Did I tell you I got an email from a New Yorker magazine music writer?

No? Well, how horrid of me not to share that this spring I WAS HAVING AN EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH A NEW YORKER MAGAZINE MUSIC WRITER!!!!!!!!!

I rarely use multiple exclamation points. This is huge. Keep in mind I am a third generation New Yorker reader. My late grandmother from Natchez, Mississippi claimed to be a subscriber during the second year of the magazine's existence. The New Yorker is the only magazine that matters between me, my dad and my grandfather.

It all started earlier in March when I sent the following email, not expecting anything in return -

Hello Ms. Frere-Jones,

I thoroughly enjoyed your piece this week about Amy Winehouse. I haven't really listened to her music but your observations did make me wonder what has made her so popular, other than the self-destruction folks seem to enjoy watching.

I also really enjoyed what you wrote about Prince's Las Vegas concert last fall. It got me wondering if perhaps you could also travel to England to review the reunion concert for Yazoo, Vince Clark and Alison Moyet's band in the early 1980's. They are playing a series of shows, including June 19th at Hammersmith Apollo in London.

I am a big Vince Clark fan (I even own the Assembly LP which he made with Fergal Sharkey) and have seen him in Erasure several times but (obviously) never saw Yaz in concert since I was in middle school when they broke up.

Since I can't go, I figure reading your description of it could help make up for not being there.

Not sure if "readers' requests" help you with your editors but just wanted to make the suggestion. Thanks for writing for the New Yorker. I look forward to reading your pieces.

Take care,
[SMID]

Several days later, while visiting The Ambassador in New Orleans, I received this....

Dear [SMID]:

Thank you so much. (I'm actually Mr. Frere-Jones, but don't worry: happens every day.) [Blogger note - I died when I read that part of the email.]

I wish I could see that reunion--I actually care, for once. But they've sent me to London recently, and Yaz doesn't quite spark the same in-house fire as Zeppelin. Pity: it will probably be better.

Best
S

And then? What do I get a week later from Mr. Frere-Jones aka S?

Hell! How psyched am I to discover they're playing New York July 16 and 17? Wooh! It won't rate a column but I will write it up one way or the other.

best
S

Which led to a series of emails between me AND A NEW YORKER WRITER [pant pant] about how he found out about the concert at Brooklyn Vegan even though it wasn't on the Yaz web site and the quality of the acoustics at Terminal 5 where Yaz is playing on July 16 and 17.

I will be at Terminal 5 on July 17th, with a dear friend (who has become even more dear after spending yesterday watching the boys play their last soccer game of the season in 95+ degree weather), because my beloved husband bought us tickets within seconds of getting my email that Yaz was playing in New York City. Good thing he was so quick (and continues to deserve the blog title of Amazing Guy) since the show is now sold out.

Not that I am excited or anything. Not like the concert is in 39 days.

Any tunes to share? Concerts you always wished you saw? Hope to see? Do share...