Blue Moon, You Saw Me

Once in a blue moon, you have to let someone take a picture of you who's never taken one before,

And I'm not talking about Olan Mills.

But also, you have to eat and hear music and if the two can be done concurrently, all the better.

So first up was C'est le Vin because they were offering both.

Arana y Compas, a male/female duo who played a pastiche of flamenco and middle eastern, was starting just as we walked in.

We took a table very near them in order to enjoy their music and avoid as much of the dinner crowd chatter as possible.

"We're Arana y Compas from Charlottesville and we're happy to be here in the air conditioning," the male singer said.

Weren't we all?

Since we seem to be back to the heat of summer, we drank accordingly, meaning white sangria with grapes and Palacio da Vivero Rueda Verdejo/Viula, a Spanish blend.

The duo of Miles and Megan was a talented one with him playing flamenco-style guitar and her alternating between various drums and an acoustic guitar.

The place was so busy it took a while for anyone to take our order, but fortunately we're the kind of people who have nothing but time.

Our parade of food began with baby spinach sauteed with roasted red pepper and garbanzo beans, a dish that somehow made us feel virtuous (spinach!) and indulgent at the same time.

The owner walked by and whispered that she wished she could sit down and enjoy the music being played along with us.

Clearly, she was as impressed as we were.

A Valencia salad came next and it boasted all kinds of good things: lettuces, chunk tuna, tomatoes, corn, asparagus and shaved carrots.

The corn's sweetness made the dish.

Although we'd ordered the small size, it was a generous portion and we were just finishing it as the duo finished their first set.

They came over to say hello and before long asked to join us for their break.

Turns out they've only been playing together for sic months, although it would have been impossible to know that from their sound.

Although he's been playing (and teaching) for years, music was a new past time to Megan, who turned out to have Mexican and Spanish blood in her.

They told us about some regular music worth checking out in C-ville - a larger flamenco group and  a gypsy jazz ensemble - before returning to their "job."

During the second set, they played some Rodrigo y Gabriela, pleasing me no end since I'd seen that duo a few years ago and fallen in love with their acoustic metal sound.

Meanwhile, we scarfed up a plate of roasted tomatoes stuffed with crab and artichokes.

That was followed by cookies and cream, Chef Carly's take on the classic.

An array of her house-made cookies (chocolate with sesame seeds, butter cookie with jam center, vanilla/chocolate pinwheels) came with a dollop of real whipped cream.

It was satisfying that the crowd was eventually won over (or perhaps the talkers had gone) and it became clear that everyone left was paying attention to the band.

As well they should have.

We stayed until the said goodnight, especially happy to hear that the owner wants to bring them back on a monthly basis.

My companion headed off to work while I made my way to Balliceaux to meet a friend for more music.

On the way, I had to dodge the kids heading to the No BS back to school show at the Camel; most of them seemed new to crossing streets.

Playing tonight was Big East, a group made of musicians from several local groups.

My friend and I got drinks and took seats in the back, anticipating more of a crowd when the music kicked in.

He regaled me with tales of literature-spouting alcoholics and his own more colorful period until the music started and we mounted the back of the banquette for a better view.

Tonight's band is the baby of singer Eddie Prendergast of Amazing Ghost.

Brilliantly, he's assembled a top-notch crew to work with him: guitarist Scott Burton of Glows in the Dark, Bob Miller of Bio Ritmo was playing keyboards instead of his usual trumpet, Nate Griffin anchoring everything with his amazing bass playing and Stewart Holt on drums.

Not sure what to expect out of Big East's genre-bending sound, the two of us heard a little of everything: late sixties pop, '70s post-punk with a pop veneer, eighties synth-driven gems and even some hints of hip-hop.

Prendergast's vocals were not as high in the mix as I would have liked, causing my friend to observe, "You're going to have a tough time quoting any of these lyrics."

Amen, brother.

The best I could do: "That's why you're my lover."

Eventually the crowd gave in to the sound and dancing began in earnest.

Balloons scattered about were sent sailing over the audience and were batted around.

It was interesting hearing Scott Burton play something so different than his usual jazz and while my friend guessed that he was way too talented for this kind of music, his strong guitar leads were a highlight of the band's sound.

And, as a product of the '80s, I couldn't help but love Bob's over-the-top synth playing.

My friend is a bass player, and he raved about Nate's singing and effortless playing of intricate parts which kept everyone's booties in motion.

It's not every day you get to hear two new bands in one evening.

It's not every day you get to dunk cookies in cream while being serenaded by flamenco music.

My guess is stuff like that happens only once in a blue moon.

And there are pictures to prove it.