25 1 / 2012
When I was in high school, I really loved everything all the time. Or I hated it, but this post is not about that. Mostly, though, I loved live music. My first show was at New Brookland Tavern to see The Stryder with the totally awesome Christian Punk band from my own town comprised of all my best friends who were totally responsible for my fall into pop punk, The Divots.
We ate up records from Saves the Day and The Get Up Kids. Were obsessed with New Found Glory and Further Seems Forever and endlessly proud to be from the same town as Stretch Arm Strong. We loved each other and we loved the music and very little else mattered in our world for those four years of high school and really, first three years of college. The bands would change and we would, too, but the love that we felt for those first songs, at those first shows, could not be touched.
So when this “Where’s the Band?” tour began promoting itself around town, I did not hesitate. It was an absolute, enthusastic, one hundred and ten percent yes. Others felt different-why go backwards? We’re old, they said. We’re tired.
I would have gone to this all by myself, just to feel the free I felt way back when things were simple and breakdowns were imminent. Three out of the five fellows gracing that stage tonight soundtracked the very best years of my life. I lived it best because their music was behind me. The least I can do is go see them again tonight.
After all, I still know all the words.
