First Concert
One of my co-workers said something today that completely blew my mind. Another co-worked asked him what the first concert he had ever been to was and he replied that he’s never been to a concert. Not one. A 30-something man who has never seen a live band.
How is that possible?
And he grew up here - where there’s music everywhere!
A college aged friend of the family took me to see Cyndi Lauper and the Bangles when I was 13 - and honestly I’ve been hooked ever since. Now I understand that I may be a little more interested in live music than a lot of other people. And I understand that there are many people - including ones that I used to go to shows with back in my teens and twenties that haven’t seen a show since then - that they are all into their kids or jobs or whatever else and don’t get out to shows anymore. My own personal tastes in the type of shows that I see has changed a lot over the years. As a teenager I went to all the big arena shows - now I prefer smaller venues like the Roseland, Crystal Ballroom, Berbati’s or Doug Fir. I still don’t like assigned seating - but I do admit I like to sit down between sets now. And there are definitely some shows that I go to where I feel really old. But then again there are others that I am no where near old for the crowd. I get all that. I get that as a married father of three he doesn’t go to shows anymore. But Never?
Not in high school - or college - or before the kids were born?
Very very sad.
My niece just turned 13 a few weeks ago and her parents are definitely of the type who haven’t been to see a concert since before the kids were born - and I don’t think there were very many concerts before that. My husband and I like to think of ourselves as the ‘cool aunt and uncle’ providing just a bit of diversity in our niece and nephews’ lives. So I’m thinking of taking her to a concert. Of course I want it to be something that she’ll like - but I have to be able to stand it as well. I know she watches American Idol - so I was thinking of either the Idol tour or Kelly Clarkson who is coming to town at the Rose Garden this summer. My older friend taking me to that concert was a great experience - and seeing how important it is to have someone take you to that first show (or you may never have one!) really rang true to me that I’d love to share this passion with my niece.
So this is a two-part question to you Metblog readers:
Who was your first concert? (Even if embarassing!)
And any other suggestions out there for good 13-year-old girl summer tours?
Related posts:
I grew up in Vacaville, CA so my first concerts were at the community center. There were usually a few local bands like Papa Roach. I mostly went to check out cute guys.
Mine was Debbie Gibson at age 9! Whee! I had a huuuuuge crush on her.
I’m 29, but still go to probably 3 live shows a week… but I have no idea what would be good for a 13 year old. Too bad you missed Lily Allen.. that would’ve been perfect. There were lots of small kids with parents at that show, and it was still a great show for adults. I rarely go to Crystal or Roseland (too big for me… maybe once a year there will be a show I just have to see at one of those two venues), so I don’t have many all-ages shows on my calendar :/
Two Parts:
1) Al Stewart. Definitely no shame there. That fellow is one of the most underrated performers of the modern musical era.
2) I’ve can count the number of major concerts I have seen in my life on the fingers of two fingers. It’s not for lack of trying, but rather that I’ve inherited my family’s unnerving ability to find nothing (so far, anyway) to do with my life but crap jobs doing shift work at times when I deserve to be going out and getting inspired by life. Almost every decent concert is a luxury I simply cannot afford and would have to delplete my vacation bank in order to go see anyway. I bet there are a whole scad of us out there.
Please understand, I’m not trying to ring you up; far from it. I’m actually incredibly envious of you-and of course I don’t have any idea exactly why your friend hasn’t seen any. But if I had the chance to see more concerts, would I? You better believe it.
I’m still hoping that Weird Al will add a Portland/Vancouver date to his upcoming tour: http://www.weirdal.com/touring.htm
I’ve also been to just two concerts. I saw Daryl Hall & John Oates at the Coliseum, on two different tours.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s 1985 tour of the West Coast for sparking love of live music…
Or maybe The Cure’s 1986 (or was it ‘85?) Head on the Door show I caught at the Arlene Schnitzer with a bunch of my girlfriends while someone’s parents waited for us outside that really opened my mind to live gigs. It sure sounds a lot cooler to credit The Cure for my love of The Live Music Experience.
It makes me cringe to think of young kids rocking out to Blake’s beat-boxing on the American Idol Tour, but hey, it might be fun for your 13 yr old niece to experience the amped-up energy of the audience.
First concert was the Pixies at the old Fox Theater on Broadway in 1991. They were on stage for less than 45 minutes before Black Francis threw a half-empty beer bottle into the pit and the show was over. It was awesome.
As for taking your 13-year-old niece to american idol: Wow. In all sincerity I wish you good luck with that one.
Def Leppard Pyromania tour at the Coliseum. Opening band was Uriah Heap. I wore my Sunday slacks and a button down shirt thinking the attire was more ‘formal’ - boy did I look like a geek.
“I get that as a married father of three he doesn’t go to shows anymore.”
