Music is life!
What’s the first concert you went to on your own? You bought tix with your own money and went with friends or by yourself. Was it your first real concert? For me the experience was a little different. Being raised in the church and participating in many dramatic and choir based musical performances. I got to see a lot of the behind the scenes and back stage atmosphere long before my first real concert.
If music is my religion, going to live shows is how I touch god. I have discovered new bands, developed love for bands I hated and gained new respect for those that I love. I’m not a big Sheryl Crow fan but seeing her live in concert was one of my top 10 concert memories.
For me I think it was Tool on the Ænima tour in Sacramento, CA. I had been to many other concerts prior but Tool was the first I can remember I handled everything from tracking when tickets went on sale, driving to Tower Records to buy tix (back then the only way you bought tix online was if you waited IN-LINE at the event, etc.) and then drive to the show all on my own. (for the most part, Sean and I went together)
I remember feeling so grown up. I didn’t have to ask for permission to go, I made the choice. It was an amazing show. Maynard had just accepted a bet that he wouldn’t get and keep breast implants for a year. He came out in a full suit and wig dressed as a televangelist. A few songs in and Maynard is now stripped down to tiny jogging shorts and a tiny sports bra, THAT WAS IT!! If you never saw Tool live you missed it bro!!
As we all know 2020 left the live music scene a barren wasteland. Leaving a lot of music fans like me really jonesing for live concerts. As COVID seems like its starting to be a little manageable here in Washington I’m super excited for concerts to start being announced. DRAGGED UNDER is going on tour with BearTooth and Wage War. I just bought tix for Gojira and The Deftones in Sept. SO EXCITED. Taking both my sons this time. Should be fun we’ll see.
Looking back to this time last year and being so encouraged by the way, at least the Seattle folks I knew, bands and independent musicians were banding together to help professional bands continue to make a living. I saw so many flood Facebook, Insta and Twitch to play “live” bedroom shows.
Not sitting back and hoping, we got to work and made it happen. A lot of what I feel is my calling has really developed over this COVID year. I embrace the new school and I want to help others share their music, become successful and push forward to new levels.
Where’s the Bass player you ask? Well during a particularly fun show, around the third or forth song, Ian our bass player broke a string. However, only I as the drummer caught on. Before you know it, Ian is gone.
Looking back at a sea of empty faces, trying to fill time and look for him at the same time proved difficult. Then, as if birthed from the heavens, Ian appeared with a new string (turns out he went out to the parking lot, to his van and got a new string) He then proceeded to change and tune the new string while we tried to tell a funny story about that time our bass player broke a string. I’m telling you, hamsters could have done a better job. Anyway, Ian changed the string and we finished our set but it did lend itself to tons of making fun of Ian for years. Love you bro
Next time:
How do I get backstage passes?