This wasn’t just any opera; this was the Florentine Opera Company presentation of Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni.’ But that meant little to me, I confess.

I did not know Chuck Berry was a black man until he stepped on that Des Moines stage.

Jamey Johnson is confident and solid, offering straight-ahead country music that’s performed with conviction.

La Original Banda el Limon, Banda Maguey and others performed at the gorgeous Eagles Club Ballroom – a space built for the likes of Glenn Miller.

Wicked Realm should be proud that they can make these songs come alive. Prouder still should be Milwaukee for being able to call them our own.

The night was a success. The concert had been enthusiastically received. But was it Yes?

The show was an hour and a half late. Audience members were understandably nervous. Then, in strode Billy Joe Shaver — all 77 years of him.

At the start of this concert with Albert Lee, Peter Asher said the goal was “to make this coffee house a bit like your living room.” They succeeded.

The two words that repeatedly came to my mind during Lyle Lovett’s concert were “generosity” and “faith.”

Paul Kantner played the University of Iowa on November 11, 1969 with Jefferson Airplane, but I was in the ninth grade – so no way were my parents letting me go.