While at shows, there have been times where I've felt like the old man in the room. It's not often, but it does happen every once in a while.
This feeling is like being an odd duck, coming across as someone trying to hold onto youth while being around those who are in the prime of their youth. It's like a denial of adulthood.
A few years back, I watched Tilly and the Wall play at Hailey's to a very large audience made up mostly of college students. Seeing all these post-teenagers in thrift store clothes, break-dancing to hip-hop, and going nuts for these twee darlings, I wondered what the hell I was seeing. Clearly I was not one for this band or audience, but I was there because my band was fortunate to open the show.
I didn't feel like the old man when I saw Mission of Burma on Friday night. Seeing three guys with plenty of gray in the hair along with friends who are close to my age (including Andy Odom, who covered the show for the Observer), I felt welcome. There were even grandparents seated towards stage right.
And it certainly felt good to see people who were underage pogo around (and go generally nuts) while MoB played.Yes, people that were born closer to the time that Catherine Wheel covered "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" in the 90s were into this band.
Reminds me of how rock music plays to the youth that's in our hearts. Whether you're 15, 33, or 57, if you enjoy the feeling of rock music, then why should you stop listening to it or going to shows? Of course, it might look weird to be the oldest person in the room. But rock music can bring in society's outliers together quite well.
This feeling is like being an odd duck, coming across as someone trying to hold onto youth while being around those who are in the prime of their youth. It's like a denial of adulthood.
A few years back, I watched Tilly and the Wall play at Hailey's to a very large audience made up mostly of college students. Seeing all these post-teenagers in thrift store clothes, break-dancing to hip-hop, and going nuts for these twee darlings, I wondered what the hell I was seeing. Clearly I was not one for this band or audience, but I was there because my band was fortunate to open the show.
I didn't feel like the old man when I saw Mission of Burma on Friday night. Seeing three guys with plenty of gray in the hair along with friends who are close to my age (including Andy Odom, who covered the show for the Observer), I felt welcome. There were even grandparents seated towards stage right.
And it certainly felt good to see people who were underage pogo around (and go generally nuts) while MoB played.Yes, people that were born closer to the time that Catherine Wheel covered "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" in the 90s were into this band.
Reminds me of how rock music plays to the youth that's in our hearts. Whether you're 15, 33, or 57, if you enjoy the feeling of rock music, then why should you stop listening to it or going to shows? Of course, it might look weird to be the oldest person in the room. But rock music can bring in society's outliers together quite well.
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