Known for his songs about aliens, puppets, and life lessons, Hart managed to stand out as one of the most popular personalities on the show, which is saying a lot considering his co-stars. While fans may have assumed he was playing a character, it turns out that the artist we saw onscreen was very much the same person he is in real life.

Tonight, Hart brings his show to Shrimp Basket (a.k.a. Shit Biscuit), complete with songs, videos, puppets, comedy, and, most likely, some very memorable banter. (He was originally scheduled to perform at the Fine Line this week.) Before he takes the stage, we attempted to chat with Hart over the phone about his recent album, Tim and Eric, and what to expect from his live show. What we got instead was one of the weirdest, most bizarre conversations ever recorded.

Hi David, how’s the tour going?

We’re just leaving Cleveland right now, where we dropped off some CDs at the college radio station, but they didn’t seem very pleasant. I actually have family in Cleveland, but they don’t want anything to do with me unless they need money, and then they’re all in my face.

So, the tour is going well then?

I’ve got two debts paid off now with the money we make from this tour. I’m hoping I won’t need to borrow more money. But I do love touring and seeing the world. It reminds me of my days on the farm and in the Navy.

That sounds great. So —

You know what would be great? If you could tell your audience that I’m a collector of HO model trains, and if they have any that they don’t want they can send them to me at [home address redacted].

Let’s talk a little bit about your recent album, Astronaut, that you released earlier this year. Were there any songs on there that were inspired by your life? Like “The Pickle Man & Mr. Moose,” for example?

The story on that is that I lived in a haunted house in Chicago. The guy who sold it to my parents told them that he had two German shepherds that had been shot in the house, and that their ghosts still lived there and that sometimes they would lick and tickle people for attention. Sure enough, one night two bright orange ghosts came into my bedroom, pulled my covers off, and started licking and tickling me. They would do other things too, like play the piano and throw silverware. That’s how I came up with that song.

Huh. Interesting. On a different topic, are you still in touch with Tim and Eric?

I don’t want to say anything negative, but Tim and Eric would have wild parties sometimes. I don’t have sex out of marriage or do drugs or anything, but sometimes Tim and Eric would party with their fans. I recently had a dream that Tim and Eric knocked on the door of the place I was staying, and they, um, began to get intimate with the people I was staying with. I used to tour with a punk rock band that would do drugs and sleep around, but I don’t do those things because I want to set a positive example. It got to be too much though which is why I don’t tour with them anymore.

That’s a pretty crazy drea — (cuts off mid-sentence, once again)

Do you know what you could get me as a gift? An HO model train. I don’t have many anymore because my ex-wife sold them all.

Got it. Anyways, are you excited to perform in Minneapolis this week?

I have family that lives in Minneapolis. This will shock you, but the Caucasian side of my family is friendlier to me than the African American side. But the Caucasian side has all died out, so my family is not close at all.

That’s too bad. Will you see any family while you’re here?

I was very disappointed that the Christian Science church is not planning to show up. I wrote them an email asking them to support my music, and to visit my website, www.artbyliebehart.com, to purchase my music, or to download the sheet music to use in the church. Please tell your listeners that they can listen to my music through my website or download the sheet music to use in their church, but they need to inform the publishing company first so that I can make money on it.

IF YOU GO:

David Liebe Hart with Basement Creatures and Larry Wish

Shrimp Basket

7 p.m. potluck (for real), 7:30 p.m. music

Text 763.228.5674 for address

Click here for event details

If anyone attends this show tonight, PLEASE post a review in the comments. The world needs to experience this for themselves.