Had my socks blown off last night. It’s been a long time since I attended a concert that great.
21 thoughts on “December 28, 2019: Mercy!”
I think the only concert I went to in 2019 was Rock the Garden, but I did have an excellent time.
That said, perhaps my resolution for next year should be to attend more than one concert . . .
Including this one, I’ve been to about 6 concerts in past 3 years. However, 5 of those were because my boy was in town roadieing or doing sound for band (mostly Ike Reilly). Since he’s dead now, that average is likely to go down.
I'm so sorry. That sucks.
I saw 60 bands in about 45-50 shows this year. #singleguy
I saw two days of JazzFest (including Gladys Knight, Cowboy Mouth, Dumpstaphunk, Gary Clark, Jr., Ani DiFranco, and Kamasi Washington), Gary Clark, Jr. again at Surly, Elton John, and Janet Jackson. I usually don't see quite such historical acts, but three or four shows a year seems typical since the kids started being born.
That's astonishing.
It definitely helps being single, empty nester with disposable income. I even had tix for a handful of shows I didn’t make it to or sold on Craigslist at last minute.
One of my coworkers,* has the Gold(?) First Avenue membership (the second-highest tier), and has decided to take advantage of all the free shows it includes. Since he started doing that in November, he's gone to seven or eight shows for free. I know he was typically posting to attend a show or two a month anyway, so he's going to be up there in numbers for next year.
*He's a few years younger than you, free, but I would be astonished if you don't have mutual friends. I wouldn't even be surprised if you weren't in the same book club or something
I am strongly considering possibly trying to go to a concert sometime. Based almost exclusively on WGOM feedback, I get the impression people have fun at them. I'm not good at this.
HJ, who did you go see?
I used to occasionally go to concerts. Sometimes I even just said "I'm going to a concert tonight, who is in town?" Now I have 4 children. I haven't been to a concert for a long time. Someday I will go again.
Back in the old days, it was always fun to just swing by the Entry when we found ourselves with a free night. I saw some absolutely, hilariously awful shows doing that (Muja Messiah comes to mind), but many very fun ones. Food example, I decided to see The Generationals after hearing Mark Wheat play them when doing the Gig List that day. I knew nothing about them beyond having heard that one song. We show up, and Sheenie realizes she was friends with the lead singer back in junior high and they chat for awhile.
DK and I have made a point of going to at least one or two a year, and the wife and I have always enjoyed getting to one every now and again (though that's petered out quite a bit post-Newbish).
I actually enjoy them more now than I did in my teens/early 20s.
I only went to three shows this year: Carlie Rae Jepsen, Soccer Mommy and Chastity Belt. Soccer Mommy ripped, I couldn’t hear a damn thing at Chastity Belt because of loud drunks. CRJ was very good but I didn’t love the venue. The year before I hit 5 or 6 shows. I’ve slowed down a ton. Hoping to catch a ton more next year but we will see.
I went to a couple of shows this year including three days of jazz fest in New Orleans. The most memorable of course was Elvis Costello’s show where my companions fell asleep due to boredom.
I don't think I went to one in 2019. Reasons for record-low concert attendance, in order of importance:
1. Ha Ha Tonka didn't tour
2. Sonic Youth broke up back in 2011
3. Many of the bands I'm into don't seem like they'd be that much live (Florist, Aaron Dilloway, Hiro Kone, Lana Del Rey)
4. Many of the bands I'm into are unlikely to come near me (Nissenenmondai, Current 93) or are dead (Coil, Haggard)
5. Getting older and pickier
6. Maybe I missed a few I'd've been interested in (Julien Baker, Eric Copeland).
7. Not so sure if I'd still be interested in the bands I've seen before (Lydia Loveless, Scott H. Biram, Mitski)
I managed 5 concerts in 2019:
Saint Paul & The Broken Bones
Foals
Vampire Weekend
Jon Bellion
Pennywise/Anti-Flag
Had tickets to Violent Femmes & Ben Folds at Surly, but couldn’t make it - my brothers went instead.
Have tickets to 5 shows in 2020:
Atmosphere
Drive-by Truckers
Sturgill
Tame Impala
Green Day/Weezer/Fall Out Boy
I generally just track artists I like to see and buy 2 tickets whether I have someone lined up to go with or not. This way, I get shows on the calendar far enough in advance that we can arrange for a sitter (when my wife attends) or make sure I have availability (when my wife doesn’t attend). I have not had trouble with this method.
We saw Saint Paul and the Broken Bones last summer at the zoo amphitheater. Excellent concert.
Buddy bought us tickets for my birthday. It was amazingly great fun.
We did the Basilica Block Party this summer and saw Jason Mraz and the Hansons Brothers. We saw Alan Parsons in November, and I got his new CD for Christmas. Me like.
