Inexplicably, Jake Armerding has managed to schedule his only show all year that's anywhere near driving distance from my home* for the night before Easter -- FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!

This can't possibly be deliberate. We are, after all, talking about different months, different states, different coasts, even. Still, I can't help taking it just a little bit personally. There are few things that would outrank the opportunity to attend one of Jake's concerts on my list of priorities -- but the Great Vigil of Easter will always be one of them.

Approximate transcript of my stream of consciousness on reading Jake's last newsletter: "He's going to be in Santa Barbara! Awesome! Wait a minute ... March 22 ... am I going to be out of the country then? No, but, it's ... HOLY SATURDAY, Batman! AGAIN?!"

The good news is that the St. Babs show is a repeat engagement, which gives hope that he'll come around again next year. And I can hope that the liturgical calendar will move out of phase with Jake's touring schedule for once.

*Okay, to be precise, the SLO show tonight is also within driving distance from Oxnard. But frankly I fancy neither the mileage nor the sticker price, and Good Friday is hardly more suitable to concert-going than Holy Saturday.