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It’s been a tough few years for legendary musicians. In recent years, we’ve lost David Bowie, Prince, Chuck Berry, Lemy, Glenn Frey to name a few. Some went way too young, while others just got old and did what old people do. Although the circumstances don’t really matter, it always sucks to see an artist you never got to see live in concert go down.
With all of these musicians kicking the bucket, it put me into overdrive. Musicians have always lived the “it’s better to burn out than to fade away” lifestyle, so the shelf life for these people isn’t always the best. Some people want to travel and see World Heritage Sites, others want to take a shit in every state. Me? I am making it a mission to see as many of the musical greats as possible. There is no methodology other than checking Ticketmaster and following bands to see which concerts I can swing.
I used to work with an interesting fellow. Jack was a session drummer, a DJ and a roadie that enjoyed the 70s and 80s too much which is why he was working at a golf course in his later years. When he wasn’t showing up drunk to work, Jack would regale me with stories of attending concerts that I’d trade my left nut to see. Led Zeppelin, The Grateful Dead, The Who, you name a classic band and Jack likely has seen and/or met them. He’d tell me stories of how he’d be so fucked up he couldn’t tell his head from his ass while doing every drug under the sun.
I feel like you can learn one thing from every person you meet in some form or another. Jack always told me, “Go see as much live music as you can, because the stories are great and you never know what will happen.” I never really thought about it until recently, but the man had some wisdom for an old burnout.
Imagine going to see Led Zeppelin right when Led Zeppelin IV hit. The months of anticipation for a new album, the tour that followed. The anticipation of walking down to the record. Today, while I love the internet, we are flooded with garbage. Anyone with a MacBook Pro can make “music.” The arts are being defunded like they stole something. Whatever happened to rock n’ roll? As someone that has played bass on and off for 15+ years, it is hard to appreciate these bullshit robot AOL dial-up noises that everyone seems to like. Pushing buttons and making beats is not music.
This past weekend, I went and saw Brian Wilson (the Beach Boy not the pitcher) for his 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds in Newark. Along with not dying in Newark, I got to see a living legend. The guy created one of the greatest albums of all time in Pet Sounds and he played it in its entirety. The album changed the way people thought about how music can be made and blazed trails for artists today. There’d be no Sgt. Peppers without him.
I took my mom and my woman to go see him. At the show, my mom ran into a friend and they chatted a bit. The friend asked what we young people were doing there (I bought the tickets) and remarked, “You’re lucky your son has good music taste. My kids listen to all that electronic stuff.” Mr. Wilson put on a wonderful concert. Baby Boomers were dancing like they were on the Ed Sullivan show and it was great sharing the moment with my mom.
Popular music of today just doesn’t do it for me. I couldn’t name you one Bieber song and when he came on the radio the other day, I genuinely thought it was a woman singing. That’s not to say great music isn’t being made right now, but it isn’t laid out on a silver platter like it used to be. You have to sift through hours of formulaic shit that has been boiled down to the lowest common denominator.
After writing for this site, I wanted to see what all the hullabaloo was about and tried to listen to the Chainsmokers. I’m not sure how you people do it but I wanted to take an awl to my ear drum. The worst part is, I can’t even say I’d see them if they were free because I have seen them for free; they played a show at my college a few years ago I attended and forgot about, but I do remember wishing for an asteroid impact.
So, I beseech you all: go see Roger Waters, go see Tom Petty, go see fucking Hall & Oates because they won’t be around forever (and they are touring this year). I had a blast drinking beers and making memories with my family, so if you’re looking for a Mother’s or Father’s Day present, there’s your idea. Get them concert tickets and go with them to see something from their youth. You’ll always regret the things you don’t do way more than anything else. .
Image via Shutterstock
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Madoff
I specialize in damage control, being the drunkest at any and all functions and social assassination. Always appreciate a strong gif game. Follow me on Twitter. Sometimes I put up cool stuff about golfing at the local dirt tracks.
