This past Sunday started at the airport and ended in the rain in St. Louis.

First up on a busy day was a meeting with Harry Wayne Casey, better known as the KC of KC and the Sunshine Band. I met up with KC in Terminal A of Lambert St. Louis International Airport before he boarded his Continental Airlines flight to Cleveland. KC gladly signed a couple of 8 x 10s and posed for this photograph before getting in that dreaded security line. He had performed the day before at the Rib America Fest in downtown St. Louis.

Next up was a trip to Vintage Vinyl for an in-store performance and signing by Blind Melon. Unfortunately, the group's lead vocalist had a case of laryngitis, and the gig was canceled. However, they were scheduled to play later in the afternoon at Rib America, and that's where I caught up with the band. Each member gladly signed an 8 x 10, posed for photos, and apologized for canceling the in-store appearance. Two of the band members offered free admission to their show, which we gladly accepted. Here's an interesting shot with Rogers Stevens, guitarist. Kudos to all the guys for being so accommodating!

Next up on the Rib America Fest line-up was blues artist Johnny Lang. The Grammy-award winner was set to sign for me as he left his tour bus to take the stage, but his tour manager quickly halted that. Johnny said he'd take care of me after the show, and that's what he did. He signed an 8 x 10 and posed for this shot. The tour manager kept a close eye on everyone, making sure each person got only one autograph and no more. I'm pretty sure Johnny didn't care, but the tour manager was calling the shots.

I had a flashback to my high school days with Night Ranger, the final band of the day. Night Ranger was one of my favorites during the early 80's. They arrived about an hour before show time and quickly headed to their dressing room to prep for the show. However, a few minutes later, guitarist Brad Gillis popped out and came over to sign for me and a growing list of fans. Soon afterwards, lead singer Jack Blades did the same, gladly adding his signature to my albums and 8 x 10s. I had to wait until after the show to get the final original member of the band, Kelly Keagy. That wait wasn't long as a thunderstorm cut their set to about 45 minutes. The band emerged as the rain subsided and Kelly signed my items. For the "icing on the cake," the guys gathered together and posed for this group shot.

It was a judge and a rocker last night in Springfield.

United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was in town to speak at the Centennial Celebration of the Illinois Supreme Court Building at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.
Scalia arrived about 20 minutes before the scheduled 7 p.m. start. He signed one 8 x 10, commenting about how much hair he had in the photo. Scalia was a bit hesitant about posing for a photo, but finally agreed after a bit of prodding.

A couple of blocks away, legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice was conducting a clinic at Rolen Brothers Music. Appice got his start with Vanilla Fudge and later was the long-time drummer for Rod Stewart. During his tenure with Stewart, Appice wrote two of Stewart's biggest hits, "Young Turks," and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" The hour and a half clinic featured numerous demonstrations by Appice and question and answer session. As he wrapped up the event, he headed to his merchandise table to meet fans and sign autographs.

A major motion picture has been filming close to home here in central Illinois the past three weeks. Matt Damon stars as FBI informant Marc Whitacre in director Steven Soderburgh's movie entitled, The Informant.

The majority of the filming has been in Decatur, Illinois, and in several nearby smaller communities. Last Friday, I paid a visit to the set in Moweaqua, one of those small communities. They were shooting scenes in the former home of Matt Damon's character. While we were treated to three different Matt sightings, he opted not to stop for our group of about thirty fans.

As evening arrived and the crew began to wrap, I overhead a conversation that the director was wanting to shoot an outdoor scene back in Decatur. We weren't sure of the location, so we opted to return to the movie's base hotel, The Decatur Conference Center and Inn. Much to my delight, I discovered they planned to shoot in the parking lot. As the group of on-lookers grew to about sixty, Damon and his co-stars, Scott Bakula and Joel McHale shot several scenes near the hotel's marquee. It was interesting to see the director call for take after take after take after take...all just a bit different.

While Matt promised to sign for fans following the late night shoot, he made a quick exit via a transport vehicle to his dressing room trailer at the back of the facility. However, Bakula and McHale casually strolled through the parking lot, through the hotel, and out the back door to their trailers. I caught up with Bakula inside and he gladly stopped to sign an 8 x 10 and pose. I then found McHale outside engaging a large group of fans. He spent at least 10 minutes signing autograph, posing for photographs, and trading one-liners with fans. In the meantime, Damon entered and exited two different trailers before hopping a ride to a side door at the hotel. Security kept fans back at a distance so they wouldn't bother Matt.

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon at the Illini Country Club in Springfield. Matt and his co-stars were set to shoot indoor scenes at the private club. I found a spot in the parking lot to assess my chances. No sooner than I had settled in, but Matt drove by eating a bag of Doritos on the way to the front door of the club. I opted to remain in the background and wait for him to finish shooting.

About an hour later, I was rewarded with this shot as he exited. I called to him and asked if he'd sign. "Sure, come on over," was his reply. He signed a photograph of the two of us taken in 2007 on the set of the Bourne Ultimatum in New York City. I don't think he remembered, but he smiled nonetheless as he added his signature to the 8 x 10. He also signed my Good Will Hunting DVD cover (previously signed by Robin Williams), and a group shot from Ocean's 12. He driver asked if he wanted a ride back to his trailer. His response, "No, it's a nice day. I'll walk." With that, he strolled across the parking lot back to his dressing room trailer in the Club's lower parking lot.

I waited another couple of hours for a chance to meet Soderburgh, but he remained inside the Club working on the shots for later that evening.