So now I’ve met both of these cats who go by Steve Wynn. They may be the same bloke but I’m not positive. I met Wynn One at his private art gallery featuring his personal Impressionists collection at his then hotel Bellagio on the famed Las Vegas strip. Etouffe and I were under the influence and I told a security guard to tell Steve we were in town. He said, “Tell him yourself. He’s right there.” So I did. “Nick and Jim from Pittsburgh,” I said extending my paw. Oddly, he reacted like he knew us. “Hey, guys. How’s it going?” I made a grab for his wallet and a Renoir and ran like the Juice. Long story short, socks full of coins do hurt.

I met Wynn Two at a free concert where he was promoting the latest Baseball Project CD. If you are not familiar, then I’ll educate. The Baseball Project is a musical collaboration that writes and performs songs about baseball players. The band is comprised of Steve Wynn, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey and Linda Pittmon on drums. Other Indie dignitaries appear on the new record, including a song written and performed by the Hold Steady’s Craig Finn. No, it isn’t about a junkie Catholic who played for the Twins.

Wynn has been writing great music since the early 80s when he fronted the Dream Syndicate. They were part of an early Indie movement in L.A. known as the Paisley Underground, which also featured bands The Three O’Clock and Rain Parade. The music was ethereal and more reminiscent of “Rubber Soul” than punk rock. If you’re not familiar it’s probably because the sound was co-opted by Prince (“Raspberry Beret” anyone) and the Bangles. Too bad, because each of those bands was awesome. We saw the Three O’Clock open for R.E.M. during their “Fables of the Reconstruction” tour. We also saw Rain Parade at the defunct Graffiti circa 1986, and I remember it as one of my favorite shows of all time.

Steve still knows how to shred, and has been performing with Steve Wynn and Miracle Three for a decade or so. Check out his entire catalog and buy some damn records, you damn baseball fanatics!

One final thought: Prince also ruined neo-soul. Oh, and Morris Day.

Second final thought: I was on vacation with her Mims and her family in 1985 and actually walked to a record store to buy 2 copies of “Fables” even though our beach house didn’t have a turntable. Had to have it the day it came out. Sadly, I did the same thing in 1991 in Myrtle Beach with Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls.” Couldn’t someone have stopped me? Where was the sock full of pennies then?