We announced a contest last week, and it’s in full swing. The prize is a pair of tickets to one of four dates Jonathan Richman and drummer Tommy Larkins are playing at the Make-Out Room. In case you’re unaware, the shows these guys play at this particular venue are unlike most others. They debut new material, they tinker with unfinished songs, they experiment with weirdo instruments, and they collaborate with special guests like neighborhood celeb (and Tom Waits bud) Ralph Carney.
We’ve gotten tons of great entries, including this one from Claire:
Having grown up in the Mission (Albion!), I am now in RURAL MINNESOTA, that tundric wasteland, at a liberal arts college: this blog is my freaking lifeline. I have no car, and the only culture I am exposed to is on the cheap inflatable water slide internet and my group of friends from NY and SF. Shows? Nope. First Ave, that Mecca of Prince and Paul Westerberg is a 45 minute drive, and a substantially longer walk. And, their shows are all 18 and over, kind of like every other venue here. I left First Ave a message in February giving them every reason I could think of to let a 17 year old into Cat Power… I’m sure they’re still playing the message and laughing over it. I just turned 18 in March, and have yet to go to a show in the Twin Cities. The only person I knew who would have let me borrow their car broke up with me by making out with another girl right in front of me last month. So, I get back to SF on June 15th and am in desperate need of some music unrelated to Sandstorm, from the frat boys in the room to my left, or Sarah Brightman, by the gay man to my right- I play Beserkley albums on my radio show as loud as possible to get those terrible strains out of my head. Please take pity- when I was 4 I learned all the words to I’m A Little Airplane, and proceeded to teach it to my preschool class.
Jonathan plays the 16th through the 19th of June at the Make-Out Room, which unfortunately is 21+, so Claire isn’t eligible to win 
But you are! Contest details here.
Photo of Jonathan Richman and Tommy Larkins at the Make-Out Room in October 2006 by aymanshamma.
hey! i’m in the crowd of that photo!
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