It's Been Awhile

There is something amazing about the human spirit.  We have the ability to form bonds.  Bonds that extend beyond time, beyond distance, beyond differences.  We can form friendships where we don't connect for days, weeks, months, or even years - but yet.  But yet we still connect.  You can see a long lost friend after years and pick up like nothing has changed.  That is extraordinary.  Absolutely amazing.

And beyond picking up where we left off... With a really good friend, you can pick up right where you are now.  You have the memories, you have the bonds, but you aren't stuck in the past.

How do we do that?

How do we move on yet it is like nothing has changed?

Not sure I will ever get an answer to that.  And I'm not sure that I need one.  I will simply enjoy this part of the human brain and heart.  And enjoy the friends and family that I don't see often enough, but love, nonetheless.

So these were the thoughts rolling through my head when I was at a concert this past Thursday.  The show was awesome - more on that is still to come.  But while you wait - enjoy this song by the amazing Pat McGee.

(So this is the right artist, the right song, and the same venue where I saw it performed - only from two years ago)

Haven't Seen for a While - by Pat McGee
As I lay here in bed
Your smile fills my head
I'm using this pen to talk to you from here
From southern way

It's been weeks since I've seen you last
Time away from you ain't moving too fast
Wishing my summer away
Just to see you again

I'm there by your side, I'm looking in your eyes
Seeing you with me, what else could there be?
If I could get away, I'd be there today
You'd be wearing that smile, haven't seen for a while
I haven't seen for a while

Wake up everyday, go through the same routine
Go to work, come home, does it all really mean?
Check the mail, just hoping to find
Another note from you would ease my mind

It's 5:15, I can picture you driving home
From your same old scene
In 5 you'll hear the phone ringin'
Have to settle for talking again

I'm there by your side, I'm looking in your eyes
Seeing you with me, what else could there be?
If I could get away, I'd be there today
You'd be wearing that smile, haven't seen for a while
I haven't seen for a while

I can picture you now
You're standing outside your house
The breeze is blowin' off the northern shore
Loving you more

Long for the day when there's no goodbyes
Wish I could see you, I'll wipe the tears from your eyes
Tell you everything is alright
Lay you down, say to you goodnight

I'm there by your side, looking in your eyes
Seeing you with me, what else could there be?
If I couldn't get away, I'd be there today
You'd be wearing that smile, haven't seen for a while
I haven't seen for a while, I haven't seen for a while

Haven't seen for a while

See You Again!

Okay, back to last Saturday.

As I said, Keaton Simons was up first.  After the intermission, Pat McGee and band hit the stage.  Awesome band.

But first...a story.

The year - 2007.  The place - Burlington, Vermont.  My dad and I drove out to visit my sister for the weekend (yeah, and it was the weekend before my last set of finals in grad school).  My sister got the two of us tickets to a concert.  On the docket was Tyler Hilton, Pat McGee, and Stephen Kellogg.  I had never seen, nor heard, of any of these artists.  We had a great night.

Flash forward to 2013.  I saw Tyler Hilton for the second time in May, and now I have seen Pat McGee perform.  Next up, that needs to be Stephen Kellogg, he just hasn't made it close enough for me to make that happen.

Okay, back to a week ago.

Pat McGee and band were amazing.  Time went by insanely fast.  Near the end of Pat's first set, Keaton came back up and joined them on stage.  There was an intermission in the middle of Pat's time on stage.  They finally left the stage after more than 2 hours of music - then the encore happened.  For the encore, the five musicians grabbed instruments and headed to the middle of the room.  It was time for some acoustic music.  Gotta love the drummer sitting on the edge of the loveseat, playing a stool - and the bass player grabbing a mandolin.  Much of this had not been played as a group before - and it showed their true talent.  The encore took us almost another 45 minutes.  Perfect.  Simply perfect.

Check the videos and pics from the rest of the night.

And a special shoutout to Patrick McAloon - a guitarist in The Pat McGee Band - who also happens to be an amazing solo artist.  He took part in the encore with a song of his own.  You can hear some of his solo stuff in my last blog.

So we had a great night, with amazing music in a great venue.  One of the perks of such a small venue was that the artists hung around after, signed things, took pictures, and just chatted.

Final note for the night.  While Pat McGee was performing, they kept talking about this event, alternately called OBX and Down the Hatch.  A few days on the beach with a lot of great musicians.  Sounded pretty intriguing.  Well I am thrilled to report that my husband and I will be heading down for it this coming year.  Combine it with visiting family and there isn't much better.  I'm pretty sure it is the ideal music festival, between the beach, the music, and a killer crowd.  Hope lots of others will be there too!!!

So for tonight, for my song of the day, the week, until May - I give you "See You Again" as performed by Pat McGee, Keaton Simons, and Patrick McAloon at a previous Down the Hatch.