Shoot, I forgot about Marc Cohn at the zoo. Good show, poor weather.
I think the only concert I went to in 2019 was Rock the Garden, but I did have an excellent time.
That said, perhaps my resolution for next year should be to attend more than one concert . . .
Including this one, I’ve been to about 6 concerts in past 3 years. However, 5 of those were because my boy was in town roadieing or doing sound for band (mostly Ike Reilly). Since he’s dead now, that average is likely to go down.
I'm so sorry. That sucks.
I saw 60 bands in about 45-50 shows this year. #singleguy
I saw two days of JazzFest (including Gladys Knight, Cowboy Mouth, Dumpstaphunk, Gary Clark, Jr., Ani DiFranco, and Kamasi Washington), Gary Clark, Jr. again at Surly, Elton John, and Janet Jackson. I usually don't see quite such historical acts, but three or four shows a year seems typical since the kids started being born.
That's astonishing.
It definitely helps being single, empty nester with disposable income. I even had tix for a handful of shows I didn’t make it to or sold on Craigslist at last minute.
One of my coworkers,* has the Gold(?) First Avenue membership (the second-highest tier), and has decided to take advantage of all the free shows it includes. Since he started doing that in November, he's gone to seven or eight shows for free. I know he was typically posting to attend a show or two a month anyway, so he's going to be up there in numbers for next year.
*He's a few years younger than you, free, but I would be astonished if you don't have mutual friends. I wouldn't even be surprised if you weren't in the same book club or something
I am strongly considering possibly trying to go to a concert sometime. Based almost exclusively on WGOM feedback, I get the impression people have fun at them. I'm not good at this.
HJ, who did you go see?
I used to occasionally go to concerts. Sometimes I even just said "I'm going to a concert tonight, who is in town?" Now I have 4 children. I haven't been to a concert for a long time. Someday I will go again.
this one
Back in the old days, it was always fun to just swing by the Entry when we found ourselves with a free night. I saw some absolutely, hilariously awful shows doing that (Muja Messiah comes to mind), but many very fun ones. Food example, I decided to see The Generationals after hearing Mark Wheat play them when doing the Gig List that day. I knew nothing about them beyond having heard that one song. We show up, and Sheenie realizes she was friends with the lead singer back in junior high and they chat for awhile.
DK and I have made a point of going to at least one or two a year, and the wife and I have always enjoyed getting to one every now and again (though that's petered out quite a bit post-Newbish).
I actually enjoy them more now than I did in my teens/early 20s.
I only went to three shows this year: Carlie Rae Jepsen, Soccer Mommy and Chastity Belt. Soccer Mommy ripped, I couldn’t hear a damn thing at Chastity Belt because of loud drunks. CRJ was very good but I didn’t love the venue. The year before I hit 5 or 6 shows. I’ve slowed down a ton. Hoping to catch a ton more next year but we will see.
I went to a couple of shows this year including three days of jazz fest in New Orleans. The most memorable of course was Elvis Costello’s show where my companions fell asleep due to boredom.
I don't think I went to one in 2019. Reasons for record-low concert attendance, in order of importance:
1. Ha Ha Tonka didn't tour
2. Sonic Youth broke up back in 2011
3. Many of the bands I'm into don't seem like they'd be that much live (Florist, Aaron Dilloway, Hiro Kone, Lana Del Rey)
4. Many of the bands I'm into are unlikely to come near me (Nissenenmondai, Current 93) or are dead (Coil, Haggard)
5. Getting older and pickier
6. Maybe I missed a few I'd've been interested in (Julien Baker, Eric Copeland).
7. Not so sure if I'd still be interested in the bands I've seen before (Lydia Loveless, Scott H. Biram, Mitski)
I managed 5 concerts in 2019:
Saint Paul & The Broken Bones
Foals
Vampire Weekend
Jon Bellion
Pennywise/Anti-Flag
Had tickets to Violent Femmes & Ben Folds at Surly, but couldn’t make it - my brothers went instead.
Have tickets to 5 shows in 2020:
Atmosphere
Drive-by Truckers
Sturgill
Tame Impala
Green Day/Weezer/Fall Out Boy
I generally just track artists I like to see and buy 2 tickets whether I have someone lined up to go with or not. This way, I get shows on the calendar far enough in advance that we can arrange for a sitter (when my wife attends) or make sure I have availability (when my wife doesn’t attend). I have not had trouble with this method.
We saw Saint Paul and the Broken Bones last summer at the zoo amphitheater. Excellent concert.
Buddy bought us tickets for my birthday. It was amazingly great fun.
We did the Basilica Block Party this summer and saw Jason Mraz and the Hansons Brothers. We saw Alan Parsons in November, and I got his new CD for Christmas. Me like.
Shoot, I forgot about Marc Cohn at the zoo. Good show, poor weather.