I go to a fair number of live rock shows and festivals, even at this age (almost 59). #stillnottheoldestpersonhere.
At least I try to get out there, because I love the energy of a live performance. And I love the energy of the crowd. And I enjoy most of them.
But every once in a while along comes an event that just blows all the others out of the water. A perfect concert for the ages.
One that exhilarates and drains you at the same time.
One where the crowd (whatever size) and the band come together as one in such a feeling of intimacy and joy and love of the music.
One that you still remember and think about months and years later.
I can only count a handful of them out of all the shows/artists I have been privileged to see. Those that come to mind that I have seen in the past decade are: Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, Arcade Fire, and now the Foo Fighters/The Struts/The Beaches Show on Thursday night.
It’s been 2 days since Mizz J and I attended the Toronto Foo Fighters show and I am still bagged. It didn’t help that I hadn’t slept since 2 am the morning of, and didn’t get home till 2 am the next morning – meaning a full 24 hours without sleep. And that I had to go into work the next morning despite having booked the day off, because I knew my staff needed help to get through an unexpected workload.
I purchased these tickets last October (!!!) so even though work was already crazy on Thursday morning, I WAS GOING. Even though there was increased security/police presence around the venue due to an unnamed threat to public safety, I WAS GOING.
No one….no crazy incel or terrorist or looney with a beef was going to stop me from getting to this show. Fuck all of you creeps, I AM GOING. (And I DID. AND IT WAS FINE. THANK YOU INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE.)
For months I had been watching the @foofighters twitter feed, and seeing individual posters for and before each show being tweeted. I wasn’t sure if this was fan art or actual legit concert posters, but I was hoping…oh, how I was hoping…that there would be something for sale at the Toronto show, and that it would be wonderful.
And it was. Like it was made specifically for me.
I know all most some of you are thinking: Eeewwww. How creepy!
But for me, this is the perfect rock poster, for where I am in my journey. I see in it the Triple Goddess and the Queen of Wands (rock and roll version)…and it looks like the artist was stylistically channeling an absinthe-drinking Alphonse Mucha – on a bender. In other words, plenty of the symbolism and artistic inspiration that I am already attracted to, for this badass widow and wanna-be artist. Plus skeletons don’t bother me at all. I think they are beautiful. I am not afraid of death because it is part of life, and I love life. I believe you can’t fully live if you are afraid to die.
This was the other version of the Toronto show poster, for sale:
I’m so happy thrilled I experienced this show, and got the poster, and a couple of t-shirts too.
I wonder how many more extraordinary concert moments are still in the cards for me. For sure, I will be taking advantage of any that I can, even if I have to go solo.
What about you? What would you not miss for the world, even if meant you had to go alone?
Rock on,
The WB
I want to bottle the lightning bolts of energy that you are clearly still experiencing after that show, Deb. I’m thrilled that it was such an amazing experience for you.
I can’t offhand think of anything currently that I would go to no matter what. There was a time when my guy, Kristofferson, fit that bill but at 82 his touring schedule is more focused on pubs in Ireland than big concert venues. I’ll have to give your question some thought. Maybe an art exhibit that was a major retrospective of a major artist. I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t go to the da Vinci exhibit when it was at the Science Centre years ago.
Thanks Karen! I hear that! I am kicking myself I didn’t go see The Killers in January. And I’m glad I went to the Hyde to see the Mucha exhibit right after getting home from Barbados, because I’d surely be kicking myself now if I hadn’t.
As I get older I value experiences over mostly anything else. There will come a time when I can’t get to these events anymore. Hopefully it’ll be out of my system by then 🤘😜🤘
I love the Foo Fighters, but I think I may be done with concerts. I’m not that fond of crowds and loud music anymore. I prefer the serenity of the mountains. But kudos to you and for not letting threats scare you away.
Thank you Karen! So long as I can do it and still enjoy it, you’ll find me rocking out at a show somewhere.
Our music tastes are really different but it’s fun to see other get so excited to go to music venues as much as you do. My nephew and his husband also follow Foo Fighters and have been to a couple of their concerts this summer. They aren’t much younger than you are.
Thanks Jean! I’m happy to see a wide variety of ages and types of people at a concert. The audience was very, very white though. Toronto is a multicultural city so to see nothing but white people was strange.
I’ve never been a concert-goer … something about loud sounds and large crowds 😉 The last 2 concerts Gilles dragged me to, I literally wore earplugs and still had a terrible headache afterwards. I am definitely not the definition of ‘Rock Cool’ 😎
I do however routinely go off on adventures by myself. The alternative is staying at home and that’s simply not ok!!
