Until I saw him live last month, Garrison Keillor’s voice always bugged me, especially on the Writer’s Almanac. I also didn’t expect to enjoy A Prairie Home Companion as much as I did. But it was really, really funny, and a wonderful, localized experience.
We went for the weekend both to see the show and to visit Johnny, a Buffalo native who said that either someone on Keillor’s staff must’ve been from Buffalo or really done their homework since everything was so accurate — right down to how neighbors always wave each other through at stop signs, something we had experienced first-hand that same morning.
It was really interesting to watch a live radio show unfold before my eyes. Keillor and his staff executed with such mastery they had obviously been doing the show for years. Keillor was very much aware of the live audience, but also in tune to the thousands (millions?) of live listeners across the country and around the world.
The show was funny and smart and I’d definitely see it again.
Show aside, the rest of the weekend with Johnny was tons of fun. From going across the border into Canada to the casino to hitting my first country western bar to delicious breakfast, we had an awesome time, and only wish Buffalo weren’t so far so that we could hang out with Johnny more often.
2 responses so far ↓
1 So Much to Blog About | Blog Master G // Jan 15, 2007 at 2:26 pm
[…] Buffalo Trip / A Prairie Home Companion […]
2 Dan // Jan 15, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Hey Gabe:
I am originally from Buffalo, and get there quite often to visit Mom, my siblings and my nieces and nephews. Glad to see someone visited there and had a good time – the place has so much potential but unfortunately poor leadership has killed it. Contact me next time before you go and I’ll give you an idea or two.