Antsy McClain & the Trailer Park Troubadours will celebrate the release of their newest project, Living the Dream, with a show Thursday night at the Brewery Arts Center.
The Troubadours, nicknamed the Polyester Dressed Flamingo Heads, turn heads with their combination of bright colors mixed with plaids. They may not take themselves seriously, but they do play some seriously good music.
McClain grew up in a little Kentucky trailer park with a truck driver dad and an "Avon lady" mom. The park life and people imprinted themselves on his life and talent. A junior high school football coach nicknamed him "Antsy" because of his high energy, which he now turns to energizing the stage.
He also energizes his music with poignant lyrics masked in humor as he sings about life in a single-wide.
Comedian Tommy Smothers called McClain "one of America's great poets."
While decked out in a pompadour hairstyle and sporting Buddy Holly attire, McClain takes his audiences on a journey through folk, country, rock and R&B, while telling stories about the people and places that shaped his life.
McClain describes Living the Dream as "what happens when a man looks mortality in the face, sees his own reflection and takes his friends out for ice cream. This album finishes a trilogy for me, starting with 2008's New Good Old Days, then 2009's The Beige Album. I can see now that Living the Dream is my completion of a journey that started with the turn of a new century, 9-11, the death of my parents, and the shaking of my faith in just about everything. It's all good now, and I realize there's nothing we can do about the passing of time but enjoy the ride."
Living the Dream is described as a collection of songs and spoken-word pieces that remind us to let go of the fear of "getting old" (whatever that means), that it's all relative, and that we need to enjoy this most wild of all rides.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $23 for general admission, $19 for students, seniors and BAC members. Tickets are available online at www.breweryarts.org. The BAC is at 449 W. King St., Carson City.