Live Music

My first concert ever was at some point when the New Kids on the Block were 'the shit'. I hardly remember the show, but remember being way far up in the arena we saw them in. I remember my dad and stepmom took me and my brothers and we (for some reason) didn't have seats right next to each other - so my stepmom had to convince a few people to move around so we'd all be together. I vaguely remember the group swinging their legs back and forth while singing "Hangin' Tough" (although that might be something I pieced together from the music videos) and that my brother got the 'joey' hat and we got tacky neon t-shirts and a NKOTB baseball caps that I'm pretty sure I still own.

As you fast forward through the last 20 or so years, I've had my share of live music experiences. There was a time when I went to every Feztival/Feastival/Warped Tour/Bamboozle Fest that came my way. There was a time when me and my friends thought we were so 'scene' for hanging out at small venues adorned in band t-shirts, seeing groups that hardly had made it to the radio. I've seen classic rock musicians like Billy Joel, Tom Petty and Elton John - and more modern groups like Godsmack and Rise Against. I've totally 'groupied' out and stood on the side of venues aching for an autograph - and even once made it on a tour bus! I'm pretty sure that doesn't even scratch the surface though.

There's just something about live music. Singing in unison with the crowd - not caring that you can't dance - and just enjoying the atmosphere.

Earlier this year we took Jude to a local event near our house that happened to have some local band doing covers. Jude was totally glued to the stage. So, when Ryan told me about these free summer shows in Philly put on by a radio station, I agreed to go. Upon researching it more, it advertised it was 'fun for all ages' - so we decided to take Jude. This past weekend, we went to the free show and saw a group that Ryan and I both really like - Airborn Toxic Event.

Jude seemed fairly tired, only appeared to show minimal interest and it started to drizzle a bit half way through. One might call this a flop, but Ryan and I both agreed it was a great time. There were in fact tons of other kids, the band did an excellent job, it wasn't too crowded (surprising for a free show!), parking was free - and regardless of how uninterested Jude pretended to be during the music, on the way back to the car he kept 'dancing' and pointing back in the direction we can and smiling and doing all the other things he does to imply he had fun without putting it into too many words.

While I'm pretty sure he's still a bit too young for me to pay for him to attend any sort of live performance that requires a ticket, there's no doubt in my mind I'd do something like this with him again.

**pictures to follow** (if I remember)