The future of escapism as I see it
I was in Las Vegas last Saturday, walking down the street at 7 a.m., looking for a breakfast joint, a bitter cold wind blowing past the neon avenues of casinos, and finally, feeling I was on the road to perdition, I walked into the Golden Nugget and was directed by a security guy past several acres of flashing dinging slot machines to a café back in the corner and there, among flashing lights and dinging, I ordered a garden omelet with a side of hash browns and coffee, and struck up a conversation with my neighbor, a guy from Long Beach who said he’d been to a burlesque show the night before and found it rather ho-hum. The women were big and manly and the comedian was “very gay” and mostly made jokes about his mother and the whole thing was less bawdy than your average post office mural. I looked over his shoulder at the few men playing the slots, a pitiful lot, men who looked like they’d been ditched by girlfriends and couldn’t remember where their car was parked, and it struck me as sad that a city designed for escapism should be so forlorn.... Go to Garrison Keillor and Friends on Substack to read the rest of THE COLUMN >>>
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This week on A Prairie Home Companion This week on A Prairie Home Companion, we revisit the first complete live broadcast performance from 2012, with special guests, country star Brad Paisley and men’s vocal ensemble Cantus. Also with us, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell and Sue Scott; the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band; vocalist Andra Suchy; and the latest News from Lake Wobegon. Join us Saturday for a listen via our Facebook page at 5 p.m. CT (or click the link below). Listen to the Show >>>
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More about this week’s featured guests
When Brad Paisley was about eight, his grandfather gave him a guitar and a piece of advice: “Anything that’s going wrong in your life, you can pick this guitar up and it’ll go away.” Seems grandpa was right. At 12, Paisley wrote his first song. He was invited to perform it at a Rotary Club meeting, and that’s when a radio program director asked Brad to appear on WWVA’s Jamboree USA. Brad was a hit, and he hasn’t stopped wowing music moguls and fans alike. He is a multiple Grammy winner and inductee into the Grand Ole Opry, among many other accolades. “Life is Like a Mountain Railroad” >>>
Available Music >>>
Based in the Twin Cities, Cantus is recognized as one of America’s finest professional male vocal ensembles. The artist-led group is known for adventurous programming spanning many periods and genres — chant to spirituals, art song to folk song, Bach to the Beatles. The Washington Post described their sound as having both “exalting finesse” and “expressive power.” “This is My Song” >>>
Available Music >>>
Andra Suchy spent her childhood on a farm near Mandan, North Dakota, the daughter of two talented singers. By the time she was in grade school, she was traveling around, doing concerts and festivals with her family. She has performed with several groups in the Twin Cities area, and you might have recognized her voice on commercials for White Castle, Target, and more. “Helpless” >>>
As a bonus, this week we provide the lyrics to the sketch “Mouthwash,” which tells the story of our favorite morning ritual and why it’s so important to singers, plus a classical music moment on the show!
If you would like to sing in the choir
There’s just one thing that we require
One rule: we use a mouthwash every day.
Use a rinse or a spray
So when you sing and make a forceful sound
You don’t knock someone down.
We sing Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach
If we sing loud, we use mouthwash.
People sitting in the mezzanine
Know that our breath is clean
And from our point of view
We say to you:
You ought to use it too.
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New Music & News from Friends ROBIN and LINDA WILLIAMS
Robin and Linda Williams have been busy promoting the release of A Better Day A-Coming. For the song “Old Lovers Waltz,” they have shot a video and this is a bit of a preview:
“‘Old Lovers Waltz’ is one of our favorite songs off the A Better Day A-Coming release. It has personal meaning to the two of us, and we think Deep Structure Productions did an excellent job of producing the video. The ‘old Robin and Linda/young Robin and Linda’ idea, based around the banjo painting, was their vision, and they did a great job making the concept of a lifetime partnership come to life in four minutes. Their video captured the essence of our song. We wrote this after being married for 46 years. It’s not essential to be married that long to write such a song. You might be able to do it after only 30 or 35 years. ‘When you’re gliding with ease and stepping light/Then the Old Lovers Waltz, you are doing it right.’” — Robin and Linda Williams Watch “Old Lovers Waltz” >>>
Read the full guest interview >>>
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Garrison Keillor & the Hopeful Gospel Quartet LIVE!
Robin and Linda will be hitting the road with Garrison and Prudence Johnson as The Hopeful Gospel Quartet. Two stops are sold out, but a few tickets remain for the February 4th show in High Point, North Carolina, at 7:30 p.m. Sure hope to see you there for some hopeful singing! Get tickets >>>
View ALL upcoming shows >>>
SUE SCOTT
A new episode of Sue Scott’s podcast, The Island of Discarded Women, has been released and features award-winning journalist Cathy Wurzer and musical guest Jennifer Grimm. Topic on hand is what you are grateful for …
Listen to the podcast https://www.islandofdiscardedwomen.com/2022/01/04/ep-21-grateful-live-with-guests-cathy-wurzer-and-jennifer-grimm/
KEB’ MO’
Keb’ Mo’ — born Kevin Moore in South Central Los Angeles — was raised on music of the Baptist Church and the contemporary R&B and blues of the 1960s. Since his early days touring with ex-Jefferson Starship vocalist and violinist Papa John Creach, this singer-songwriter-instrumentalist-actor has racked up a stack of solo albums, as well as winning five Grammy Awards. His latest album, Good to Be (Home Again) has just been released, and he is touring in support of the new album.
Listen to song >>>
Available music>>>
View all Tour Dates >>> |
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| The Lake Wobegon Virus Softcover Now in paperback. Bestselling author and humorist Garrison Keillor returns to one of America’s most beloved mythical towns — a town beset by a contagion of alarming candor. Get the BOOK >>> |
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| SIGNED Copies of Serenity at 70, Gaiety at 80 Books Garrison will autograph a copy for you or your loved one. In the area provided, please type in the name of the recipient or recipients for the book. Their name will appear with a general greeting and Garrison’s signature.
If the book is a gift celebrating something special, let us know and we will put the information in front of Garrison as he signs. (He will write the greeting he wishes but will use this as inspiration.) Created just for fans as a keepsake from Garrison and available only in our store, the personalized volumes (limited to 300 copies)will be signed by Garrison in early February to be mailed around February 15th. This gem of a book on aging will have you reflecting on the advancing years while you are bursting at the seams from laughter!
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Get the SIGNED Book >>>
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| Giving Thanks Shirt Our limited-edition Garrison quotation product selection continues with this classic shirt highlighting a simple life mantra: “Giving thanks is the key to happiness.” That’s exactly where it’s at — being happy and appreciative for everything you have in your life. Lightweight cotton/poly blend shirt is available in sizes S–XXL Get the Shirt >>> |
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