Matt Andersen, Symphony NB and Peggy Smith Astound These Tired Autism Parents.

Last night Alex and I were invited to attend the Matt Andersen and Symphony NB concert at the Imperial Theatre.  A brilliant lawyer and GoTeamKate blog reader contacted us and asked if we would like to be guests at this concert.  Her firm was sponsoring the event and we would be enjoying the concert and a cocktail party with Matt Andersen following the show.  We, of course, said yes.  We booked Grandma to babysit and headed out for a night we both really needed. 

This post has little to do with autism except to say that after a busy week of visits to the developmental pediatrician,  occupational therapist and speech pathologist we were tired and needed a night out. 

We had seen Matt Andersen before and we had, of course, seen the symphony a number of times but the combination of the talent made for an astounding show.  Multiple times, during the evening the crowd would erupt into applause over a feat of guitar genius demonstrated by Andersen.  Having no guitar knowledge to speak of, I often thought this indicated the end of the song.  What I found was that there would be so much celebration prior to, during and at the end of each song I would be hard pressed to follow the program. 

The energy was intense and often time the 'riffing' (is that what you call it?) seemed likely to blow the beautifully ornate roof off of the Imperial Theatre.  Andersen would attack his guitar, breaking strings and causing the audience to vibrate with approval. 

I turned to my husband as I watched Andersen blow the audience away and I whispered:

"I feel like I could do that."

Of course, I kid.  Every moment of this concert was a treat for two tired (autism) parents and we were especially thrilled to meet Andersen following the show.

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During the concert, the unbelievably talented artist Peggy Smith sat on stage and painted Matt Andersen and Symphony NB.  She no doubt captured the energy of the evening and I was thrilled to watch her work.  Whose genius idea was this, I wonder?  So much talent on the stage and Alex and I privileged enough to take it all in.  I have adored Peggy Smith ever since I spent several years working at the NB Museum.  I would often visit the NB art gallery and stare at her work, imagining where I might hang it in my home.  Lofty goal, I know.  Some of Smith's artwork sat in a silent auction last evening and the reserve bids were a just a tad out of our range, but owning one of her paintings has always been on my 'list'.

The picture is dark, I know. Alex and I loved watching her work and move with the music.