Backstage pass
Posted by Isabel on July 25th, 2006. Filed under: Back in the Day, I Rock, They're just my friends.There is nothing like having a baby to make you feel old. It’s not really a bad thing, but it has got me to thinking about when I was younger. Before you know it, I’m going to start all of my sentences with “when I was your age…” To be honest, I already start most of my conversations that way.
I’ve gone to a lot of concerts in my day. More so in my past then in my present. The first concert I went to was when I was 15 and I went to see NKOTB. (Does calling them NKOTB make me cooler then to call them New Kids on the Block? Probably not.) I don’t know who was marketing The New Kids (is that cooler?) but they did a great job. I got my ticket when I was a freshman and they were hugely popular, but they didn’t actually come in concert until well into my sophomore year, when they were no longer popular at all.
My friend Jamie and I had tickets together. And although NKOTB weren’t popular anymore, we were still mildly excited to go to the show. My Dad was even nice enough to drive us around the venue earlier in the day in hopes of actually seeing one of them. (I wanted to see Joey. Because he was oh, so dreamy.) I’m not sure why we thought one of them would just be walking around the parking lot at the auditorium, but we did. Of course we didn’t see anything, and we were surprised that we didn’t.
Our other friend Marci (Hi, Marci) had tickets, but she wasn’t sitting by us. So had some older, much cooler friends that she as going to sit with. Rumor even has it that one of the girls she went with got up on stage during the show. AWESOME.
I don’t remember who opened for NKOTB, or even what songs they sang. I remember two things; we sat behind a pole and the energy in that place was electrifying. Jamie and I were so hyped the entire time. It wasn’t that we loved seeing NKOTB; we were just high on the energy. I remember Jamie and looked at each other during the show and promised to go to as many concerts as we could. We were hooked on the energy.
I went to school on Monday still a little high from the show. But still smart enough to know not to brag to anyone that I actually paid to see NKOTB (okay, my Mom paid-but still). I vividly remember sitting in art class and hearing some of the ultra-cool seniors making fun of anyone that had gone to the NKOTB concert over the weekend. I played it as cool as I could and kept my mouth shut.
(We were on the A/B schedule at my high school, so I only had art class every other day. I was so in love with one of the senior boys that I would wear my best outfit on the days that I had art class with him. The other days I didn’t have to worry about it as much. Of course, he never even looked at me. Jerk)
I stuck to my promise and went to as many concerts as I could after that. As a poor high school student I didn’t actually have any money to pay for tickets. My Mom would buy them and I would have to baby-sit or mow the lawn to work off the money. The second concert I went to was Ringo Starr. (I find it hilarious that I follow the horribleness of NKOTB with an actual Beatle.)
Word got out that I loved concerts, so some guy friends of mine started taking me to different ones. My friend Vance (again, I kill myself with my non lack of coming up with pseudonyms) took me to see the Steve Miller Band. Another friend took me to see Fugazi. (The King and I figured out that we were both at this concert, but wouldn’t meet until 10 years later!) I even got a co worker to buy me tickets to see the Smashing Pumpkins if I promised to give him a ride there.
Even as a poor starving college student I managed to still see concerts. During this time I saw pretty much any band from the Sixties that was still touring. Most of them I saw more than once. I admit this was during my “too much tie-dye too little make-up” phase.
After college I met Aly and things really started to heat up. We saw everybody. Some I remember, some I don’t. The first night we hung out we saw Lords of Acid and My Life with the Thrill Kill Cult. I know we also saw Beck, Bush, Cake, Quicksand, Foo Fighters, Korn (more than once, but I swear I’m not a fan), and Everclear (we even hung out with them). During this time I took my little sister to her first concert. We saw the Beastie Boys. Such a better first concert then NKOTB. I had to prep her on the standard rules for concert going. Mostly to just ignore all the people smoking pot around us. But she just couldn’t take her eyes off them. Maybe she was a little young to be there. Oopsie.
I never severed ties with my hippy roots. Being a huge Beatles fan, I have managed to see Paul McCartney twice. I went with The King’s Mom both times. I wish I could have gone with Marci. We were together in spirit. Marci and I did manage to see John Denver before his untimely death (I saw him twice). I also saw Simon and Garfunkel a few years back. I totally sat by myself. I didn’t care. I would have sat alone and gone naked if I could just see my beloved Paul and Art harmonize in person.
The King and I have even seen a few shows together. I promised to see Tony Bennett with him in exchange for seeing Bon Jovi (which was actually a really depressing concert. I have never seen so much acid wash in one place. And it was the year 2003!) I’ve gone with him to a few other shows, most of which I can’t even remember the names for the bands.
Right before Babboo was born I got fearful that life was almost over for The King and me. So the last few weeks before I went into labor we saw both Rhett Miller (THREE times) and Belle and Sebastian.
