A Prairie Home Companion: May 28, 2016

Live from the Filene Center at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia. Chris Thile joins us as a guest with his mandolin and a bag of sharp songs; Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks head down from New York City for a blast of big-band jazz; and Heather Masse travels from even farther north in New York, i.e. New York State, to sing songs that will start your Memorial Day weekend off right. Plus: our Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman; pianist and music director Rich Dworsky and the band (drummer Bernie Dresel, Larry Kohut on bass, Richard Kriehn on mandolin and fiddle duties, and the many guitars of Chris Siebold); and an update from the host on the latest News from Lake Wobegon.

[SharonRiver]

Best radio show EVER ! America is better because of it. SO happy we can re-listen here.

[brianleekuhl]

A Prairie Home Companion and Garrison Keillor are absolute gifts to, and treasures of, America. God bless you, Garrison.

[zehaozhou]

I came to the United States from China in 1987 and quickly fell in love with his show. Two days ago, I attended a live performance by the 82-year-old GK in my adopted hometown of York, Pennsylvania. You have to experience it to understand how much this man is admired, adored, and loved. My fondness for his shows reflects how GK's talent and contributions transcend all national, ethnic, and cultural boundaries.

[geister]

I miss the old man, his wit and humor, and I even miss his siging. He is a real hero of mine.

[TrueWalker]

After a lifetime of listening to GK, I've only just started watching these live recordings and it shows another side we don't hear on the radio. As an Upper Midwesterner, I guess I always thought of PHC as kind of "our" thing, because Mr. Keillor is talking about a culture so unique to that region up there in the Great Lakes. The US can feel like 50 different countries, being as big as it is and with such varied subcultures. Virginia is hardly Georgia or Mississippi, but as blue as it can be, it's still got that Confederate history. So seeing these folks in the sorta-South share the same love for this show, singing together the hymns we all grew up with, made me realize all that we have in common as a nation. In his genius and magnanimity, even as a known liberal, GK found a way to honor any Southern-leaners at the beginning, with the duet he sang with Christine about Peace & Reconciliation, bringing the worlds together. So many of us visit other states and really appreciate and respect our neighbors, even if we don't choose to live as they do, hence the Great American Road Trip as a common pastime. What a one-of-a-kind, bittersweet and beautiful place this strange country is. 

It's just a masterpiece every time. Decided to make my way through every one of GK's books, which are made even better by listening to him read them as audiobooks. Started yesterday with Cheerfulness and am already halfway. It's kind of changing my life and making me realize the life I could have had, were I an optimist like him. What can I say, raised as a Polish Catholic Wisconsinite, being dour-faced is deeply imbedded. Alas, at 48, it's not too late to change my ways. 

It pains me to see what happened to Garrison, at a time of life when he should be honored for his contribution and incredible body of work. I don't doubt he was inappropriate and unfaithful at times, but it was such a bizarre set of accusations and such an extreme recompense that it smacked of a conspiracy, not that I'm one for conspiracy theories. That said, maybe someday men will get it through their head than anytime they use their sexual energy for anyone other than the person to whom they are married, it just doesn't go well for them. Still. It just seemed like an orchestrated hit.

No disrespect to Chris Thile and his talent, but it was just apples and oranges and there is no replacement for GK. Perhaps Covid rendering it obsolete was a kind of divine intervention. I'm glad GK moved into his peace and rose above it all, living well and continuing his work. Now that I'm paying closer attention to him, I relate to him more than I ever imagined. I can't stand the thought of losing this lovely human being and hope he lives forever. God bless you, Garrison Keillor.

[jerrys]

LOVE LOVE LOVED this show so sorry that it is gone.

[brigittebonkowski]

Just love these lovely renditions- Listened to Garrison back in in EL, MI and going forward. Kicked up my heels with my friend and then later her daughter Saturday nights - what fun. Or, we'd invite another baby boomer friend and sing, toast our wine and laugh
hysterically at Garrison's jokes - play on life and politics. What an icon. Saw him with a friend in Ravina Labor Day weekend near Chicago -
what a great program - prime seats. The place was seating and all the lawn space. No 'out of control' guests. Just a hundreds and hundreds of people with families and friends enjoying a lovely Labor Day weekend picnic baskets everywhere, blankets, no trash left behind-
Garrison was outstanding, humorous and good take on true Labor- still searching for that VIDEO if it exists, please let me know - my guess this concert was in the 1990's....anyone familiar? Thank you -

[joeanderson]

I enjoyed hearing this. I never got to hear all of the songs before and after the live broadcast.
❤

[ianburnham]

I grew up listening go a prairie home companion, it was a sunday afternoon tradition, I dont think ill ever forget the last episode

[caydenharrison]

That patriotic music ending is beautiful. Instrumental, wow. Phenomenal. 2:11:41

[NorseForse]

I got to see the show once many years ago in Marymoore Park near Seattle. I took my dad as a Father's Day gift. Dad was a Republican, me a Democrat—as is Garison Keillor. It comes through in his humor often. That wasn’t an issue for any of us ;) A great time was had by all.❤
And dad—being Norwegian and raised Lutheran on a farm near a tiny town in North Dakota— especially enjoyed Keillor’s unique sense of humor.😊

Seeing this show brings me nothing but good feelings and good memories.
Those were good times.

I miss Garison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion on my radio every weekend… but mostly I miss my dad.❤
So glad we got to make such good memories while he was here. And it sure beat giving him a tie!😂

[cathypeerless]

I am so glad to hear Garrison again. I love this show and have been listening since he started the show in the seventies. What amazing talents he has with him!

[marianne]

Wow, Heather Masse has a beautiful, melodic, perfect-pitch singing. Love Me or Leave Me is a fantastic song to listen to while enjoying a glass of wine and relaxing at the end of the day.

[johnwhltson]

Very nice. I miss you on Saturday nights.

[lisamarieutley]

BEST SHOW! Was fortunate to see it live 2 times.

[johnunderwood]

I wish i got to see one of these shows. I am so happy I can watch a lot of these shows on here.

[seansky]

A Saturday night tradition in my home for many moons. After Garrison left the show, I tried to listen to A Prairie Home Companion, but it was a pale image of it's former fun and entertaining self. Wouldn't 2020 be a great time for a piece of Rhubarb pie? I try to get enough catchup. I did run out of Powder Milk Biscuits a while ago. ZORN!

[johnunderwood]

This is what America is to me. Happy wholesome. And that is how the Star Spangled Banner is sung!!

[locomotive]

Love this show. Miss when Garrison was on it . Looked forward to hearing that voice on Saturday evening.

[kendee]

One of my fave programmes. It went out as 'The Garrison Keiller Radio Show' on BBC radio in the UK, early Saturday evenings.