Two days ago, from my kitchen window, I saw the moon, which prompted me to think about the song Moondance by Van Morrison.  I took a few pictures of the moon and wrote about it.  Note that I have not thought about Van Morrison or Moondance in a very long time but for some reason, that was the song that popped into my head two days ago when I looked at the moon.  Some stories are “long story, short” to get to the point.  This one is “long story, long.”  But not too long.

Last night, MacGyver and I were invited to see Professor Louie and the Crowmatix play at a venue that seats about 75 people.  Mac goes to many of these small concerts.  I go to a few.  The late nights are all fun and games until you have to get up at 5:30 the next morning.  But this show was on a Saturday night and I don’t get out of the woods very often, so I went.  And I’m so glad I did.

It was a very intimate gathering in a coffee house.  We were in the front row and I could have kicked Professor Louie’s shin if my leg were about 6 inches longer and if I could lift it that high.  It’s been a long time since I’ve stretched for ballet class. And I didn’t really want to kick him anyway.  But we were that close.

If you are not familiar with Professor Louie and the Crowmatix, which I was not until last night, they are a Grammy-nominated, rhythm and blues, rock and roll band.  Individually, the band members have worked with Bob Dylan, The Band, Joe Jackson, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Merchant, and so on.  Saying that they know how to sing and play music really well is a gross understatement.  There are no words.  It was an incredible show.

Sitting that close to the keyboard and being a very, amateur pianist, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Professor Louie’s hands, watching how unbelievably fast his fingers were moving.  I couldn’t make my hands/fingers move that fast on the keyboard.  Period.  Forget trying to hit the correct keys.

Professor Louie played keyboard and also played the accordion for one song.  I don’t remember seeing an accordion up close before, but this one had the most beautiful mother-of-pearl keys, smooth, glossy and so many colors in the pearlescent luster.  You see, I really don’t get out of the woods often. Who else rambles on about the beauty of accordion keys?

When the band came into the room, Mac said, “That’s not Josh Colow” which meant nothing to me because I was not familiar with the band, let alone the individual members.  He was referring to the guitar player.  The regular guitar player, Josh, had been replaced.

Professor Louie proceeded to announce that Josh, the guitar player, was ill, and for this performance, John Platania, would be filling in.  “Who is John Platania?” you ask.  I asked, too.  John Platania played guitar for Van Morrison.  He was the guitar player in the song Moondance!  His guitar playing was spectacular as well.

So, the other day I thought about Moondance and yesterday, I heard THE Moondance guitarist.  Moondance serendipity!

FTW

P.S.  Note to self – check camera batteries prior to leaving the house if I want to take pictures wherever I go.  I took four pictures and the batteries died.  If they had not died, I would have taken pictures of the other members of the band and written about them.  They were all wonderful!

Note to you – go somewhere and enjoy some live music.  You’ll be glad you did!