Do any of us really understand why, of equally talented bands or painters or poets or actors, some "make it" and others don't?

Of course we understand!

It's because Life is a grotesque folly — a vicious cosmological trick and a cruel punch line at which the Devil laughs and laughs!

These are the only possible explanations that explain why the Sue Menhart Band isn't on yet another massive international tour behind popular and large-selling albums.

In the meantime, the region continues to celebrate the group's greatness in all forms — including unplugged "two-off" shows in which Menhart and the band's estimably fine guitarist, Don Bergeron, share the stage with stripped-down arrangements of originals and cherry-picked cover tunes. See the duo Friday for "Acoustic Madness" at Montville's Turnpike Café.

Sue Menhart and Don Bergeron, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Turnpike Café, 1048 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Montville; free; (860) 848-8449.