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    "parsed_content": "Weird Al Never Grew Up. Neither Did These Fans (or Their Dads).Sons and fathers bond at the accordion-wielding pop parodist\u2019s concerts.Skip to contentSkip to site indexSearch & Section NavigationSection NavigationAccountAccountGoHome U.S.SECTIONSU.S.PoliticsNew YorkCaliforniaEducationHealthObituariesScienceClimateWeatherSportsBusinessTechThe UpshotThe MagazineTOP STORIESDonald TrumpSupreme CourtCongressImmigrationAbortionLatest PollsNEWSLETTERSThe MorningMake sense of the day\u2019s news and ideas.The EveningCatch up on big news, and wind down to end your day.See all newslettersPODCASTSThe DailyThe biggest stories of our time, in 20 minutes a day.See all podcastsWorldSECTIONSWorldAfricaAmericasAsiaAustraliaCanadaEuropeMiddle EastScienceClimateWeatherHealthObituariesTOP STORIESMiddle East CrisisRussia-Ukraine WarChina International RelationsThe Global ProfileLeer en Espa\u00f1olNEWSLETTERSThe WorldA guide to understanding the news, made for readers around the globe.Your Places: Global UpdateThe latest news for any part of the world you select.Canada LetterBackstories and analysis from our Canadian correspondents.See all newslettersBusinessSECTIONSBusinessTechEconomyMediaFinance and MarketsDealBookPersonal TechEnergy TransitionYour MoneyTOP STORIESU.S. EconomyStock MarketArtificial IntelligenceNEWSLETTERSDealBookThe most crucial business and policy news you need to know.On TechOur best tech reporting from the week.See all newslettersPODCASTSHard ForkOur tech journalists help you make sense of the rapidly changing tech world.See all podcastsArtsSECTIONSToday's ArtsBook ReviewBest SellersDanceMoviesMusicTelevisionTheaterPop CultureT MagazineVisual ArtsRECOMMENDATIONS100 Best Movies of the 21st CenturyCritic\u2019s PicksWhat to ReadWhat to WatchWhat to Listen To5 Minutes to Make You Love MusicNEWSLETTERSBooksReviews, news and features to help you find your next read.WatchingStreaming TV and movie recommendations.See all newslettersPODCASTSBook ReviewThe podcast that takes you inside the literary world.PopcastPop music news, new songs and albums, and artists of note.See all podcastsLifestyleSECTIONSAll LifestyleWellTravelStyleReal EstateFoodLoveYour MoneyPersonal TechT MagazineCOLUMNS36 HoursAsk WellThe HuntModern LoveWhere to EatVowsSocial Q\u2019sThe EthicistAsk the TherapistNEWSLETTERSThe WeekenderUnwind with stories about culture and the way we live.WellEssential news and guidance to live your healthiest life.See all newslettersPODCASTSModern LoveThe complicated love lives of real people.See all podcastsOpinionSECTIONSOpinionGuest EssaysEditorialsOp-DocsVideosLettersTOPICSPoliticsWorldBusinessTechClimateHealthCultureCOLUMNISTSJamelle BouieMaureen DowdDavid FrenchThomas L. 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Neither Did These Fans (or Their Dads).Sons and fathers bond at the accordion-wielding pop parodist\u2019s concerts.Credit...Supported bySKIP ADVERTISEMENTShare full articleBy Melena RyzikVisuals by Timothy O\u2019ConnellReported from Elmont, N.Y., joined by a very excited 9-year-old sonSept. 23, 2026\u201cI am the biggest Weird Al fan, and that\u2019s a fact,\u201d George Gunhouse proclaimed, with irrefutable 8-year-old confidence. Bouncing around in a green and white flowered Hawaiian shirt, with two similarly attired grade school buddies and their Brooklyn dads, he was about to encounter his idol, the accordion-playing pop parodist, in concert at the UBS Arena on Long Island. How was he feeling about it? \u201cKind of scared,\u201d he allowed, \u201cbecause this is going to be soooo many people screaming.\u201dIt was true: There were a lot of mega-fans, and like George and his friends, many of them had come with their papas. They were decked out in matching loud button-downs, \u00e0 la Al, and giddily anticipating the jokes. The 1988 zingers of \u201cFat\u201d (\u201cYour butt is wide \/ well, mine is too\u201d) still loomed large: \u201cThe video explodes the song,\u201d one dad said. \u201cIt\u2019s so funny.\u201dImageWeird Al Yankovic performing his Bigger & Weirder tour at the UBS Arena on Long Island.The pop scene has lately been ruled by women (Beyonc\u00e9, Taylor, Billie, Olivia, Rosal\u00eda) with a heavy female following \u2014 proud girl dads and their thoroughly accessorized tweens included. To catch a wave of fathers and sons in a crowd, follow Weird Al.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe country\u2019s foremost song parodist for nearly a half-century, Al Yankovic has charmed generations, especially those who grew up in his \u201980s and \u201990s heyday, when he memorably spoofed hits by Michael Jackson (\u201cBeat It\u201d became \u201cEat It\u201d), Madonna, Coolio and Nirvana.Now the men of that era, and beyond, are turning out with their boys for his Bigger & Weirder tour, which saw him headline Madison Square Garden for the first time last summer, at age 65. He\u2019ll follow the tour with an orchestra-backed screening of \u201cUHF,\u201d Weird Al\u2019s 1989 cult film, in Los Angeles on Halloween.ImageMen who grew up in the \u201980s and \u201990s have introduced their children to Weird Al\u2019s high jinks.Weird Al memorablia was both crafted and purchased.