Do you still enjoy going to shows?

[mikewalker]

I don't get out much anymore but the last couple small arena shows have been great (The Who in Vancouver last year and Ringo &Co. in Kelowna the year before). Sound not too loud and crystal clear, and great unobstructed views. I generally prefer smaller ballroom shows, the last big outdoor concert I went to was McCartney in Red Square (which was epic)

Now that Little Richard has finally retired from touring, I really can't think of anything else that would drag me out 'to see a show'. I recently bought tickets for Albert Lee at the Iridium, but that's only cause I'll be in town that week... plus it's a dinner show ( what's not to like? )

("Les Paul Burger")​

 

[Nephilymbass]

My other half and I went out to see Pink Martini last night. I didn't enjoy it much and we left at intermission. I've never cared for concerts much to begin with, but that has certainly picked up as I've gotten older. Some of it has to do with my preferred method of consuming music - not in a big hall with a bunch of people and perfume burning my eyes.

There's this weird emotion of trying to learn the songs as they go by. Thinking how I'd lock into the drummer (who was excellent). Think about how the trumpet's mic was too loud (he was not excellent). On and on. Just couldn't switch my player mode off. Oddly, I've never had this issue with classical music, even when I was playing it.

When I was in my teens and early 20s I went to shows all the time. Now in my mid 30s I have a family I want to spend time with and I play in a band so I don’t have as much time and rarely go to shows I’m not playing at. I’ve turned into a bit if a YouTube junkie because of it. I watch concert footage all the time. Last night for example I watched Architects full set at reading festival and Geeked out a bit on full show Jo Jo Mayer and Nerve. Two completely different bands and styles.

 

[LinusKarlsson]

I go out to watch and support artists and bands I like and wan't to see, but not on a regular basis. I just don't go out to watch any band and have a few drinks, then I'd rather stay at home. As I've gotten older I also appreciate to sit down, be comfortable and not stay up all night to be out and about like I did when I was 20, and that works against the whole "going out-thing" to a certain extent. Give me a great band that plays in a venue with comfy seats close to a buss stop and wraps up their show before 11 pm and I'm a happy camper

 

[2tonic]

I enjoy going to shows. Last year we saw Edgar Winter, Here Come The Mummies, Steven Tyler, Doobie Brothers, Chicago and Melissa Etheridge. This year we are seeing Patty Smythe and Scandal, Eagles with James Taylor and Alice Cooper. I like seeing and hearing these bands and all concerts, so far, have been amazing in a live situation!

I did a show with "here come the Mummies" about three years ago. They are an amazing band, one of the best shows I've seen in a while. The "cowbell" the singer "plays" is rather interesting.

I'd highly suggest see them to anyone that hasn't caught their act. I was hanging with Scott Bartlet (Saving Able) and we were both geeking on how good that band was. Some of the best funk I've heard in a long time.

Watch out for the Wiener Man!!!

 

[eJake]

Yes, I love a great live show. There is a certain amount of critiquing, and I'm much more alert to a bad mix than I was before I started playing. But when it's good, I love it. Last year was a really good year for shows for me - I saw Samantha Fish, Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas, JD McPherson, who was opening for St. Paul and the Broken Bones, the Shins, Young the Giant with Cold War Kids opening... all great shows. The Shins were the least exciting to me and Cold War Kids aren't as cool as they were when I first got into them seven or eight years ago, but on the whole, great set of shows.

+25 on your music taste

 

[eJake]

I love seeing live shows. I'm fortunate to work in a town where you can show up to your gig an hour early and go catch someone else down the street playing great music any night of the week. That being said I have a couple of general rules. 1) no huge venues unless I really really really (one more?) Really want to see that act. I caught boyz ii men at the smoothie King center (basketball arena) last year it was worth it! But I will pass on tons of acts that go through venues of that size no problem. They are always too expensive, even the bogus "cheap" seats where your best bet to see anything is from a giant tv...(boooo)......are NOT CHEAP 2) no outdoor festivals. the main reason that I don't want to go is because they go for a long time and in my opinion there is nowhere to relax. It's just too much. If I'm playing an outdoor fest I have a great time but I don't want to be in a sea of 10,000 people in the sun. 3) bring earplugs 4) make sure I bring my earplugs. Your feet are gonna hurt after dancing all night but your ears don't have to. 5) get adventurous once in a while. My dad is way better at this than I am. He likes to read music stuff on the web and checks out new artists on YouTube or spotify. If he finds something he knows we'll like he buys some tickets and we go. Once in a while it's a dud but most of the time he sniffs out good live shows like a German Shepherd.

If in general you don't like going out, it makes sense that you wouldn't like live shows. For the rest of us there are just way too many awesome shows to not catch some.

 

[jerry]

Yes!

