Are Shows Just for Teenagers?

No.

There comes a time in everyone’s lives where they think have to decide whether or not they want to “grow up.”  At the risk of sounding like Peter Pan, I say that growing up is no reason to trade in your Punk Card.   

There are 22 year olds who have surrendered their Spotify or iPod, wiping out Social Distortion, The Gaslight Anthem or even Britney Spears (if that’s your thing) for Elmo, the Doodle...bugs... or whatever the hell children listen to these days.  I've run into 40+ year olds at shows, having the time of their lives.  All I can say to them is,   I want to be like you when I grow up. 

Just because you’ve decided to get married or reproduce does not mean that your life is over.  Now that you're no longer 15 and attending a show while Mom waits in the minivan, a miraculous thing has happened.  You’re invisible to teenagers.  

 Yes, they may be a little loud and sometimes incredibly annoying, but, guess what?  They won't even know you're there…  And you, my friend, are allowed to have a beer to tone down the “tween” chatter if necessary.
 

The positives to being a 25+ show-attendee:

1.   Traveling with a gaggle of pre-determined friends is no longer a prerequisite , meaning you can arrive and leave whenever you please.

2.   You have access to the 21+ area of the venue:

a.   Which is never as crowded

b.   Occasionally leads to sitting down next to the band members you actually paid to see

c.   No screaming teenagers within arms length of where you’re standing

d.  Typically far enough away from the amps to avoid tinnitus

e.   Alcohol

3.      11:00pm on a weekday no longer feels like 4:00am on a school night...  Even if it does, the only person you need to answer to the next morning is yourself.

4.       Do you really want to stand around the water cooler the next morning contributing to the babbling about last night’s Amazing Race?  I sure as hell don’t.

So, I say, shake off the cobwebs, hit up BandsInTown and check out a show.  You know you want to…