\u201cI\u2019m 43, and Al\u2019s been in my life as long as I can remember,\u201d said Matthew Honovic, a Long Islander who came to the recent show there with his 9-year-old son Julian. \u201cMy dad played the accordion, so it was a family thing.\u201dAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTWeird Al has plenty of female fans, of course, and a daughter himself. But was there something about his music \u2014 with lyrics like \u201cIf I ever meet you, I\u2019ll Ctrl-Alt-Delete you,\u201d from the 1999 rap \u201cIt\u2019s All About the Pentiums\u201d \u2014 that perhaps appealed specifically to guys? \u201cThe juvenile comedy in there, it lasts,\u201d Honovic said. \u201cAl doesn\u2019t age.\u201dAnd, said Keith McClelland, who came with his sons Jackson, 17, and Harrison, 14, \u201cit\u2019s all G-rated \u2014 no cursing.\u201dImageConcertgoers embraced Weird Al\u2019s G-rated spoofs of popular songs.Joe Larkin, 51, a landscape designer and artist in Smithtown, N.Y., brought his sons Evan, 12; Joey, 10; and Ryan, 8. Thanks to repeat viewings of Weird Al\u2019s videos on YouTube, the oldest already knew his sonic high jinks. \u201cWe\u2019re introducing him,\u201d Evan said, pointing to his baby brother. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a blast, Ry!\u201dAs with many kids, the brothers liked the parodies even if they weren\u2019t that familiar with the originals. Among this crowd, Weird Al\u2019s \u201cWhite and Nerdy,\u201d which he performs atop a Segway scooter, likely has more spins than its antecedent, Chamillionaire\u2019s thumping \u201cRidin\u2019.\u201dConcertgoers were also young at heart. \u201cThis was his idea,\u201d John Hurtnole, 42, said, sitting next to his 73-year-old father and namesake, who grinned mischievously. \u201cI like people to make fun of things,\u201d said the elder John Hurtnole. He wore a T-shirt advertising the Duck Fart, an Alaskan cocktail. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of things to make fun of nowadays.\u201dAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTOnstage, Weird Al tore through medleys, video clips and costumes: a wide-brimmed black hat for \u201cAmish Paradise,\u201d robes and Storm Troopers for a \u201cStar Wars\u201d finale. Streamers descended on the audience; a 4-year-old named Liam ran through his dad\u2019s legs, doing a crazy polka dance. Behind the sound mixer, Seth Novick, 29, vibed solo with his Al-like curly locks flowing. Weird Al had been seminal to him growing up, he said. \u201cJust his creativity and his acceptance of himself being unusual \u2014 it\u2019s really inspirational to me.\u201dImageAfter the show, supporters lined up for a chance to meet the singer. \u201cClose Personal Friend of Al,\u201d several jackets announced. Jacob Isaacson, 10, waited, hoping to get his copy of \u201cCaptain Underpants\u201d autographed \u2014 Weird Al wrote the theme song to the 2017 movie adaptation of the book \u2014 and came prepared with questions: \u201cWhat does Weird Al like to do in his free time? Has he ever gotten a cease and desist notice?\u201d (The musician takes pains to get permission before lampooning.)\u201cHis music just gets something inside of me that makes me happy and makes me want to hear it over and over again,\u201d Jacob said, as his father, Josh Isaacson, 52, held his hand.Another pair, Tosin Akinmusuru and his son Xavier, were also having a bonding moment. \u201cI see a lot of myself\u201d in Al, 12-year-old Xavier said. \u201cBeing weird.\u201dHis father felt the same. \u201cWe don\u2019t get any more mature,\u201d he said, laughing. \u201cWe just get bigger.\u201dFrom the commentsMelena RyzikCulture reporterThe first time I saw Weird Al, when he headlined Madison Square Garden in 2025, I was struck by the number of fathers and sons in the audience \u2014 a very different scene than the usual concert crowd. It sparked the idea for this story. (And this year I brought my own husband and son.) Reporting this was absolutely delightful.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT",
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    "ai_simplified_title": "Weird Al Yankovic Concerts Bond Fathers and Sons",
    "ai_excerpt": "Weird Al Yankovic's concerts are becoming a unique bonding experience for fathers and sons, many of whom grew up with his music. Fans, young and old, are drawn to his G-rated parodies and enduring juvenile humor, creating a multi-generational following.",
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