When I met Jonny Lang he was a skinny little Norwegian kid from Fargo commuting to the Twin Cities on the weekends to play gigs. His dad had to drive him because he didn't have a license yet and they played bars where he wouldn't be of age to get served for another six years. The TV station had done a feature story on him that got a lot of attention and he was in studio to do a live set for a prime-time show taping. Not long after that appearance he got scouted at Bunker's and signed with A&M Records. About a year later he was doing this appearance on Conan to promote his new album. Keep in mind, the kid is still only 16 years old in this video, and had only been playing guitar for four years.
Category Archives: WGOM
Alan Parsons Project – Silence and I
Alan Parsons was another post-concert autograph line meet and greet at an off-strip casino in Las Vegas. Small but pretty new venue, probably around a thousand seats, and ours were on the front row. I carbon date the show to late September of 2015 since it was the 30th anniversary of the Eye In The Sky release and we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. Anyway, Alan stayed until every last person had their turn (I know because we were almost the end of the line), he signed my CD and my ticket stub for me and we exchanged a few polite words. We've seen them a few times since then and always enjoyed it, but that show set a really high bar.
Indigenous – Blues From The Sky
I've been a fan of Indigenous and Mato Nanji since their debut CD in 1998. Hard to believe it's been that long. I finally got to see them about four or five years ago. After the show Mato was signing autographs at the merch table. There weren't any lines so I went up and bought a shirt and talked to him for a minute or two about the show and his music and who he listens to. He and the band never got as big as I'd hoped they would, but they did okay for a bunch of reservation kids from Yankton. This is the original band lineup, with Mato's bother Pte on bass, sister Wanbdi on drums, and cousin Horse on other drums.
Marvin Hamlisch – Nobody Does It Better
If I recall correctly, Marvin Hamlisch was in town doing some sort of engagement with the Minnesota Orchestra when I met him at the TV station during the promo tour. He was alone with no handler so I got to sit and talk with him for five minutes or so in the break room before the show. Nice guy, very polite, said yes please when I offered to get him a beverage and thank you when I brought it to him. His talent is missed.
Shania Twain – You’re Still The One
Back when I was in the news business I had occasion to rub elbows with celebrities from time to time, so I decide with this go-round I'm going to do videos from people I've personally met. By that I mean we were in immediate physical proximity and had actual conversation, and with some there was physical contact like a handshake. I have just enough to fill out a week, so here goes.
I'll start with Shania Twain, who appeared on our late morning news show when I was a young associate producer in the mid 90s. She was just a little thing in a tee shirt and sweatpants on the way to the guest dressing room for makeup when I met her, but she was pretty enough to steal your breath, had big personality, and was as nice as could be, she totally charmed everyone there. I hear she's had some trouble on her comeback tour, which is too bad and I wish her the best. but this is how I'll always remember her, back when she was on top.
2023 Game Log 91: Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins
Let's try to get a win in before the break, yeah? The Guardos are down 4-1, so maybe get first place back too.
Genesis – Watcher of The Skies
Ooo, I get use the "cape" tag.
Jenny Lewis – Psychos
2023 Game 89: O’s at Twins
Bailey Ober opens against our opponents, the Orioles in one last series before the All-Star Break.