Things don't really dawn on me anymore. They sneak up from behind and brain me. I believe all epiphanies hurt -- you're letting go, after all. Boston's Miss Tess and The Bon Ton Parade caterwauled all Tin Pan Alley over by the jukebox as I slurped coffee, exchanged pleasantries with well-wishers, and admired the pretty girls at Abilene Wednesday night. And you know what I discovered? I don't always like watching bands. Don't get me wrong, Miss Tess was quite pretty and callipygous, and the band looked like it had emerged from a sepia-toned photograph. But the music was just too good to stand there and stare. Music like this is the soundtrack for all that goes on in the joint. The Bon Ton Parade swung sweetly as Miss Tess strummed and crooned with a brisling innuendo, disguised just slightly by her pretty voice. Oh, and the gal dusted off some Fats Waller, too.

As if that wasn't enough, I popped over to the Dinosaur for the second time this week to hear Gina Sicilia wail with her mighty big voice. What a set of pipes on this one -- and she's just 23. Her blues were more of the classic 50's "Rocket 88"-type boogie. I liked the way she moved. However, the star of the evening was Sicilia's beaux and his Les Paul, Jr., Dave Gross. This cat was roaring from stage right with righteous runs and fancy fills, weaving in and out of Sicilia's voice. Some of the best new blues I've seen in a long, long time.