Ira Glass Comes to the Ryman Feb. 15

The Ryman just announced that Ira Glass, host of the popular and long-running radio show This American Life, is coming to town Feb. 15. Yes, as in 2014, for those who really like to plan ahead. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m., and given his popularity, they'll probably go quick.

I had a chance to interview Glass before his May 31, 2008, performance at War Memorial Auditorium. As I was writing this post, I thought I'd go back to the interview to find an excerpt, and I discovered something interesting: Somehow, we got on the topic of our mutual admiration for Tim Russert, and Russert's interactions with Chris Matthews. Two weeks later, Russert died unexpectedly. I still miss him on Sunday mornings. He was a gem. The excerpt is below:

Glass: Why is it that, when you download Tim Russert, they won't let you put it on your fucking iPod. What the fuck, Tim Russert? They'll put the sound on your iPod, but they won't put the picture. I really like him.

Scene: Maybe they figure he's not visually compelling, but I think he is. I love him. He looks like a bulldog. Did you happen to read the New York Times story about Chris Matthews a few weeks ago?

Glass: Oh my fucking God! It was so great.

Scene: Since then I’ve been watching some of the election coverage and watching Russert and Matthews interact.

Glass: I know, I know! Me too! It totally changed everything for me. It was fascinating. It's funny because I never thought of Chris Matthews as a sad figure and now I do. I didn't know that was even available as an option to view him as pathetic.

Scene: And the funny thing is, he'll say something and look out of the corner of his eye without turning his head to see what Russert's reaction is.

Glass: Tim Russert can be disappointing at moments, but there are times when I see him on a Sunday morning and he'll be interviewing somebody, and literally I'll be alone on the couch and I'll stand up and applaud. I just think like, “Score one for the journalists.” It’s us vs. them and he's leading the team down into the zone. Into the touchdown zone.

Scene: A sports analogy—how Chris Matthews! Well, he would have said, “He reeled the big marlin into the boat.”

Glass: Exactly. I feel like, Tim, what a nice job you're doing. I know he has his own TV show and all, but weirdly I don't feel like he gets the love.