Getting older and going to shows

[EddieVanHeineken]

Ever since the end of pandemic, been going to a lot of shows. I’ve come to hate standing room/general admission shows.

Part of it is I had a really bad accident a couple years back that put me out of commission for a few months. Now, my back can’t tolerate standing for long periods of time on hard floors. The other week, I caught winger and Cinderella. By the end of winger the pain was brutal. I stayed for most of Cinderella but it was tough.

The other aspect I have no tolerance for is people. People constantly in your space, no sense of consideration, and smell bad. People complain about millennials or ZErs with phones. The Xers aren’t much better.phones over head blocking everyone’s view. Take a quick pic and put the damn phones away.

I mostly stick with theater shows. My favorite seats are first row balcony.

How are you guys managing?

[pieceofme]

Feel pretty much the same as you. Although started feeling that way pre-covid when I was in my mid 30s. Losing the patience for it. I just don't have the enthusiasm I did when I was in my 20s for going to concerts. The excitement isn't the same. I've seen most of the bands I want to see so it's all good. Will make a special exception if it's a band I like I haven't seen and/or one of my favourite bands. Depending on cost.

[LAglamrocker]

If you are getting to old for shows -quit going and acting like a pussy
Maybe it’s time for you to hang out at Coffee Bean

Yea I may not run in circles topless at Pantera shows like in early 90s but I’m no pussy

[SterileEyes1]

When I turned 30 I gave myself permission to only see headliners at festivals. Around that time I learned that good shoes and/or insoles can make standing in one spot for hours a lot easier on the back.

The pandemic definitely did a great job of highlighting how selfish, entitled, and lacking in self-awareness many people are. I dunno if the phone thing is worse than it was in 2019 but I definitely notice it more now. Bright phone screens are especially the worst.

I also don’t know if backing tracks and live autotune were as bad pre-covid, but it’s to the point now where it’s almost all I notice. Part of me wants to think I’m getting old and out of touch, but then I’m like “No but really I’m supposedly at a live performance and everyone around me actually believes it really is this perfect.” That stops me from going to shows more than anything else.

[Ziggy Sawdust]

I generally don’t do standings shows anymore, standing for 2 hours whoever it is isn’t fun and exasperates my back pain at this point.

[Nate S Axel]

If you are getting to old for shows -quit going and acting like a pussy
Maybe it’s time for you to hang out at Coffee Bean

The king has spoken! Everybody handles it differently, but I think I'm in the minority here and my enthusiasm has never been higher than it is now. I'm 41, but feel more energetic than I was in my 20s and 30s, so YoU'rE OnLY aS oLd As yOu FeEL... or something.

I never took going out or live music for granted, and everybody dealt with 2020 differently, but when everything was shut down and things were "taken away" for a couple years, that was tough for me. Other people had it much worse, so in that respect it's all #FirstWorldProblems, but it did feel like being in prison.

Every show I go to now I have a stronger appreciation of it, because I remember when that couldn't happen and the idea of "fun" was walking to the grocery store to buy groceries standing six feet apart from everybody and wearing a glorified diaper on my face. The point is that with everything else being closed, that's all you could do just to get out of the house.

I've gone to more shows this year than any other year, and it's a great feeling every time, even if it's an artist I don't care about that much -- just being around people in good moods and having a good time in the entertainment capital of the world.

I understand EVH's dislike of standing room/GA shows, but that's my favorite spot at an arena/stadium show. If you want to stand in front of the stage... cool. If you want to stand back a little and still have room to walk around and grab a drink... cool. If it's a band I love where there's no GA/pit area, I'll still go.

I always disliked traditional seating though, especially if you're standing in front of people who have no intention of standing at all. Cheering during a song and standing up with them complaining behind you to sit down? Fuck you, it's a concert. Go sit at home and watch it on YouTube or DVD.

[gtshark1]

What Nate and LA said.

[VinnieVincentsVag]

0 interest, except Peter Gabriel.
I’ll go see him.

[Anthrax442]

Ever since the end of pandemic, been going to a lot of shows. I’ve come to hate standing room/general admission shows.