Whaaaaat?
We’ve been married for twelve years; we have six- and eight-year-old sons; and we still, even in our dinky little corner of the world (we’re moving to Portland in June) manage to catch a local band at least once a month and make pilgrimages to big shows three times a year or so. Being a married breeder is no excuse for having a boring life.
Took our older son to see the White Stripes at Red Rocks in fall 2006 when he was six; it was his first big show and he loved it. The crowd was cool with him, too–we had people around us chatting with him, complimenting him on his taste in music and even offering a blanket to put over him when he fell asleep on his seat at about 11. It was a great environment for him, tokers two groups down and all.
Oh, and my first real show was Metallica when I was 13… now that was a *show.*
We did this topic over on the pdxradio.com board, and it was really fun. My first concert was waaaay back in 1966 as a 12 year old, at the Memorial Coliseum. (okay, yes, I’m old). The Grass Roots, The Turtles, and headlining, Deep Purple! I’ve been going ever since. Even in our 50’s we hit Doug Fir or Crystal semi-regularly. We also support live local music as much as we can. The cost can be prohibitive for sure for the big shows. $250 for a concert is ridiculous no matter who it is. Unless it’s all 4 Beatles.
As far as the 13 year old, I would definintely go with Kelly Clarkson over the American Idol show. Kelly is huge with that group. Have fun!
First Concert: Eddie Money/Cindy Lauper, West Palm Beach Auditorium.
Suggestion: There are some “good” shows at The Edgefield that might be cool for a 13 yr-olds first show. That venue is really great place to see a show (laid back, beautiful, etc.) Personally, for my tastes though, (31 yr. old male) I think the shows this summer completely suck!
What fun - I love hearing what shows people have seen!
I do agree shows can be cost prohibitive sometimes - when I was mostly going to the big arena shows and festivals were back in the days of $20 tickets not $50-$100 tickets. And now since most of what I see is at smaller venues it’s usually a $8-$25 tickets - but that can add up for sure!
Just out of curiosity I did a quick scan though my iTunes list and of the approx 175 bands on my iPod right now - I’ve seen 55 of them live. So I think I may be addicted :-)
And Redmolly - I’m glad you still get out to the shows! I have some friends married with kids who do as well - but I know for others that becomes the death knell.
Superinkygirl - sooooo jealous of you seeing The Cure in the 80s - I saw them in 1990 (with the Pixies and Love & Rockets) but by then they were playing huge venues so I was far far away….the Schnitz would have been cool!
First concert was Sonny & Cher (I was 5) and have been hooked ever since.
I agree that one of the concerts at Edgefield or the Grand Lodge might be more fun for you too. The venue plays as important a role as the band, I think.
There’s an Ima Robot show coming up at the Crystal that my eight-year-old wants to see… just a suggestion…
The very first live rock concert I went to was Ratt, in 1985, who were touring in support of their “Invasion of Your Privacy” release. Opening was a heretofore unknown band by the name of Bon Jovi. It was after witnessing this horror that I began an exodus from my newly-pubic, testosterone-stunted heavy metal fascination. Next stop: Thompson Twins.
Cheap Trick, 1979.
I volunteered at our local amphitheater when I was 13-14, so I got to see lots of shows like Heart, Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys (back when they were all alive and still together), Rick Springfield, etc.
My first paying concert sans parents was Bruce Springsteen in 1984 at the Oakland Coliseum. He played for four hours straight until 1AM and it was amazing!
My first concert was George Michael at the Tacoma Dome in 1988 or so. I was in high school and thought I was so cool to go to a concert with a friend and no adults. If only I had better taste in music then!
I have a 15 year old niece and I try to be the cool auntie, too. I take her to shows like The Clumsy Lovers (http://www.clumsylovers.com) - a Celtic pop band that is age appropriate but still a lot of fun for me - or big festivals where we can always find something we both like. The Vera Project in Seattle is great for all ages shows… I wonder if Portland has anything similar? I try to teach her that big venues and commercial bands are only the tip of the iceberg. Have fun this summer!
Amy - We actually have a band friend (from BloodHag) who works at the Vera Project - it is an awesome concept. I don’t know of anything similar here - but if anyone does - let me know!
Just trolled over from the SF Metblogs Site and this looked like a more fun thread than any others I’ve seen in awhile. I think I saw the Ink Spots at Darian Lake outside Buffalo NY as like a 10 year old in the late 1970’s, and even seeing that old vocal group had lit a spark, so despite being unable to get into Van Halenm or Cheap Trick, by the time I think I got $14 together to see Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister in the early 80’s at the Capital center in Landover Maryland. I would have to count my first indie rock shows as being the most influential including being “born again” seeing bands like Minor Threat & Government Issue at punk venues in DC.