David Sedaris is so popular he is in the fortunate position of getting away with doing whatever he chooses in a live setting. Whereas other writers or musicians give paying customers what fans want by sticking to the hits, what Sedaris' passionate crowd craves is anything born from his incredibly hilarious mind. The result is a live show that includes well-read essays from his uber-successful books such as Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day and When You Are Engulfed in Flames and whatever else the 53-year-old is in the mood for. During his October 2008 tour, Sedaris told the audience he had been writing and editing a story while he was on the road and was reading the latest version of the piece every night. The musical equivalent would be the embarrassing moment when people purchase drinks or go to the bathroom, but Sedaris' crowd was more interested in hearing something new than what they had previously read. He followed up that story with an unreleased animal fable presumably included in Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, slated for an October release, and again the crowd remained seated. As an added bonus, Sedaris' unique voice becomes tattooed in fans' heads and serves as a personal narrator each time someone re-visits one of his works. So it's a win-win situation for everyone involved. Also at Royce Hall, University of California Los Angeles, 340 Royce Drive, Los Angeles; Wed., May 5, 8 p.m.; $18-$58 (sold out). (310) 825-4401.

Tue., May 4, 7:30 p.m., 2010