I know there are some people who don’t like A Prairie Home Companion, but you have to admire the longevity and Americana that is live radio. Plus the show put the Fitzgerald and my hometown of St. Paul on the map and introduced me to a lot of music I wouldn’t otherwise hear. Last Saturday was no exception:

• Winnipeg-based Chic Gamine
• Minnesota singer Holly Jones
• Guitarist Dean Magraw
• Blues singer Hilary Thavis

In addition to the guests, there was the usual music from Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band, which included an awesome cover of Louis Armstong’s What a Wonderful World by Pat Donohue.

This was the first show I had seen in person since Tom Keith passed away, so it was weird to see Steve Kramer from The Wallets doing sound effects with Tim Russell and Sue Scott.

Garrison Keillor has had several skits in the past that hit home for me and he did it again during Tales from Lake Wobegon, we he started talking about the old English teacher visiting the casino.

Good stuff.