Part of it is I had a really bad accident a couple years back that put me out of commission for a few months. Now, my back can’t tolerate standing for long periods of time on hard floors. The other week, I caught winger and Cinderella. By the end of winger the pain was brutal. I stayed for most of Cinderella but it was tough.

The other aspect I have no tolerance for is people. People constantly in your space, no sense of consideration, and smell bad. People complain about millennials or ZErs with phones. The Xers aren’t much better.phones over head blocking everyone’s view. Take a quick pic and put the damn phones away.

I mostly stick with theater shows. My favorite seats are first row balcony.

How are you guys managing?

This is the way to do it. Not going to another Gen admission show if I can avoid it. I've got tickets to see Extreme/Living Colour and WASP/Armored Saint at the Hard Rock casino in August, and got front row balcony for both.

My son wants to go see Avenged Sevenfold at Tinley at the end of the month, unless I can find some decent seats, I'm not going.

[Charles Bukaki]

Good shoes and insoles are enough for me. I've also been going to a lot more shows since Covid, mostly in smaller venues where there usually isn't any seating. I'm 50 and sure there are a few aches here and there, but it's all part of the cost of doing business and a perfectly acceptable trade off as far as I'm concerned.

[Velvis]

If you are getting to old for shows -quit going and acting like a pussy
Maybe it’s time for you to hang out at Coffee Bean

I always disliked traditional seating though, especially if you're standing in front of people who have no intention of standing at all. Cheering during a song and standing up with them complaining behind you to sit down? Fuck you, it's a concert. Go sit at home and watch it on YouTube or DVD.

I disagree. I went to Greta Van Fleet at a small arena last year. My daughter and her friend had GA floor tickets. The floor was filled with younger people jam packed having a great time.
I got a cheap last-minute ticket through Stub Hub up in the balcony. Good seat near the stage (again it was a small arena) but up on the second level. As soon as the band hit the stage two girls in front of me stood up. For the entire fucking show. Why? Who the fuck knows. They were far enough away not to be caught up in the Great Van Fleet equivalent of Beatlemania that was happening on the floor and they weren't going nuts screaming and dancing anyways. All they were doing was standing and blocking the view of everyone behind and to the side of them for 4-5 rows.

There was a perfectly good fucking chair they could have plopped their asses in and it would have made zero difference in their experience while making it a much better one for those of us behind them.

[Nate S Axel]

I disagree. I went to Greta Van Fleet at a small arena last year. My daughter and her friend had GA floor tickets. The floor was filled with younger people jam packed having a great time.
I got a cheap last-minute ticket through Stub Hub up in the balcony. Good seat near the stage (again it was a small arena) but up on the second level. As soon as the band hit the stage two girls in front of me stood up. For the entire fucking show. Why? Who the fuck knows. They were far enough away not to be caught up in the Great Van Fleet equivalent of Beatlemania that was happening on the floor and they weren't going nuts screaming and dancing anyways. All they were doing was standing and blocking the view of everyone behind and to the side of them for 4-5 rows.

There was a perfectly good fucking chair they could have plopped their asses in and it would have made zero difference in their experience while making it a much better one for those of us behind them.

Inconvenient, I'll give you that, but it's a rock concert. Everybody manifests that energy differently. If you told me you went to the opera or a symphony and somebody stood the entire time, that would be different. It sounds like the girls were having fun. They could have plopped their asses in the chair or... you could have stood up.

Did anybody ask them if they were willing to move chairs? You didn't mention if people asked and they refused. Most people just complain instead of communicating with other people.

Usually at a rock concert, people sit for a quick rest between songs or maybe during one you don't know or care for, but sitting the entire show? Yeah, it's a given you're going to get your view blocked. Was Row 2 the best available? Getting front row (balcony) seats would be the only way to ensure you can watch the show sitting down the entire time.

[Dyslexicheart]

Just turned 59 and don’t go to too many shows anymore, mainly because of ridiculous prices. I am done with festival shows for sure though - glad I got my fill

[Metal Sludge]

Stop whining you pussies!!!
Try standing all night in 5 inch heels!
But to be fair, I actually don't do that anymore...too much!
If I know I'll be standing or walking, I usually do the wedge heels these days, no more stiletto's. And in the winter, the platform Doc Martens' are good.