Jurassic 5 was in town last week. I know The King really wanted to go. But there was no way the both of us could abandon our Sweet Babboo and see them. I know he was disappointed. Maybe we’ll go next time they’re here.
To be honest I’m not even sure who’s going to be in concert next. I wonder what my 15 year old self would say to that. She probably would be mad that I hadn’t kept up my promise to see all the shows I could. She would probably roll her eyes at me when I said that we preferred being at home with Babboo right now.
That’s okay because I’m still embarrassed that she saw The New Kids on the Block.
July 25th, 2006 at 11:13 pm
DANG! You have been to some cool shows. I have to admit, I’m not a lover of live music, which is funny because my husband is a musician, and I met him at one of his shows. And HE doesn’t even like live music. Ahem. That being said, I would LOVE to see Smashing Pumpkins, Cake or Beck. I love all of them so much. I think I’ve only seen Anthrax, Brian Setzer (who was amazing) and George Strait. Lame.
July 25th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
I loved this post. LOVED it.
July 26th, 2006 at 12:17 am
A hell of a lot better than my stupid MC Hammer story.
Oh, and too bad you don’t have an awesome babysitter to stay with Babboo.
July 26th, 2006 at 12:36 am
Dude, you saw Belle and Sebastian?!?!?! SOOOOOOOOO jealous!! Also? At least your first concert was something cool… my first concert? My GRANDPA took me to see DC TALK…. and worst part? He jumped around and danced the whole time… wait, even worse? it was in the auditorium of Liberty University. Yep… Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University… still feel embarrassed about NKOTB???? lol…
July 26th, 2006 at 12:52 am
Speaking of the Hammer… my first concert was MC Hammer/Vanilla Ice/En Vogue… I loved it. I was in the 8th grade I think. I would have loved to have gone to see NKOTB when they were popular. But in all honesty… I don’t much like concerts myself. I’m so short I always get the shaft.
July 26th, 2006 at 2:10 am
I’m not that big on concerts, which is weird because I love music. I went to about 2 a year in high school, but mostly it was to get drunk in the parking lot beforehand. Actually, the last two Dave Matthews concerts that I went to I didn’t even have a ticket for. Just tailgated, passed out for awhile, and went home. Classy.
But I totally remember my first concert, probably because I wanted to go SO BADLY and my mom almost didn’t let me. I was a sophomore in high school and From Good Homes (a now disbanded Jersey folk rock group) was at a small club in NYC, and a group of girls that I really wanted to be friends with were going, and they invited me. I finally cried my way into going, convincing her that it wasn’t really about the concert or the city, but they might not invite me again and I’d blow my chance to get to konw them.
10 years later, those girls are my best friends in the world. Thank you mom, for letting me go into New York with a couple of other 15 year olds. I probably won’t be that cool with my own kids, but hopefully I’ll remember what it was like to want something that desperately.
You are a rockstar, by the way. You met Everclear?!?
July 26th, 2006 at 2:27 am
Man, have you been to A LOT of shows! I’ve only seen a few, but they were for some of my favorite singers: Alanis Morrisette, Tori Amos, Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band, Billy Joel and Elton John (what I’d give to see them together again!), and Liz Phair. And that’s it! But I hope to change that in the future.
July 26th, 2006 at 3:33 am
Great post. My first concert was AC/DC. I too went to a NKOTB concert. My little step-sister loved them and forced me to go with her.
I am totally jealous that you have seen Cake live.
July 26th, 2006 at 3:35 am
So, I click over from your comment about Rhett Miller completing your life, and what do I see but a post about Rhett Miller! Care to be the co-founder of his fan club?
July 26th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
So I was at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City one night about a year ago, and I guess Bon Jovi was playing in the concert hall there. I saw a woman with ten foot tall rock hard bangs, super painted on acid wash jeans with big bold black letters running vertically down her left leg that said “BON JOVI”. I believe she was the embodiment of all that was terrible about the 80’s.
And hanging out with Everclear? Not fair!
July 26th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Well, I may officially be the loser I remember being in High School. I have no idea who most of those bands are. Pre-children, I went to a ton of concerts, but all country (Travis Tritt, Brooks and Dunn 7 years in a row, Reba McEntire). I remember my dad getting tickets for the whole family to see Reba for my 16th b-day and how mad I was that it was my birthday and everyone got the present! I did see The Who at Busch Stadium in St. Louis when I was in H.S. (My dad got free tickets and was trying to make up for something by giving them to me)-does that make me a little “cooler?” My husband also took me to see Bare Naked Ladies and I ended up loving them, which I did not expect. The last concert I saw was a couple of months ago when I won tickets from the radio to see Martina McBride. I am so lame.
July 26th, 2006 at 12:35 pm
I saw Bryan Adams and Def Leppard last summer and the acid wash was in full effect still, as were mullets and huge perms. I didn’t know people still dressed up like that, but it was impressive. But not in a good way. At least the show was good.
July 26th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Out of that list, yay for S+G and B+S!!
