I had the pleasure of seeing Todd Dammit Kerns in concert recently with his band Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. They played many songs from their new album 4, and every single song on the album sizzles.

At one point during the show, Todd Kerns introduced Slash by saying, “And here’s the reason why everyone came here tonight”…and then pointed his bass guitar at Slash. Interestingly enough, when I heard that introduction the first thought that popped into my head was, “No, it’s not. I mean I admire the F out of Slash like a lot of music fans, but I actually came here to see, and hear, the chemistry among Todd, Myles, AND Slash.” And there was more chemistry than a periodic table that night.

As I watched the fellas do their thing, I thought about chemistry (the emotional connection, not Bunsen burners) between people and why it’s important. Chemistry can be explained as a set of behaviors owned and expressed by one person that deeply resonates with another person. I read an interesting article about chemistry that explained the occurrence as “a kind of closed karmic loop” in which each party has a deep dopamine response to the other. In other words, chemistry occurs when you and another get each other and experience an emotional intensity towards one another.

But as we know, chemistry is only part of the equation for any successful partnership. The other important factor is compatibility. And anyone who has been a music fan as long as I have understands that not all bands have both chemistry and compatibility. In fact, I was crushed when, as a young adult, I started to learn that not all members of a band travel together to gigs, or get their families together on Sundays to barbeque, or even exchange birthday greetings. Bummer.

It is not every day that we come by individuals with whom we share both chemistry and compatibility. In fact, finding that balance is pretty rare…like spotting leprechauns at the company picnic. If you have people in your life that tick both of those boxes then cherish them. Tell them what they mean to you, and how much you value them and your connection.

So, do Slash, Todd, Myles, and The Conspirators share compatibility? I don’t have any idea, but I hope for their sake that they do. But I do know that their chemistry on stage is off the charts, and certainly worth experiencing in person.