[Velvis]

I disagree. I went to Greta Van Fleet at a small arena last year. My daughter and her friend had GA floor tickets. The floor was filled with younger people jam packed having a great time.
I got a cheap last-minute ticket through Stub Hub up in the balcony. Good seat near the stage (again it was a small arena) but up on the second level. As soon as the band hit the stage two girls in front of me stood up. For the entire fucking show. Why? Who the fuck knows. They were far enough away not to be caught up in the Great Van Fleet equivalent of Beatlemania that was happening on the floor and they weren't going nuts screaming and dancing anyways. All they were doing was standing and blocking the view of everyone behind and to the side of them for 4-5 rows.

There was a perfectly good fucking chair they could have plopped their asses in and it would have made zero difference in their experience while making it a much better one for those of us behind them.

Inconvenient, I'll give you that, but it's a rock concert. Everybody manifests that energy differently. If you told me you went to the opera or a symphony and somebody stood the entire time, that would be different. It sounds like the girls were having fun. They could have plopped their asses in the chair or... you could have stood up.

Did anybody ask them if they were willing to move chairs? You didn't mention if people asked and they refused. Most people just complain instead of communicating with other people.

Usually at a rock concert, people sit for a quick rest between songs or maybe during one you don't know or care for, but sitting the entire show? Yeah, it's a given you're going to get your view blocked. Was Row 2 the best available? Getting front row (balcony) seats would be the only way to ensure you can watch the show sitting down the entire time.

They were the only two people standing in the entire section. The literally just stood. They weren't rocking out. Nothing. Just standing. It was the equivalent of standing at the opera. It was weird and completely unnecessary.

No one complained or asked them to sit down as it's not unexpected at at rock show but it sucked for everyone behind them and was completely pointless. It was as if they were following "the rules" of a rock concert and just standing to stand.

[GoodJudge]

51 here, don't go to anywhere near as many gigs as I used to but in most cases if that was the choice I'd rather not go than sit down. I have had maybe 5 balcony seats over the years, and about the same at arenas, but mostly I go to small clubs so sitting isn't an option. And I'm still happy that way. Balcony / sitting = zero atmosphere or engagement with the band. It's a rock show, not jazz or an orchestra.

[GreatWhiteSnake]

There are so few artists I really want to see anymore. I was thinking about who I would want to see at The Sphere in Vegas and couldn't really come up with anybody since Jeff Beck died. At this point unless it's super convenient, like, in my town and cheap with ample parking I ain't going. That usually means I ain't going...

[Grendel]

If you are getting to old for shows -quit going and acting like a pussy
Maybe it’s time for you to hang out at Coffee Bean

Yea I may not run in circles topless at Pantera shows like in early 90s but I’m no pussy

No offense dude but going to Trixter and Firehouse shows at age 50 does not make you hardcore.

[BDG135]

It's probably easier for bands to attract casual fans that live in the area of the concert. The older long-time fans have seen most of the bands years ago. We used to drive 100 miles to see a concert because it was an event with our friends.

[BulletProofPoet]

Depends on the the artist is. I love me some small seated shows. But some bands are meant for standing. At 51 though I would prefer to sit.

[TooOldToCare]

Just turned 59 and don’t go to too many shows anymore, mainly because of ridiculous prices. I am done with festival shows for sure though - glad I got my fill

56, and most everything has been said. I wouldn't say I like standing for hours, and I mainly don't like idiots that spend a lot of dough for a show and then ruin it for everyone else. I no longer go to many shows (been over a year), but I'm not opposed to a setup I like. Best concert experiences in the last few years: Alter Bridge/Skillet - a buddy of mine has connections, so we had a hospitality box. Nothing like being catered to and having a private bathroom, leather recliners, room to stand, and unlimited food and drinks; Rick Springfield - front row/center. No idiots to deal with; Dorothy - a standing show but in a cool, old church building with many locations to chill off to the side. I will never attend another festival show, sit on the ground, or stand for hours to mark my territory.

[SchenkerFan]

I can't be bothered to go to shows. I used to go to festivals. Sleeping in tents amidst a bunch of obnoxious drunk tools seems like a good way to torture myself.

