There's Magic Everywhere

Last might in Vico, so it's a good thing there's live music.

Back up the hill to Tito's we go for (as the poster with the very '60s folk-looking drawing enticed), "Mistural Live! Duo Acoustico Marcello Gione & Maurizio Pisa 9:30."

Prime table near the stone wall and tonight's wine was yet another version of the local grape, this time an Aglianica del Vulhere Torre Quarto.

Although billed as "acoustico," one of the guys often played an electric guitar rather than an acoustic, unlike his partner with the lovely voice (and ability to reach Stings' upper range when  necessary).

We got there early enough to beat the crowd and eat a light supper, Sorrento's fab lunch having satisfied on so many levels that not a lot was required.

By the time the duo finished their meal and several glasses of red wine, the place was a whole lot more crowded and our stellar view of an hour ago was now lost to an 8-top of pretty (Italian) people.

So many scarves! So much Italian leather!

There was a table up front with a great view, but it turned out to be reserved for a party coming from Naples.

No problem; we got another 2-top with a straight shot view of the two musicians.

The set was all over the place - Chris Isaac's "Wicked Game" with some great electric guitar, Keane's "Everything's Changing," Alan Parsons Project "Eye in the Sky" and all executed well.

Stings' "Englishman in New York" benefited from the unexpected sounds that accompanied it - an ambulance roaring up the street with its distinctive European wail or a wine glass breaking on a  tile floor.

It was spontaneous percussion at its best.

While most of the people in the room talked and laughed over the music (definitely not a listening room environment), chances are they couldn't help noticing the variety of it all, from "Light My Fire" to "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" with Duran Duran in between.

It seemed to be fun for the band, too, or maybe that was just all the red wine.

After a while, the two began showing off, seamlessly dropping bits of one song into another and back again.

After almost two weeks with my live music needs being met by gypsies on the subway and accordionists in the streets, I was seriously into some guitars and voices.

That said, that absolutely perfect intersection of music, memory and coincidence presented itself before the duo played, when MTV was on the big screen and a relatively obscure 1987 song came on.

It happens to be the lead-off song to my favorite mixtape of all time, a gift of 20 years ago that I still listen to on occasion.

Hearing it in a random pub in Vico Equense after never having heard it anywhere but on that tape seemed to make time stand still for a few moments.

The video was beautiful, shot in black and white and lyrically visual in the way suggested by the song's title, "Wonderful Life."

Look at me standing
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine

No need to run and hide,
It's a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to hide and cry
It's a wonderful, wonderful life

Indeed it is.