A few days since I posted. I don't like neglecting it like what I've seen happen to so many other blogs. I made this to be sort of a personal journal and a way to write down what's happening and hopefully help me through it. Maybe sometime in the future I can look back on it (if the internet hasn't completely collapsed by then) and be thankful I don't have to deal with that stuff anymore. Until then here I am.

I love going to shows. They've been a constant in my life since I was old enough to go covertly under my parents' eyes. They thought they were full of drugs and fist fights so the first one I was able to go to was Nine Inch Nails when I was in college. They were on their Downward Spiral tour and Marilyn Manson (then relatively unknown) and the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow opened for them. Though they put on a good show, I'd have to say Marilyn gave them some heavy competition.

Since then I made a point to try to go to at least one show a month. The first few years living in Boston it wasn't a problem. I saw Slayer, the Butthole Surfers, Rage Against the Machine, Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, Metallica and dozens of other bands. Then I noticed I didn't make the effort that much anymore. It was a lot of time; standing in line, waiting through mediocre opening bands, dealing with asshole crowds that I didn't go that much anymore. I still went but it was usually reserved for fewer bands. I didn't take a chance on seeing bands I might like, I had to go see bands I knew I would. Sometimes the shows were too far and I just didn't want to make the trip.


Black Sabbath during their Reunion Tour. I saw this one with my oldest brother at the (then) Fleet Center in Boston. Pantera and Deftones opened for them.

It wasn't as if I was doing anything more pressing. Most days I would just stay home with a movie or write rather than go out and see a show. I thought maybe I was getting old.

I'd look in the newspaper and recognize fewer and fewer of the bands. Boston is a very college town so all the newest bands that you'd only here of if you kept up with that (which I did in college but have long since stopped) played there and all the bands I really wanted to see played outside in Worcester, which was tough to get to.

Now that I'm in Chicago I have a chance to see many more shows since every band travels through here. That's one of the reasons I chose this city. I'd hoped it would inspire me to keep up with live music and so far it has. Sunday night Rollins Band is playing with X. I've seen both of them before and they both put on amazing shows. It should be good. I've always wanted to see the House of Blues, too.