WARNING: Flammable

I debated on whether or not to attach a visual to this entry, because in a way, it would be almost blasphemous. How do you pay homage to the hottest, most attractive person you've ever seen? Well, let me give some context here, but if you feel the need to skip ahead to the videos below, I completely understand.

My cousin, Hal, has influenced my musical repertoire extensively, most specifically with the introduction to Jon McLaughlin, a piano-playing prodigy from Indiana. So when Julie asked if I'd care to attend his Monday night concert at the Bowery Ballroom, I could hardly conceal my excitement. He had come to Shreveport a few years ago, but I wasn't old enough for the casino venue.

So, Monday, slipping in late from a movie screening, I joined two other interns on the balcony. In the midst of a crowd of 21-and-over hipsters, I felt like the third grader in a room full of older brother's football buddies - that is, if I'd had an older brother. Thankfully the opening band, George Stanford, released my nervous muscles. Maybe it was the twangy sound of his guitar that transported me back home or the smell of the club, slightly reminiscent of the cigarette smoke hanging around my family's farm - whatever it was, I loosened my grip on the banister and bobbed one shoulder in time with the beat. It's a good thing, too, because if I had bypassed this mellow precursor, I would have crashed like a plank after one look at the night's feature presentation.

"He looks like a Greek god," Bri candidly observed as Jon took the stage. I mean, I knew he was cute, but I wasn't prepared for...

1. a shirt with just the right number of undone buttons
2. a vest loosely tailored over broad shoulders
3. tapered jeans that fell in the perfect number of folds over white sneakers

Sigh. It was just too much. And he didn't just tickle the ivories; he massaged them. I felt pity for his band members - I think there were four - but they never broke my gaze from Jon. Intermittently throughout the night, Sarabeth, Bri and I would turn to each other and giggle, all the while formulating ways we could get backstage - in the name of Seventeen, of course! He was definitely "17 Buzz" worthy. But unfortunately we hadn't planned on the need for a press pass, so no backstaging for us.

But before you write me off as completely boy-crazy and devoid of all professionalism, take a look. The first is his official musical video; the second is from a concert I did not attend, but it provided similar musical stylings. Enjoy, but just remember, he's married!!