What's In A Name?

Fresh off Chad the Elder's awakening to the news that there may be more than one David Johnson in town, Paul Demko finds out the hard way that the Minneapolis white pages is full of white guys named Jeff Hanson and Dan Wilson as well.

The other night I stopped by the Turf Club to see Jeff Hanson, Dan Wilson, and Terry Walsh.

The first guy to take the stage played "New Madrid" and some other covers and was joined by his father-in-law on banjo. It was pleasant enough. Apparently his name was Jeff Hanson, but it certainly wasn't the Jeff Hanson.

The next guy up seemed awful nervous. He hesitantly strummed out some not-particularly-memorable folk-rock songs on his guitar. Apparently his name was Dan Wilson, but it certainly wasn't the Dan Wilson.

Terry Walsh came on last. He played a swell set mostly devoid of Van Morrison songs.

Last week I saw the Turf Club ad with Dan Wilson mentioned and I too thought it might be the Trip Shakespeare/Semisonic sensation doing some slumming. It was not, but I have to say it's brilliant marketing by that bar. Throw up the name of one of the most prominent and popular musicians in Twin Cities history on the marquee, without clarification, and see who shows up. Sure, once the other Dan Wilson hits the stage and starts nervously plunking out not particularly memorable folk rock on his guitar, it doesn't do a lot for building customer loyalty and generating repeat business. But for a one-night little bump in the till, it could be a highly successful strategy. If the Turf Club can find a full-time plumber/part-time guitar noodler from Brooklyn Park, who also happens to be named Paul Westerberg, they might really start drawing some crowds.

Speaking of THE Dan Wilson, his Semisonic sideman, Jake Slichter, will be on the Northern Alliance Radio Network today. Jake, of course, is the drummer of Semisonic and author of the terrific "So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star." At least I think it's THAT Jake Slichter. I hope Chad verified that this isn't a life insurance salesman from New Brighton.

Also THE Michele Bachman will be on. And there's only one Michele Bachman, the outstanding state Senator from Stillwater and now candidate for US House of Reps from the 6th district. The NARN starts at noon, Bachman at 1PM, Slichter at 2 PM. Catch it all on AM1280 the Patriot and streaming always here.
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