Ricahrd Marx & Matt Scannell Epiphany

Sometimes things just come together for me. I'm very lucky that way. Last night was one of those nights.

While surfing the net earlier in the week, B.A.M. noticed that Richard Marx was performing at the YMCA Boulton Center in Bay Shore on Friday March 6th.

"You LIKED Richard Marx, didn't you?" he asked me with his finger on the BUY button.

"Yeah. Loved him in the big 80s." trying to belie my "Yeah, he was adorable." thought in my head.

CLICK. They were purchased. With my only child out that night for a concert as well, it was date night for the Karls. Second show concert at 9:30 pm, dinner before.

We originally were going to go to the BBQ place on Main Street, but with a 45 minute wait, it was cutting it too close. We opted for the very elegant Chinese restaurant on the corner ccalled Peninsula (fs). Don't even ask what the (fs) stands for. We have no idea. But the blend of Chinese and Japanese food is outstanding and the service is impeccable. Okay, the drinks are a little Manhattan pricey, but they are so pretty, I didn't mind paying $9 a piece. Besides, they offered up Plum Wine, Almond Cookies and fresh fruit along with the check. I haven't seen that type of service since I was ten years-old and living in Jericho.

We walked the less than half block to the Boulton Center and I grabbed a $5 glass of red wine from the lobby concession. This little theater in the middle of Bay Shore is such a find. There isn't a bad seat in the house. It's cozy, intimate and reasonably priced. Perfect for this bad economy.

We didn't know what to expect of the "Duo" (which is also the name of their collaborative CD). What we were treated to was beyond exceptional. Richard Marx and Matt Scannell are like two sides of a talent Oreo. They just fit perfectly together with two brilliant careers between them. Their harmony could only rival that of Simon and Garfunkle or the Indigo Girls. The music was nothing overly complicated, but it was perfectly executed. Both these "Song Writers" as they like to put on their country entrance papers, just ooze talent from every pore.

Marx no longer sports his trademark big 80s mullet, but his perfectly coiffed "$8 worth of hair products" do is a stark contrast to Scannell's shaved bald, bad-ass look. There are years between them in age, perhaps decades. But they are the perfect team. Close friends and collaborators.

Considering the darkness of some of Scannell's lyrics, we're assuming it's Marx's light hearted humor that keeps Scannell from jumping off a ledge. His inner emotional pain was apparent on "Give You Back" as the audience sat silent, occasionally dabbing the moisture from their eyes.

But Marx never let the show get out of hand. He brings the audience in and hugs them. He encourages them to sing and begs them to take pictures. He tells stories that makes them laugh, he lets them into his life with songs like "Your World" written for his first son. He tells the story of his wife's insistence that "Hazard" would be a hit while he wasn't thrilled with it. Of course, women are usually right.

All I can say is... Find these guys on You Tube and be amazed. See them if they come to your town. Buy the CD "DUO" if you can locate it. Prepare to laugh and be amazed. Twelve hours later, I still am.

*Note: If you can't catch these two together, both are touring separately. Richard Marx continuing his solo efforts and Matt with his band Veriticle Horizon.