Does it make a person old if said person does not give a lick in time about attending a music concert, ever, for the rest of their lives, The End?
Does it make a person crotchety if said person can’t even think of a single artist that she would like to see in concert, even if she had free tickets? (okay…maybe front row)
If so, call me old and crotchety. I take that back—don’t call me crotchety. Crotchety sounds sweaty and gross. Call me old and surly. Or cantankerous. Or cranky.
Any way you put it, Lulu has turned into a Concert Nazi. I can think of many other things that I would rather be doing than sitting a bazillion rows back in the rafters of an arena, all squinty-eyed and deaf, trying to enjoy the singing of a performer whom I paid upward of $100 to see, who is now the size of a migrant ant, and who sounds better on the radio anyway. Eh-uh. Not my idea of fun.
However, once upon a time when I was carefree and young-ish, those were not my feelings. In fact, I have attended quite a few concerts in my time that I have thoroughly enjoyed. And one in particular that I couldn’t tell you whether I enjoyed or not, but you might ask the lady that sat next to me who ended up with a Fat Tuesday’s Falcon Fever drink regurgitated all over her nice, if not slutty, concert-going outfit. Forgive me, lady…I was all but 23.
Anyhow, as I was digging through my box of carefree and young-ish treasures the other night, I stumbled upon a couple of concert tickets that I have saved for reasons of which I’m not sure, other than the fact that they represent a couple of firsts—the first concert that I ever attended (at the tender age of 11), and the first concert that I attended sans parents (at the not so tender age of 16).
Now, for the embarrassing part. Do you want to know the first concert that I attended? Squint your eyes and look, y’all:
Don’t squint too hard, or you’ll end up looking like the guy below on the left. The guy on the right is unable to squint for the love of God and all things holy.
Good ‘ol Kenny Rogers. Not NKOTB, or the Jonas Bros, or the Spice Girls, or Hannah Montana, or any other random boy band or teen queen—they simply weren’t around in 1982. Shaun Cassidy and Leif Garrett were has-beens at that point. So, why not settle for an elderly man? Every preteen girl’s fantasy.
After Kenny, there were many dry years of concert going. Many. I would not attend another concert until I was a junior in high school. A concert for which I awoke at 5am and drove myself down to the local Turtles Records and Tapesto find a spot in line behind a kagillion people in order to buy a $17 ticket for this concert:
Good ‘ol Genesis. The Invisible Touch tour. Not Bon Jovi, or Def Leppard, or Poison—the bands that were cooler than Genesis at the time. But oddly enough, I had a slight crush on the balding Phil Collins, and I could just barely see him when I stood in a chair on the floor of the Atlanta Omni, 46 rows back.
Soon after the Genesis concert, several of my friends and I worked briefly as volunteer ushers at the Omni. Basically, all you had to do was show up an hour prior to any concert wearing a white shirt and black pants, carry a flashlight, ask for Barbara at the gate, and if you got there before all the volunteer slots were filled, you were in!
As a volunteer, you got stuck in the rafters showing drunk people to their seats and getting high from pot smoke, but halfway through the concert, you were off duty and could sit in any open seat. Or you could stand and scream. But it didn’t matter, because I got to see
-Heart
-White Snake
-Jackyl
-Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
-Boston
-AeroSmith
-Wilson Phillips
-The Nelson Brothers (ha!)
-Richard Marx
-Sa-sa-samantha Fox (opening act for Marx, otherwise, I don’t think so)
And in addition to the handful of concerts that I ushered back in the day, I’ve actually plunked down money over the years to see
-Tom Petty
-Van Halen (3 times—with Hagar, thankfully)
-38 Special
-REO Speedwagon
-Bryan Adams
-The Rolling Stones
-Bon Jovi
-The Ramones
-ZZ Top
-Rick Springfield
-Kenny Chesney (2 times)
-Tim McGraw
I am totally a child of the 80s. And just a teensy bit country.
So, what was your first concert? And which concerts have you been to?
Scooch your rocking chair over a smidge, so I can join you in the Cranky Old Broads Section of the Old Folks’ Home.
I use to go to concerts all the time. But at some point in my mid-twenties, I stopped thinking concert shirts were an acceptable fashion statement AND no longer loved the post-concert staticky sound ear ringing. Yup. I’m old.
Lulu, we are so close to being brothers from ‘nother mothers that it’s just not even funny any more. I went to see the Final Tour of Kiss in 2000 for my 30th birthday. Skid Row and Ted Nugent opened for them. We sat far, far away. A beer was spilled on my friend. The music was loud, undecipherable, and just not a whole lot of fun. Instead of watching the stage (and listening to Nugent’s insane ramblings…seriously, does he ever listen to the filth and idiocy that spews from his mouth?!?!?!?!), I found myself involved in my favoritest hobby in the world - people watching. I spied with my little eye some of the sluttiest, stupidiest outfits on people that should know better. I think I almost saw some sex, too, but it was a bit dark and I wasn’t sure. Dude could have been having a seizure for all I know. I decided to hang up my concert-going black leather pants (KIDDING! I wore jeans…regular blue jeans) and call it a day.
My very first concert that I went to by myself was Loverboy (with the Hooters opening) at the tender age of 15. I just knew that Mike Reno (lead, Loverboy) would spy me in the crowd and call me to the stage and whisk me away for forever. Alas, it was not meant to be!