July 26th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
My first concert was Wang Chung. Seriously. I think I was 14, and we had 6th row tickets. It was awesome. Even for Wang Chung.
July 26th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
okay, just for you, Isabel, I’ll admit it…my first concert was Tiffany, and the opener was NKOTB. I didn’t know who they were at the time though, I just wanted to hear “I Think we’re Alone Now.”
All your commenters have me realizing I have been to a lot of concerts…I used to go to several per summer in the ‘olden days’ but the last one I’ve seen recently was Lenny Kravitz, over a year ago. Some of the best shows I’ve seen: Prince, Fiona Apple & Our Lady Peace, Counting Crows, Wilco, Foo Fighters, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young’s CSNY2K tour.
July 26th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
My very first concert was NKOTB too. I was in either 6th or 7th grade and my parents got me tickets for Christmas. My sister and I squealed all through the concert just like all of the other pre-teen girls around us.
A couple of years ago I put together a list of all of the bands I have seen and there were over 100, but I’m guessing I still left a few out of the list. Since I had my baby a year ago, I’ve been to only one concert. Summers used to be concert season for me, but this year, not so much.
July 26th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
My first concert was Bush, Goo Goo Dolls, and No Doubt in Buffalo and that’s where (or so I heard, I KNOW I HEARD THIS) Gwen Stefani and Gavn Rossdale met. Now they have a baby together! And it’s all because of meeeee!!! Or not. But let’s pretend.
July 26th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
My first concert was also NKOTB. My step-mom took me, her daughter, and my sister. She got in a wreck on the way. But we still made it on time.
Okay, so I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’m a HUGE dork. Want to know why? I went to see NSYNC (which btw, have you heard the news about Lance?) several years back. I must have been in my early 20’s (read too old to be at a boy band concert). My uncle worked security and hooked us up with floor seats. Want to know how much I screamed and yelled “JC!!! JUSTIN!! Wooo-hoooo!!” and even did the dances with them (b/c I knew them)? So much that the 10 year old girls in front of me kept looking back at me like I was crazy. Dude, it was so much fun!
Dixie Chicks was equally fun b/c once again my uncle was working security (I love him) and got us in the “Chick Pit” which was right at the stage. They rocked!
July 26th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
Beastie Boys!! BOY THAT BRINgs BACK THE MEMORIES!!
I haven’t been to a concert in ages!
July 26th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
I haven’t been to a concert in a few years. And what’s sad is that the last one I went to? I can’t even remember who it was!
July 27th, 2006 at 12:27 am
any girl who admits going to the NKOTB is good in my book
nutter
July 27th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
The concerts I have seen have been pitifully few: The Jetts (hey, they were at our local fair), Shaggy and Sawyer Brown (again, at the fair). I feel so inferior…
July 27th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
I can’t live without going to concerts. Going to a good show with that kind of electricity…that’s like Church to me.
We’ve missed a bunch of great shows this summer because Henry is just too young to go with us, or I can’t be in the bathroom of a Phil & Friends show pumping.
Light at the end of the tunnel for us was a Dark Star Orchestra show at the House of Blues on the second night of our vacation. Thank goodness for grandparents.
Next year? We’ll totally be those parents on the lawn with the dancing 16 month old kid with long hair. Either that or the kid will be doing our taxes.
A show will come your way soon.
July 28th, 2006 at 4:15 am
My first concert was also NKOTB, but I’m not too embarrassed, because I was only in fifth grade. I saw them when they were in their prime, and for me at the time it was equivalent to a visit to Heaven. My parents chaperoned…and my dad actually slept through the ENTIRE show. That show actually put an end to general admission in this city b/c some kid got trampled.
I’ve also seen Bush and Everclear (won tickets to that one), among others. My favorite concert by far was David Byrne; I’ve seen him multiple times. He’s awesome. Anyway, I really liked this post. I’m sure you’ll make it to many more concerts in your time. Babboo will love that his parents are cool enough to take him to a good show every once in a while.
July 28th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
My first was also NKOTB in 3rd grade. Like you, I don’t remember much about the concert, just that I got my first retainer earlier that day and I was so mortified that Jon (my favorite) might see me with a RETAINER! THE HORROR! And that my best friend was too sick to go so her mom got one of the concert videos that they had and gave her a private concert on the couch. My mom got me the tickets for Valentines Day that year and we went with a friend of hers and her two daughters. LOL
July 29th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
NKOTB was my first concert too! They were kind of not as cool anymore when I went too…but I was in 4th grade! you ARE old ;-P
December 19th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
[...] Slowly we became better friends. We realized we lived near each other, had some of the same likes, plus, we cracked each other up. Next thing I knew, we were inseparable. You couldn’t find Marci without finding me close by. The funny thing is that Marci and I weren’t a lot alike. She dressed better then I did, had better hair, better teeth, a cuter brother, and was probably a little smarter than I was. [...]