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I’m going to piggyback on this, go to these shows even if you can’t find someone else to go with you. Last year I stopped inviting people to go to see my favorite bands just so I wouldn’t be alone. I want to see my favorite bands with someone who also loves them as much as I do. I’m not going to miss out on an incredible show because I have to go solo, it’s still better than being with someone who is just going to get drunk.
I love going to concerts by myself. You don’t have to worry about losing anyone in the crowd, you can just enjoy the music, and it’s cheaper than trying to arrange tickets for a group of 4 and then no one pays you back!
I went to an entire music festival by myself and it was awesome, I bounced around to groups of friends but mostly did my own thing. Sharing joints with strangers is a great way to make friends
On a related note, that festival was Coachella last year and the only reason I went was to see Guns N’ Roses. They fucking slayed, best show I’ve ever seen
Guns N’ Roses sucked ass even in their prime.
I’ll burn your house down
This hit me in the feels actually. Last year my dad asked me to go see Merle Haggard with him and I blew it off to day drink at some patio (like I’d never have an opportunity to do that again). Of course Merle died and I missed an opportunity to see a legend and make a memory with my dad
Yeah. That was a really terrible decision on your part.
Had tickets to see Merle and Willie last year. Merle passed away 2 weeks before the concert.
Although it was obviously not the same without Merle, I thought Jamey Johnson did a fantastic job covering his songs when he took Merle’s spot on the bill. He had Leeann Womack come and sing Silver Wings and I was nearly in tears it was so beautiful.
Got to see The Rolling Stone, Aerosmith, Bruce Hornsby, Doobie Brothers and alot of other great acts before they got too old. They just don’t make music the way they used to.
I saw Jimmy Buffett twice, Elton John and Billy Joel together, and Rush in the last couple years. Its a hodgepodge of ages and groups of people at all three. But only Buffett had people racing vibrators down a pine box derby track.
Parrot heads are wild
Geez, yesterday it was our parents getting old. Today it’s our favorite musicians getting old. On the same topic, every time I see someone I consider a “classic” actor looking old in a movie is scary. Tom Hanks for one.
Tomorrow’s going to be the icing on the cake article about how we’re getting old and haven’t done shit with our life. Scaries a plenty this week.
https://pgparchive.wpengine.com/you-are-where-you-are-so-stop-dwelling-on-the-past/
Got you
Tom Petty at Blossom was the best concert I have ever been to.
Even though Springsteen’s shows have morphed in to nothing more than left-wing political rallies, I still never miss The Boss when he rolls out my way.
I’ve been to about 11 Springsteen shows and each one is more incredible than the last. Not sure how you hated it…
Saw Petty in Atlanta last week. Don’t think I’ve ever been to a concert where I knew almost every word to every song. It’s hit after hit with that guy.
Saw Tommy last night in Austin, worth it.
Saw The Boss last time he was in my city. Not gonna lie, it was the worst concert I’ve ever been to and it might have turned me off of live music forever. Just real, real terrible all around.
Got my hands on some Tom Petty/Joe Walsh tickets at Red Rocks before they started going for $400. Stoked is an understatement. Also snagged Steve Miller Band w/ Peter Frampton opening so this should be a good summer.
I tried so hard to get those tickets. Was going to fly out to Denver too. Almost cried at work. Enjoy that show because it will be legendary. I saw Tom Petty in ’07 in Cincinnati and it was great.
Getting to see six great bands this summer in one concert. Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Journey, Steely Dan, and Earth Wind & Fire. So pumped!
That’s a great line up. Leave Jackie home.
Wouldn’t even make it through one set if I brought her.
Catching Metallica in a couple weeks when they roll into Gillette. m/
Saw them at AT&T Park last year…best concert I’ve seen in my life. If you’ve never seen them before, get ready for an incredible show.
Proud to say I’ve been able to see Eric Clapton, Neil Young multiple times, and James Taylor multiple times. All are about 70 years old and probably won’t be touring for much longer.