Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright III is probably best known, along with fellow folkie and ex-spouse Kate McGarrigle, as the founder of a musical dynasty that includes singer-songwriters Rufus and Martha. But he's been writing songs since the late '60s, when he was tagged one of his generation's "new Dylans." Wainwright has released more than 20 albums since his self-titled 1970 debut and remains one of the few artists whose genuinely funny songs transcend their novelty status. He scored a hit single with 1972's "Dead Skunk," but Wainwright's forte is his ability to bridge the personal and political. Recently, he wrote the score for Knocked Up and also had a small role in the hit movie. His live shows tend to pull material from a catalog that's deep enough to keep things interesting all night long.