I cannot get over the final broadcast of The Current's Morning Show w/ Dale Connelly and "Jim Ed Poole" (Tom Keith). (Tom/"Jim Ed" is retiring)
For you out of state-ers, these two have been doing a Garrison Keillor-esque variety show for the past 25 years. Since we moved to these Twin-towns, we've been enjoying some solid radio play on The Current (much more enjoyable than KEXP...but that's another post). However, the morning show was a disconnected, zany show that was hard to stomach at first. With its birthday songs for loyal listeners, kid friendly folk sing along songs, and the last second prepared sounding skits about nothing it is different from the radio my generation knows.
Maybe it was the move to the elder St. Paul, or turning 27, but I've been loving this show for the past 3 months. A complete change of appreciation. And now it's gone. I'm sad that I wasn't in to it earlier on.
But today I'm sad that I was in the audience at the Fitz or having pancakes at the church next door. What a beautiful way to go. I hope my retirement party is half of this. From the packed house, to the bands that showed up at 6am to make the show completely live, to sad tribute songs, to the all the we wishers on the live blog burning their eggs at home while crying over the end of this era, it was a bittersweet tribute. I choked up...after just 3 months.
There's no way I can do this show justice. I'd encourage you to listen to it. Read the live blog transcript. Check out the photos.
And get into the next wave. Dale is starting a show on HD radio, but you can get the live feed online. Or check out the new Current Morning Show, starting tomorrow.
Enjoy.