Pay a 100 bucks to go see Metallica and have some dude 6'6 tall come stand in front of me right before it starts? No thanks.

I'll go see some smaller local acts if I feel like it. That's pretty much it.

[tooth]

56 here & If I'm standing, proper shoes/insoles are a must. Also, I'm walking in 10 minutes before the band I want to see plays. Just enough time to get a drink and find whatever spot at the back of the venue with a semi decent sight line. Not sure I'll ever go to a festival again, although I would like to experience The Gathering of the Juggalos.
If I have a seat, I'll get there as early as whoever I'm with wants to & see every band. If someone is in my seat or standing in my way or being annoying etc. I go get an employee as people are paid to deal with that nonsense.
As far as the amount of shows, I have a couple of friends that still love going to shows so I still see a fair share. Take last weekend, I saw UB40 on Friday (they were great) & went to a Reggae Brunch, w/ a live band, on Sunday (who were also great). I don't really even love Reggae & never would have went to either if not invited. The shows I truly want to see are few & far between. I have Peter Gabriel tickets and planning on seeing one of the Springsteen shows.
Another big factor I haven't seen yet is night of the week. I still work a 9-5 so getting me out on a school night is tough!

[LAglamrocker]

Remember when you were 19 or so and saw “old”!people at shows 40-60? That’s us now..quit bitching and being those dumbf*cks-ruining experience for everyone

Wah I can’t see
Wah my feet hurt
Wah I’m uncomfortable
Wah I’m tired

Please sit down

I’m going to some punk rock show tonight in Ventura
Hope im not tiredacting like an old dumbass

[TooOldToCare]

Remember when you were 19 or so and saw “old”!people at shows 40-60? That’s us now..quit bitching and being those dumbf*cks-ruining experience for everyone

Wah I can’t see
Wah my feet hurt
Wah I’m uncomfortable
Wah I’m tired

Please sit down

I’m going to some punk rock show tonight in Ventura
Hope im not tiredacting like an old dumbass

When I was 19 and going to shows, I didn't pay attention to anyone else. If I happened to see an old dude (my current age), my take was "that's pretty cool. The dude still loves throwing the horns." Apparently, it only ruined it for you.

[Psychobolia.com]

Only things that's changed for me is that I no longer buy tix in advance. Pandemic left me dealing with 3 cancelled shows and the hassle of one reimbursement was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I like this new flexibility of not being locked into a show months in advance. Sure, I miss more shows because sometimes they sell out (Cannibal Corspe, recently), or I'll instead decide to go drinking with friends in a bar (last month I skipped the Depeche Mode and Hollywood Vampires shows)...

If Alice Cooper's in his 70s and still playing kickass shows, I still have a few decades left of going to shows and standing on the floor in general admission

[LAglamrocker]

I never cared for age
I wonder did they cry and bitch then also
“ God damn I’m tired my feet hurt those young punks are blocking my view of Love Hate- that 20 year old kid just spilled his beer on me during Wasted In America! I’m going to tell security. I should have gone to Rush/Mr Big at the arena “

[Hellsinkey]

I go to the gigs like I did before Covid, no change.

[Anthrax442]

To be clear, I'm not opposed to going to a show and standing up. I just don't want to be doing it for 5 hours, need to at least have the option to sit down between sets.

[steviedoes]

I'm glad I went to as many concerts as I did, and had as many great experiences as I did, when I was young. These days, going to a concert is usually more of a hassle than it's worth. First - the drive. If it's more than a 45 minute drive, that's really pushing it. Hour plus - guess I'm not going. Opening bands - in a bar/club show, I have zero interest in standing through 3 crappy "local bands" to see someone like Enuff Z'nuff. Now being a musician myself (non-gigging, studio/Spotify etc only) I certainly respect those going out and getting their music in front of people. My big problem is, the openers are usually nothing like the headliners. if I go to see Enuff Znuff - sorry, but I don't care to see a band playing White Zombie and Metallica covers. I also have major problems with many of the assholes who attend shows, their stupidity, and well, just the fact that they're people bother me. If the standing for hours on end wasn't too much of a energy drain, the emotional energy drain I experience because of being an extreme introvert, that seals the deal - if the concert isn't relatively cheap and relatively close, I'm not going.