic delivered a night of music, parody, and pure theatrical joy that lived up to the name of his “Bigger & Weirder” tour.

From the moment the lights came up, it was clear that this was more than just a concert—it was a variety show, Broadway spoof, and rock opera rolled into one. Al, ever the showman, emerged in full costume, backed by his impressively tight 8-piece band. Fans were on their feet instantly for the opener, “Tacky,” which set the tone with its playful choreography and vibrant visuals projected behind the stage. He came from out of the back during most of the song and then came up on the front of the stage.

The setlist was a career-spanning rollercoaster—from the heavy grunge parody of “Smells Like Nirvana” to the nerdy charm of “White & Nerdy,” every song felt like a live-action cartoon. The musicianship was razor-sharp, and Al’s vocal versatility continues to impress. Deep cuts like “Everything You Know Is Wrong” were unexpected highlights, and the polka medley (“Polkamania!”) had the crowd in stitches.

What stood out most was the production value. This wasn’t just a guy with an accordion—there were costume changes, clever video interludes, and even satirical fake commercials between songs. The entire show was paced like a comedic theatre piece, with jokes that landed just as hard as the riffs.

The crowd was an essential part of the experience. Many showed up in Hawaiian shirts or full cosplay—Darth Vaders, Amish farmers, and plenty of loud suits. Families, teens, and boomers all sang along to the climactic closer, “The Saga Begins” (set to “American Pie”), and the inevitable fan-favorite “Yoda”, complete with a crowd-participation chant at the end.

He had us all laughing during Ebay the Backstreet Boys cover. Another highlight of the evening was Amish Paradise that had us all waving our arms back n forth.

It was an amazing evening by an amazing artist. If you missed it don’t worry he is coming back on September 11th at Waite Park in St Cloud MN.