‘Spinal Tap’ trio stars give bad taste a good name

Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, the stars of This is Spinal Tap, have reunited for a concert tour which makes a stop at the Ryman Sunday night.

Although Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer have extensive and impressive credentials in film, television and theatrical properties, music fans will always remember them most fondly for two satirical productions that also had plenty of performance credibility.

The first was This is Spinal Tap, which 25 years later stands as arguably the definitive rock “mockumentary.” Guest has often described the Spinal Tap sound as “good music being made and played in bad taste.”

The second was 2003’s A Mighty Wind, which skewered the earnest, serious mood of the 1960s folk movement while still offering a fond and loving portrait of the era. Guest, McKean and Shearer perform pieces from that film and period in the guise of an ensemble called The Folksmen.

The trio are marking the 25th anniversary of This is Spinal Tap with their “Unwigged & Unplugged” Tour, which comes to the Ryman Auditorium Sunday night. The show has gotten rave reviews, and it spotlights the trio’s expertise not only as comedians and writers, but musical performers, though none of them ever publicly tout their instrumental prowess or songwriting acumen.

Still, what made This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind succeed both cinematically and musically was the trio’s interaction and ability to deliver songs and explore arrangements without sounding like rambling, moonlighting actors.

However fans won’t be seeing Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins or Derek Smalls (their Spinal Tap alter egos) Sunday, but Guest, McKean and Shearer (the primary reason why they are “unwigged”) operating in an acoustic environment.

They will perform some songs from the This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind repertoire, plus other rock and pop pieces, maybe even an occasional bluegrass number. The Tap compositions that have gotten the most raves at their various shows include “Hellhole,” and “Bitch School.”

While the “Unwigged and Unplugged” tour formally celebrates the film’s 25th anniversary, Spinal Tap’s roots actually date back 30 years. That’s when the trio made an appearance on the long-forgotten NBC program known as The T.V. Show.

While longtime followers eagerly anticipate the June release of the new Spinal Tap disc Back from the Dead, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer will rekindle memories of their past exploits Sunday night.

What: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer in the “Unwigged & Unplugged” Tour
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: the Ryman Auditorium, 116 Fifth Ave. N.
Cost: $35.50, $55.50
Info: 889-3060, ryman.com