Kinky Friedman is, in no particular order, a country singer, author of murder mysteries, Jewish cowboy and cigar-smoking storyteller.

He is a cult hero to the likes of Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela and, judging from the packed crowd at Komedia, a number of Brightonians. How lucky we were.

The dreadlocked Kinkster ambled on stage and then transfixed us for more than a hour-and-a-half with his trademark, twisted mix of one-liners and irreverent wit to poignant ballads.

Backed by Little Jewford, on keyboards, melodica and kazoo and Washington Ratso on guitar, Kinky sparkled on songs such as They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore, Get Your Biscuits In The Oven (And Your Buns In The Bed), Ol' Ben Lucas and Wild Man From Borneo.

The fans sang along while everyone else smiled, tapped and clapped their way through the musical numbers.

But it wasn't all played for laughs - Kinky's genius is how he can move, in a heartbeat, from jokes about George W Bush to singing a beautiful song like The Ballad Of Ira Hayes.

This was great stuff from a man who doesn't take himself too seriously.