In the words Bob Dylan wrote 42 years ago, “the times they are a-changin,” and that?s what lead singer Martin O?Malley, now known as governor, was belting out at his own inaugural celebration Wednesday night at the Baltimore Convention Center. O?Malley was not just the star of the show ? he was the show, briefly reprising his role as lead of his own band, O?Malley March.
A crowd that an O?Malley spokesman estimated to be more than 9,000 ? 1,000 more than they had planned for at $50 a head, and many in black-tie and long gowns ? made quick work of the free cuisine supplied by more than 70 Maryland restaurants. By 8:30 p.m., most of the food had been scarfed up, and some of the open bars had run dry of wine. At 9 p.m., O?Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown took the stage with their families, and the governor thanked the crowd “for coming out tonight and making a new day for the state of Maryland. We won?t let you down.” Asked to rejoin his old band, O?Malley said, “I wouldn?t want to hurt my gravitas,” but took only moments to pick up a green guitar. He did keep on his tuxedo coat, eventually shedding his right cuff link to make the strumming easier. He led the hundreds that crowded the stage in rhythmic hand-swaying, as three steely eyed state troopers in plainclothes scanned the audience.
