One Night Only

I'm not a big concert goer. I know some of you out there are, and you send wonderful photos across LJ showing which group you are seeing tonight. Some of you out there are bleeding edge, going to shows of bands i've barely heard of. Me, I'm less likely to put money out to see anyone that i haven't heard a few songs out of, unless it's at a festival. the recent trips to Austin City Limits Fest have been good for the new music discovery. I'm kind of sorry we won't get to go this year.

My parents weren't big concert goers either. I can't recall us ever going to see a musical act as a family, or the parents hiring a babysitter to go see someone. My parents also seemed to have a very boring musical sense. They didn't have a lot of rock and roll albums, even from their high school years in the 50's. I'm guessing their parents discouraged that. My dad has remarked on liking Bobby Valle and the Supremes, but I know that the only Beatles album they owned was a cover album of Beatles songs by pianists Ferante and Ticher. Very square indeed.

My first concert 0 barring if you count a 4th of july celebration with the singing talents of Dale Evans, we the police in 1984. It was also the first time I was allowed to drive the family station wagon the 40 miles into Houston, to the Summit, which some 15 years later would be next to where i worked for AIM, and is now a mega-curch.

I wonder if they had to purify the Summit before turning it into a church. I know Ozzy Osbore, Marilyn Manson and kiss have played there.

The Police concert was amazing. I was on first tier, and I had waited in line for ticketmaster tickets from a record store in Conroe. It's a little like waiting for an iPhone. It's odd that people don't have to wait in line for tickets anymore. While you don't have to wait in line anymore, ticketing has gotten worse, not better with the use of phones and internet with so many scalpers. I think I'd rather be in line where someone actually has to hire someone to get the tickets.

If there was an opening act for the Police, I don't remember it, but I do remember that Sting had spiky blonde hair and that red yellow and blue rag jacket that he wears in one of the Synchronicity videos.

I've had the ability to see most of my favorite bands over the years. I've seen U2 and the B-52's more than once. I've seen Better than Ezra and Barenaked Ladies several times, and for both bands, I've never seen them in the same venue. I've seen the Monkees on one of their reunion tours for my 20th birthday.

I was annoyed that Chrissy hind of the Pretenders wouldn't shut the hell up about PETA. I've been amused that Ryan Adams encouraged everyone to get stoned. I've been passed a joint at a Jimmy Buffet concert. I think the only concert than Buffets that had more ganja floating around was when Ziggy Marley opened up for the B-52. the haze dropped when Ziggy left the stage.

I've been turned away from a small club show by then up and coming Ben Fold Five. I've had lawn seats for Duran Duran where my sister and I were given tickets for seats by an unknown attendee. I've danced along to Scissor Sisters and sat quietly to a Billy Joel/Elton John show. I've been to shows in The Astrodome and Rice Stadium, the Cotton Bowl and seeing the Dixie Chicks in the American Airlines Arena.

I absolutely hate the concert "sheds". Those outdoor venues that have awful lawn seating, and in texas are hot as hell. The acoustics, while better than the Astrodome, still leave a lot to be desired. There's one at Six Flags, and the Starplex (now known as the Smirnoff) here in Dallas, then there was Southern Star at astroworld and the Woodlands Pavilion. the nice thing about the Pavilion was that it's damned close to my parent's house, which for most Houstonians means its a very, very long drive.

The biggest act that I never seem to catch is Madonna. There's always something that prevents me from seeing here on the few tours she does. I'd still like to go someday. I've seen Sting solo, and found it lacking. I like his music, but it's a boring show. The closest i've ever been to an artist was a small show at the Gypsy Tea Room here in Dallas, seeing Liz Phair. My sister got to go backstage and meet Duran Duran, but not I - still, she's the bigger fan. The furthest away was seeing a very tiny Van Morrison half a park away at ACL.

Besides the three-day tickets for ACL, the most I've paid to see a concert is about $80. I really am not enamored enough to pay $250 to be on the floor. I remember 20 years ago seeing Paul McCartney and the ticket was $40, an un-heard of sum in those days. I can tell you it wasn't really worth it, but it's the closest thing i've seen to seeing the Beatles. Now with ticket scalping so rampant, it's easy to pay $100 just for the cheap spots.

I've seen Ben Kweller have a nosebleed so bad that not only did the keys of the piano turn red, but he couldn't finish his short set. I've seen the Bangles and Huey Lewis and the News as they were the acts opening up sections of a Houston tollway. I've seen Michael Stipe of REM forget the words to "It's the End of the World (as we know it)" despite having them on a music stand near him.

All in all, not a bad track record for the last 20-plus years. I've seen Willie, but not Waylon. I've seen Lyle Lovett, but not Steely Dan. I still haven't seen Cyndi lauper, or seen Gloria Estefan (just because we played all of her songs in marching band). One day maybe Alanis Morrisette will return. There's a ton of bands i'd like to see, but likely won't just due to time, money or the fact they've broken up, but still, I think I have a much better record of getting out and seeing music than my folks. I guess I just need to keep going and seeing new stuff to keep it from all becoming stagnant.

Music is good, and I love it in my life, even if it's going to a Drum Corps show (when is that coming up again?). I should get out more. I should try something at our new House of Blues, since that seems to be getting all of our concerts now. Good times.