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Semisonic on Conan O'Brien - April 1998
On April 7, Semisonic played on Late Night with
Conan O'Brien. We rolled up to Rockefeller Center early that afternoon
in a limo sent by NBC. An escort met us at the door and we walked
smugly past security and onlookers who had no idea who we were but
were impressed by our self-importance. We rode the elevator up feeling
more important with each floor we passed. Finally, we stepped off
the elevator onto a floor where every doorway, desktop, light switch,
and trash can was covered with the Conan O'Brien show's crescent
moon and stars logo. "This must be it" I thought. I was
right.
If Dan, John, or I were nervous in the days leading
up to the show, a gaggle of record execs, agents, and other handlers
were waiting in the dressing room with an important message for
the band: "RELAX!"
Dan: Hey guys, what are you all doing here.
Handler #1: For crying out loud, save your voice!
Jake: Where can I hang this shirt?
Handler #2: Jesus, don't let it get wrinkled!
John: I saw some hangers on a clothes rack in the hall.
Handler #3: DON'T LEAVE THE ROOM! I'll get it.
Friendly NBC Assistant: Hello, we're ready for your rehearsal.
Handler #2: Ever heard of knocking?!!!
Handler #1: Guys, camera rehearsal is REALLY IMPORTANT, so
pay attention. OK? Jake? Did you hear what I just said?
Jake: Yeah, "pay attention."
Handler #2: He looks nervous
Handler #1: I told you this was a mistake
Our rehearsal ran smoothly. We ran through "Closing
Time" five times. In anticipation of the pressure of performing
for a national audience, I tried to imagine that millions of people
were watching from behind the camera. This illusion proved hard
to sustain as walkie-talkies squawked around us and a short bald
guy slouched behind the desk pretending to be Conan.
Camera rehearsal segued into an extended consultation
with Julie, the person who mixes sound for the show. We found her
relaxing and helpful. We spent over an hour in the control room
talking about all of the bands she'd mixed on the show. Then, back
to the dressing room.
Handler #3: They look really stressed!
Handler #2: Maybe we can cancel and reschedule.
Dan: Hey, we're back.
Handler #1: What did I say about saving your voice!
Jake: What's going on guys?
Handler #2: Jake? Jake? JAKE? Relax! OK? RELAX! You look
terrible. Sit down and try to get a grip.
Handler #3: That goes for you too John.
John: What did I do?
Handler #1: Please John, try not to stress OK? We neeeeeeeed
you to be CALM! OK? Now take a deep breath.
John: (Taking deep breaths) OK, now I feel dizzy.
Handler #2: Jesus, let's cancel.
We heard some electric guitar strumming through
the wall and later discovered that this is how Conan himself prepares
for the show. Then the Max Weinberg Seven struck up some warm up
music. We turned on the dressing room monitor and saw the assistants
walk around the set with various cue cards. Thus, we knew all of
the jokes in advance.
Finally the theme music started and the announcer
chimed in with the intro. Funny thing was, it was 5:30 PM. Watching
Conan in the late afternoon is somewhat disorienting. He came out
and gave a funny monologue, then previewed the show guests, giving
both pronunciations of Semisonic (Sem-eee-sonic and Sem-eye-sonic).
We thought this repetition of our name gave us better than average
exposure.
The first guest was "Friends" star Matt
LeBlanc, who lived up to his name. Watching Conan "interview"
him was somewhat like watching a tennis match between Pete Sampras
and a pile of sand.
Conan: So, I hear you witnessed an assassination?
LeBlanc: . . . Once I went to a restaurant and ordered plain
pancakes, but they brought me blueberry pancakes instead, so that
was pretty funny.
(Pause)
Conan: I also understand you nearly fell
out of a plane once.
LeBlanc: . . . I had a paper route when I was a kid . . .
The viewers in our dressing room were not enthused.
Handler #2: We're losing our audience.
Handler #3: This is terrible!
Handler #1: Dan? John? Jake? This is a disaster in the making,
but I don't want you guys to worry about it. OK?
The second guest was the woman who played the daughter
on "Married With Children." We all found her beautiful,
but we were in makeup during her segment and were thus denied the
chance to see her interview. Then the final wait back in the dressing
room.
Friendly NBC Assistant: We're ready for the
band now.
Handler #2: Christ, doesn't anyone knock here? You're freaking
out the band.
Handler #3: Jesus, guys. Don't freak out!
Handler #1: Dan? John? Jake? If you need to puke, do it now.
Handler #2: Jesus, you're not gonna puke are you?
Handler #3: Don't do it on camera!
Handler #2: Let's cancel.
Down the hall to the stage door, and as Conan went
to commercial, we were waved onto the set. We waited through the
commercial break. The house band blared and the lights came up as
the audience cheered on cue from some guy with headsets. The applause
settled down and the cameras zoomed in on Conan. I stole a friendly
nod of the head from fellow drummer Max Weinberg. Conan introduced
us, I counted in the song and we were off. Before I knew it, the
song was over and Conan stood at the side of the stage waiting to
meet us. He leaned over to Dan as the final chord rang out and said
"I never know if I'll ruin the sustain of the last chord by
making the guitarist shake my hand." We talked with him for
two minutes and found him to be not only funny, nice, and incredibly
red-headed, but also tall enough to be in Semisonic. Then back to
the dressing room.
Handler #2: I knew you guys could do it!
Handler #3: Didn't I tell you guys it was gonna be fine?
(Pinching John on the cheek) Huuuuuh?
Dan: Yeah, I guess.
Handler #1: Save your voice!
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