Nothing bad, for once...

Last night I took JP to see the Summer Love tour of Prairie Home Companion. He is a HUGE Garrison Keillor fan and has been for most of his life, so I was so happy I could do this for him. The show was great - funny and touching in an old-fashioned way. Not stodgy or prudish or anything, but rather old-fashioned in the most beautiful way: when humor wasn't gross and tradition was something to be proud of. And the music! They sang so much, funny and lovely songs and during the intermission, Keillor stayed on stage and had everyone in the audience sing America the Beautiful, Red River Valley, and Amazing Grace. It should have been hokey, but it wasn't. It was moving, everyone standing and singing together, the first 10 rows turned backward so we would all sing towards the center of the theater.

I was also thrilled to find out that his special guest was Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek! She was AWESOME. Beautiful voice, music, and hot fiddle playing. I'm sorry, sardonicynic , I was so in awe of everything, I didn't get a set list, but I know she played a couple of her songs, including Where Will You Be, Impossible, All This Time, and another that she said was new (?). She did a gorgeous rendition of Love Is  A Word I Never Throw Around and she sang a bunch of songs with Keillor. She and one of the band members did a scorching fiddle duet that was just crazy! I just wish I had recognized more stuff...

I didn't go in expecting much, although I have listened to and enjoyed much of Keillor's Lake Woebegon material. However, he just amazed me. For being so old, he was lively, witty, and hilarious as ever. He even tailored some of his show to include his observations on the River Walk and our ornate Majestic Theater. He never left the stage and appeared to be having fun singing, telling stories, and torturing his foley artist, Fred Newman, by making up wandering, weird anecdotes that Fred had to supply sounds for. Great stuff.

Afterward, we went to the stage door so JP could meet Keillor and the rest and take pictures with them. I think he really enjoyed himself, so points to me for being the good girlfriend, LOL!