Have seen:
REO Speedwagon
Bellamy Brothers (1st concert ever - age 12 w/parents)
En Vogue (don’t judge, don’t hate)
Ratt
Motley Crue (EXCELLENT show)
Faster Pussycat
Bon Jovi
Eddie Money (front row, got to sing with him a couple of lines of a song, grabbed hands numerous times)
Garth Brooks (before he became all that)
Trisha Yearwood (before she became Garth’s “all that”)
Doug Supernaw (one-hit country wonder, show was free so that’s ok)
Poison (three times)
Warrant
Skid Row (twice)
Don Dokken (ick…opened for Poison)
Now I have made a promise to my oldest son that if he ever makes the honor roll (don’t see it happening though) that I will take him to see his favorite band in concert. Depending on what time of the day you ask him, his favorite is AFI or My Chemical Romance. I do like both bands, so it wouldn’t be a huge punishment for me.
Thanks for bringing back some great memories!!!
angie’s last blog post..Drama, Drama, Call Yo’ Mama
I don’t remember my first concert - Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant maybe? Petra? and then I followed it up with Def Leppard and Garth Brooks.
Seriously though - that is NOT Kenny Rogers. I don’t buy it - unless he had a nose job, cheekbone job, his brow altered and his lower teeth changed - that HAS to be a look alike! ?!?!?!
Leanne’s last blog post..Making a Spectacle of Myself
Love your blog and thank you for visiting us and the kind comment. You are a stich- I look forward to following!
My first concert was (OK laughing!) Paul Young- throw in a Richard Marx, Reo Speedwagon, Men at Work, Wam/George Michael- and that was my almost teen/teen years!
Boy- I haven’t seen a concert in awhile. Unless you count Ralph’s World or the Wiggles! And I don’t.
Hugs,
Kerry
Newbie here … this is such a fun blog. I loved reading about your concert adventures.
I think we are similar in age, but unlike you I did not see concerts until I was 23. My first concert was Harry Connick Jr. I saw him 2x. I did see Kenny Rogers back in the late 90’s when he did a Christmas show at the Beacon Theatre in NYCity. I EVEN got to go up on stage with the old guy and sing The Twelve Days of Christmas with my sister and HIM!
Other concerts that I have seen …
Billy Joel/Elton John in Busch Stadium
Norah Jones
Michael Buble
Bruce Springsteen
By far the most entertaining was Michael Buble. It was me with my husband and a few thousand dreamy eyed women … LOL!
I could sit through a smaller theatre type concert. The feel is much more relaxed than a big time stadium. I’m not into that anymore.
Elaine’s last blog post..EXACTLY!
Oh one more big CONCERT - this was actually my first ….
Paul Simon in Central PARK, NY. I think I may have involuntarily inhaled for that concert
Elaine’s last blog post..EXACTLY!
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Hmmm…my first concert was 311 with No Doubt as their opener. That’s right, Gwen Stefani. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few of the concerts I’ve attended throughout the years but here’s a shot:
Metallica
Stuck Mojo
Rage Against The Machine
George Thurogood
Widespread Panic
Dave Mathews(3)
Goo Goo Dolls
Matchbox 20
Barenake Ladies
Hoobastank
Sister Hazel (more times than I can count)
Tom Petty
Up In Smoke Tour
Kiss
Aerosmith
Tonic
Glen Philips
Cowboy Mouth
Gaelic Storm
Fransisco Vidal
Michael Tolcher
I can’t seem to think of anymore off the top of my head.
Oh God, I’ve been to quite a few, but a girl never forgets her first, does she?
Michael Jackson.
Yeah. Go ahead and throw the eggs.
How much do I love this post? I wish I could remember all the concerts I’ve been to…but I blame a lot of contact high! Tee hee! My first concert was Aerosmith - the Get a Grip tour! My sis took me and dressed in our finest baby doll dresses and thigh highs…oh the horror of it all! Jackyl opened for them too…what a memory! Other concerts:
Cranberries
Toad the Wet Sprocket (twice)
Jump Little Children
Shock Lobo
Blues Traveler
Lenny Kravitz
Natalie Merchant
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Semisonic
Less then Jake
3 Doors Down
Joe Walsh
Travis
Counting Crows
Tom Petty (twice)
Steve Winwood
Coldplay
Indigo Girls
Shawn Mullins
Train
Glen Phillips
Sister Hazel (3x)
Good times good times!
Call me crusty, baby!
My first concert was the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. And 2nd and 3rd. In fact, I never saw ANY non-symphony concert until in my 30s living in Atlanta.
Yep.
I saw some Lesbian Rock group sing at Chastain Park. I totally don’t even remember their names. I went with a bunch of people from the job. Mr.W was horrified and afraid. Very, very afraid.
Then I saw Carrie Underwood do a free concert at Arbor Place Mall. She had just won American Idol at the time and my friend’s little girl was (and still is) a HUGE fan, so we took her. Froze our cans off, too. It was outside, in October. Brr!
I also went to Country Fair 2005 (Rascal Flatts headlined), which was hilarious. The hunky 30-somethings that sat next to me spent the concert sans shirt and dancing and drinking. It was all good fun… that is until those same 30-somethings were too drunk to notice the young woman they were fondling was 15 and drunk herself. Then we told an usher and got outta dodge. Call me a party-pooper, but I didn’t really think I wanted to see a teenager abused.
I’m back to Syracuse Symphony concerts. That’s rowdy enough for me!
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