So many delightful authors were there reading including Sarah Vowell (who I never like in her books, but always like on the radio) and Dan Savage (who thankfully kept his potty mouth to a minimum - after all, I was there with my Mom) as well as seeing the now finally just vaguely aging TAL host Ira Glass in all his wonderfully nerdy glory. If this tour is coming to your town, it is most certainly a must see.
The musical guests for the tour are the Mates of State, who revealed under questioning from Ira that they haven’t practiced in over two years, since the birth of their daughter but they did maintain that being married is not necessarily the opposite of rocking out. The Mates’ music was entirely charming, and reminded me of how - like with old favorite of mine The Spinanes - that sometimes less (a girl, a boy, a piano
, and a drum kit) can definitely be more.What was the only problem with their wee sets? The fact that audience members seemed to think nothing of getting up during the band’s songs to go to the bathroom or otherwise wander away. Hey people, it’s a show! I certainly didn’t see anyone getting up and leaving while Ira spoke. Poor Mates. Maybe these people felt that listening to married people rock out was the opposite of having any manners.