 

[equill]

Hell yes - both headliner/support evenings, and festivals. Not often, because I'm not comfortable in most crowds, but I do love a live show.
I really should get into the local scene more.

 

[ZAR14]

Sounds like OP is one step away from being "Folded Arms" guy. The one at the Bar/Venue who stands off to the side Judging everything because he knows more than everyone else...

 

[interp]

I enjoy going to shows that do not feature massive kick drum and bass with a thin smattering of guitar/voice over it. These are becoming harder and harder to find.

 

[twocargar]

I wish I could go to more shows, but as my wife puts it, I am a curmudgeon, so I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to. As people have already pointed out, the constant mobile phone use, holding it up in front of me, the TALKING during the performance—and I don’t mean a comment to your buddy during a song, but I mean talking during the entire song—bugs the hell out of me.

Nowadays with the ridiculous ticket pricing, it’s tough for me to justify shelling out that kind of cash so I can be distracted by someone recording the whole show or yapping the whole time. Sadly living where I do (NH), many bands will go to Boston but not come up to my state. It’s an hour drive, but when you factor in the things I mentioned along with traffic, parking, etc., I’d much rather enjoy a live show on my home theater, and I don’t mean a crappy video someone uploaded to social media. I am considering going to see Sons Of Apollo in Worcester, but dreading all of the things I mentioned.

Edit: I saw Dixie Dregs last night. The venue was 15 Minutes from my house. My first time seeing Jerry Peek play, I had seen Steve Morse Band a couple times before. Great show, wow!

 

[St_G]

There are annoying parts of concerts, for sure, but I still really enjoy them. We don't go to a TON of them, but can generally be relied on to average maybe 10 a year. Add in the fact that a lot of acts skip over Memphis, so we have to drive (usually to Nashville) and get a hotel, and it gets expensive.

Up next for us is a trip to Chattanooga to see Weird Al not play any of his parodies. And yes, I'm very excited about every part of that sentence.

 

[St_G]

In the last year, we've seen Shovels & Rope, Andrew Bird, Ben Folds, Neil Diamond, Secret Sisters, Ryan Adams, St Vincent, David Rawlings/Gillian Welch, and The Weeks (twice).

Six of those required hotels. I hope no one ever tells me what I've spent.

 

[bholder]

I hope I still do have tickets to see That 1 Guy tonight.

Yup, check, still do enjoy going to shows, and he puts on quite a show! Trippiest projected big screen visuals I've ever seen. Like M.C. Escher on acid.

 

[mdlewis]

There's this aspect of knowing how the tricks are done (or how the sausage is made to use another analogy) that keeps me away from most popular acts. And as it turns out that the music I'm most interested in hearing live these days is not all that popular so it ends up being in smaller venues (clubs as opposed to arenas).

I think hearing other musicians play is a big part of being a musician. The technical stuff (e.g. sound) is always an annoyance when it's bad, but I'm more interested in how people play. There are some really great players out there!

 

[garp]

Coincidentally, the ticket stub from the last "big" concert I attended – Steely Dan in July 2011 – happens to be sitting here on my desk. Based upon the time that's elapsed since then, I guess I don't much enjoy those kinds of shows any more. Case in point: Mr. Clapton will be playing just five minutes "Further On Up The Road" from my house in about two months from now, and as much as I enjoy his talent – and he'll probably have an amazing band backing him – you'd have to pay me to attend that event.

However, give me the opportunity to see a truly great band or solo musician in a small venue with a well-behaved audience, and I'll gladly pay the asking price.

When I get to choose live music, I go to NYC and hit Smoke, the 55 Bar, and Fat Cat.

Terrific venues.

 

[eldorado2001]

Not so much these days. The concerts I enjoy are performances by musicians that really amaze me, who let their talent carry the show without goofy costumes & gimmicks & theatrics. Being in a not-so-major city we don’t get very many of those. The convention center in my town is a big box made of concrete that sounds absolutely horrible inside. There aren’t very many shows that I would travel any distance to attend. Zappa Plays Zappa was the last one I travelled 100 miles to see, and that was several years ago. I’m not the average customer though.

 

[smtp4me]

I really enjoy going to live shows. I rarely critique now unless something is really bad - maybe that's just age.

 

[Spidey2112]

Instead of immersing myself in the experience, I tend to critique, as well... regarding crowds, I don't mind them... if I'm on stage. Not elbow-to-elbow with a lot of 20 year olds, with 'way too much to prove to the world'. Big name acts? RUSH has set the bar for me, but they're probably 'retired', so I may have to find another band to watch...

... nah, I'm good.

 

[RickyWoo]

I love playing shows, however, I've slowed my participation/become more selective in my aging. I used to go to anything/everything. Nowadays, not so much. I'm positive that I'm the one who is missing out though.