After hearing two outstanding concerts this weekend, I’m struck by how long it takes me get around to finding good music sometimes. Sunday night I made my first trip to Framingham to hear John Gorka play (Dan Coutier opening – nice job Dan), which gave me the chance to get better aqcuainted with someone I knew from his great cover of Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country” on the Nod to Bob album. On Sunday night we heard the Mystic Chorale peform a concert of South African music in the historic Tremont Temple in downtown Boston, which got me back in touch with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, whom I knew from Paul Simon’s Graceland.

And how is it that I’ve lived without Miriam Makebe’s “Pata Pata” to get me going on a Monday morning. It now has a permanent place in my “Happy, Funky, Soul” playlist.

It’s nice to know there are some new things under the sun–at least new to me–if I take time to come out from under my rock once in a while.