I admit that when I first saw the photo of your poster on IG, I too thought it looked like a tarot card – a Badass tarot card 🙂
Confession time: Mizz J bought us each a pair of ear plugs to wear after we realized how loud the first act was. But somehow I lost mine as I was rocking out to the Foos. Oddly they didn’t seem as loud. Mizz J said it was because as the stadium filled up, the sound was absorbed. Makes sense, I think? 🤔
… or, maybe the damage was done and your ears had already started to shut down in self-defence 😉
Hehehe! Yeah, there’s that 🤘😜🤘
What? I can’t hear you?! 😜
The Hub and I are taking the Barbarians to the “We Will Rock You” musical arena spectacular later this year. We’re just a couple of rows from the front and have already made a note to remember to take earplugs for the Barbarians. I realise not technically a concert, but with 24 of Queen’s hits being belted out it’s pretty close =)
Oooh, I saw that show with a pal a few years ago, AJ. I hope you and the Hub and the Barbarians will enjoy it as much as we did. I never got to see Queen in concert. Had tickets a couple of times but the shows got cancelled. Seeing them now – without Freddy – doesn’t have as much appeal.
Hey Deb, I can’t think of anything I would go to alone. For me having someone to share the experience with makes it even better. I am not much into concerts or movies or well…anything alone. I am stoked you had a blast going to this concert against all odds and have a poster and tee shirts to look at/wear to relive the experience for years to come. I like the poster you bought but I would probably have gotten the other one…but that’s just me. Kudos to you for having the drive and determination to go – now that speaks of a true Foo Fighters Fan!! 🙂
Thanks Susan! Of course it’s much more fun to have people to share these great experiences with, but I’m finding it difficult at times to find friends and family that are interested in the same things I am. So it’s either go alone or stay home and stew about missing it.
Then I say you are doing the best thing for you – rock on with your bad self. Hahaha I am glad you are enjoying yourself and experiencing all this stuff even if you have to do it by yourself. You are a strong woman…not sure I could do it myself. 🙂
Thank you Susan! I wasn’t born strong but life made me that way. For which I am grateful, actually.
I do many things alone: go to movies, road trips, out to eat, for walks and bike rides, to book readings, conference — I’m not one to go to concerts or museums and I don’t have many ‘big ticket item’ passions. But it sounds like you had a great time and that’s fabulous!
Thank you Janet! It used to feel weird doing things alone but I quickly got over it. Sometimes I notice people looking at me curiously and it doesn’t click till later that it’s because I’m out and about on my own, and clearly enjoying myself. Hopefully I can serve as a role model for others in this respect. Does this happen to you too?
I’m going to see Bruno Mars by myself in October. I CAN’T WAIT.
I’m glad you had such a good time at your show, and I love the art!
Fantastic, Akilah! I hope you have a great time. And thanks!!!
Sounds like you had a blast. I’ve never been to a rock concert before, though many years ago I went to a few country music venues. Saw Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard, Gene Watson, and a few lesser knowns. Marty Robbins put on an exciting show. He was full of fun and energy in the short life he lived.
There is nothing better than seeing an artist who clearly loves what they do. It’s infectious, their joy! That’s what made the Foo Fighters show so special. All of the artists clearly loved their craft and were thrilled to be able to perform that night.
I used to go to so many concerts – now, it’s a rare treat (and usually a band I’ve already seen). They’ve gotten so expensive! Back in college, I used to go several times a week, even though I almost always had to go alone. I saw a lot of great bands in those days.
I’ll bet, Sarah! I like the oldies too, but I also listen to, and am a fan of the new bands coming out today. I have trouble finding people my age who are also fans, to go to shows with me 🙄
I’ve never been to many live shows Deb – you make it sound so fantastic, but I always find them too loud and way out of my budget. I’m even finding the same with musical theatre – the ticket price just kills me. I’m more of a movie theatre girl – and I’m planning on seeing the latest Mama Mia movie in the next few weeks – even if I have to go by myself (my poor husband has palpatations at the thought!) So glad you had a blast and I felt 20 years younger just reading your post x
Awesome, Leanne! Thanks! I love Mamma Mia and want to see the new movie too.
I like your poster choice. I think the colors and the theme are great, not macabre at all. I’ve gone to very few rock concerts, a handful maybe. I liked the performances, but didn’t like the crowds or the hassle of getting to the venues. Still if this is your thing, then by all means go to them– even if you eventually become the oldest person there. 😎
Thanks Ally! My goal is to eventually be the oldest person but not 👀 like the oldest person there, ya know? 😜 Based in some of the moldy oldies I’ve seen at shows, I can do this!
Music is medicine. And live music even more so. In the last few weeks, I have gone to see Samantha Fish, Lynard Skynard and Little Feet. Sunday I will see Buddy Guy with Johnny Lang opening for him. Buddy Guy is someone we saw play several times and this time I will see him perform without her for the first time. When I go, I am always feeling like I am the only one there alone, and I truly hate it, and we are the only ones who get that. Nobody ever asks to come with me. But if I don’t do this, I will be surrendering to the grief and I will not let that happen.
Yes, music is medicine Don. I wish you had someone to go to live music with. I usually have family to go with, if none of my friends want to go. But last year I went to a 3-day festival by myself, and this year it looks like I am going there alone again. A family member promised she would go with me but has since told me she now has other plans for that weekend. It sucks, but I am still going! Like you, I’m not letting my aloneness keep me from going out and enjoying live music.