The fun and bizarre thing about playing-and even just living-in Los Angeles is that you cross paths with celebrities, inevitably. As well you should, given the fact that they are just normal people going about their lives like the rest of us. But it’s still somewhat shocking and amusing to me every time it happens.
Here’s an example – the other night, while I was playing at Genghis Cohen, I noticed a tall man in the back who seemed especially attentive (or maybe he just caught my eye because, he’s super tall and was standing up), but didn’t think anything of it. The duo “Town and Country” played next to me on stage (it was an in-the-round set-up), and after the show, as we were stowing our guitars, the tall man came backstage as well, and I heard the words, “Thanks so much for coming, Jamie…” When I looked up (and up and up) at the man, he said, “Well done!” to me.
It was only as I walked away that I realized it was James Cromwell, and all I could think of was the movie “Babe” as I made my way to join my friends. Meanwhile, Mike was thrilled to have spotted an actor from “LA Confidential,” one of his all-time favorite movies. I suppose I’m glad I didn’t realize it was him, so I didn’t have a chance to act foolish in any way – like, asking him to re-phrase his compliment as, “That’ll do, Kristy.” Here in LA, you just gotta play it cool…