35 Before 25: Go See at Least Two Concerts
I would like to dedicate this post to Guitar Hero II for the inspiration.
In my previous life, I loved going to shows. I then had one of my old man epiphanies. I think I was seeing the Blood Brothers at Chain Reaction in OC when I realized that I was one of the tallest people in the room. Then I noticed that I was one of the few who could grow facial hair. It’s hard for me to say exactly what brand of rock moves me, but it feels like passion for it is closely aligned to angst, technical songwriting and testosterone. I no longer have the teenage angst or the hormone overflow. I have a vague recollection of what it feels like to write songs. So what’s left? Bumping into sweaty strangers for a few hours?
The music is still there. I don’t feel like I latch on to the music with the same devotion, but I know I still enjoy the live music experience. I don’t care about fitting in at this point. I just want to know if I can rock. I don't have the hair to attempt some terrible indie rock haircut, as per the rock identity crises of this generation. So, what's the goal?
Go to two shows. If I'm into it, if I throw elbows, and forget myself for an hour or two, it could be the start of a rock concert revival for me. If I spend the entire time complaining about how loud it is, look for a quiet place to sit down, and ask the bartender if they serve lowfat milk, then maybe it's time for me to hang up my axe and tune the radio dial to the adult contemporary stylings of one Josh Groban. Or maybe Hall & Oates.
In my previous life, I loved going to shows. I then had one of my old man epiphanies. I think I was seeing the Blood Brothers at Chain Reaction in OC when I realized that I was one of the tallest people in the room. Then I noticed that I was one of the few who could grow facial hair. It’s hard for me to say exactly what brand of rock moves me, but it feels like passion for it is closely aligned to angst, technical songwriting and testosterone. I no longer have the teenage angst or the hormone overflow. I have a vague recollection of what it feels like to write songs. So what’s left? Bumping into sweaty strangers for a few hours?
The music is still there. I don’t feel like I latch on to the music with the same devotion, but I know I still enjoy the live music experience. I don’t care about fitting in at this point. I just want to know if I can rock. I don't have the hair to attempt some terrible indie rock haircut, as per the rock identity crises of this generation. So, what's the goal?
Go to two shows. If I'm into it, if I throw elbows, and forget myself for an hour or two, it could be the start of a rock concert revival for me. If I spend the entire time complaining about how loud it is, look for a quiet place to sit down, and ask the bartender if they serve lowfat milk, then maybe it's time for me to hang up my axe and tune the radio dial to the adult contemporary stylings of one Josh Groban. Or maybe Hall & Oates.
Labels: 35 before 25
This entry was posted by VJ, on
Friday, February 02, 2007.
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I remember this Blood Brothers show and I too tell the tale of that experience being a moment of reckoning, as it were.
I also tell the tale about how I commented a little bit too loudly that their pausing between songs killed their momentum and how I was subsequently yelled at by several of the brothers.
Please keep me updated on future phenomenological recollections and reflections on recent concerts.
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