Lake Wobegon’s favorite son paid a visit to Sacramento July 11 when storyteller/musician/author Garrison Keillor brought his Radio Romance Tour to the Community Center Theater for an easy-going two hours of toe-tappin’ tunes and good-natured comedy.
The capacity crowd was treated to live renditions of all of its favorite "Prairie Home Companion" segments, including Keillor’s "News from Lake Wobegon" monologue, songs by Richard Dworsky and The Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band (with guitarist Pat Donohue and violinist/mandolinist Richard Kriehn), a duet featuring Keillor and guest artist Aoife O’Donovan, comedy by sound-effects artist Fred Newman, and those beloved mock commercial jingles for such fictional foodstuffs as "Powder Milk Biscuits."
Wry and rumpled, Keillor was dressed conservatively in a blue pin-striped suit whimsically accessorized by bright red socks and tie, as well as matching crimson running shoes.
Though he really didn’t need to further cement the relationship he has established during the 39 years he’s been hosting the National Public Radio series, his localized comments regarding the River City’s achingly hot summer temps and the "historic" Community Center Theater were as well-received as a fresh-baked slice of "Be-Bop-A-Re-Bop Rhubarb Pie."
The 26-city, 27-concert, 30-day coast-to-coast bus tour, which kicked off July 8 in Spokane, Wash., continues its eastward trajectory with a stop in Salt Lake City Wednesday evening. It closes with an Aug. 6 performance at the Kresge Auditorium in Interlochen, Mich.
Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.
