Ryan Smilanich a couple new friends on Saturday. He also made thousands of Pearl Jam fans jealous in the process.

Smilanich, a 13-year-old from Sussex, attended the Pearl Jam / Tom Petty show at the Marcus Ampitheater with his father, John, a Petty zealot who procured front-row seats on the left side of the stage.

The younger Smilanich was wearing an orange University of Texas baseball cap, which seemed to please the members of Pearl Jam, who flashed him the "Hook 'em Horns" sign repeatedly throughout their energetic opening set. Guitar player Mike McCready made it a point to hand Ryan Smilanich a guitar pick and at one point in the show lead singer Eddie Vedder walked over and gave Smilanich a harmonica he had used during a solo.

"Ryan is so low-key," said the elder Smilanich, who has taken his son to several Petty concerts in the past few years. "He just stood there and took the harmonica and people around us were going crazy. When we walked out of the show at the end of the night, he was playing the harmonica. Some people said he could sell it on eBay, but I don't think he should. It's something he'll remember forever."

During the set by Petty and the Heartbreakers, Smilanich's Texas hat drew smiles from guitarist Mike Campbell and Petty himself. At the end of the show, a member of the band's crew handed Smilanich a guitar pick used by Petty, smiled and said "Hook 'em Horns."

1 comment about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Sept. 19, 2006 at 5:45 p.m. (report)

Ryan Smilanich said: Thanks. I'm showing all my friends at school. This is awesome.

Recent blogs/briefs by Drew Olson

A hideous crime spree in the suburbs Friday The stretch Bluemound Road between Mayfair Road and 111th Street features some of the ...

10 things that won't p!$$ me off this holiday season Thursday Looking for a sure-fire way to beat back holiday stress? Take stock of the little things ...

A gift a day: Ear buds from iFrogz Monday Ear bud headphones are becoming a necessary staple of daily existence. But, that puts ...

Time flies during "Microwave Month" Nov. 29, 2009 When you are an adult, the number of obligations and commitments that crop up this time ...