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Why I'm Following a Band at 49 yrs old..
I'm more excited about seeing Pearl Jam this tour than I was at 28 living in New Mexico when there were about 130 of us in the ballroom at the Kiva. I walked from stage to back of the room, to the side where the band was jumping in and out of the room, grabbing their own gear. I've seen the show in San Francisco where Eddie started talking, then man... ten seconds .. off that stage, and you KNEW from where you were sitting that was the scent of a very sick man...and the show still went on. (I have a boot leg, kept the ticket, and did not see the make up show because that was one of a kind and I couldn't see a show replaced.) I've seen Mudhoney, Green River, Mother Love Bone, and I cried at a talk that Pete Townshend gave at SXSW in 2007.
I write and sing, and I'm disabled.. Unabled...alterabled. F the PC BS, because I'm a gimpy person who can't do what I want to do, and it sucks ass. It happened slowly and it happened in a way that was almost a constant, HA! Try playing guitar NOW! or HA! You think you can use that gorgeous piano now??! But I constantly built work arounds. I sing a lot. A whole lot. For myself, and for others. But I write for me, and others get it, so that's cool. That's why I have seen this band oodles of times in many formats and will continue to do so. Why? I'm the same age my grandma was when I was born....and I've never had kids, nor wanted to... and there's a lot to be said about being born in the 1960's, and not really aging like the folks born in the 1950''s. (we seem to be allergic to aging.)
This year, my husband made it possible for me to see four shows, and a friend I met on the board helped in this as well. I was able to buy a ticket for the fourth show because another fan, who loves the music and loves people who loves music was able to sell me a face value ticket to a second Los Angeles show. WHY? WHY does someone breaching 50 want to follow a band state to state just to hear music from other people around the same age? It's easy-- these are the people who grew up with me. These are my friends that I never met, or met, but may never meet again. They have families, they've had heartbreaks, they've kept their lives focused on music, just as I have, so that when the bad times were bad, the music could take them on a new journey.
Our friends have died. Our friends have broken our hearts. Our friends have found us when we've been in the deepest saddest moments and talked to us back to our humanity. These folks who work for this band, this band, the fans who have as much reason to love the music as I do, and who have stories of meeting each other, the band members, Kat and Sea, the beginning and run of Pearl Jam radio... hearing interviews and seeing people instead of these plumped up "what-a-stargaga" who may be greatly talented, but just don't feel like you could have a cup of coffee or talk about how shitty it was that the government in this country has it less together than some third world countries. You, me, anyone who feels like a real person talking Pearl Jam is because you see them as real people.
YES they have careers that in 1991, no one expected to be as big as (bigger than) the Rolling Stones. Yeah, there was a time when you could go hiking someplace and actually run into one of the guys just having a few days in the woods. Yes, there was a time that if you went to a coffee shop late at night, you may find some guy with a Composition notebook having coffee and talking about Henry Rollins newest tour, or Rock for Choice with Donita or Jennifer from L7. I still remember the great Bile drinking contest from lollapalooza. I can't give up on my friends wh have taken me from bad marriages to good marriage(!), from being alone in the desert in New Mexico, to living in 6 states, and surviving disability-- learning that one of them was just as screwed up but hid it better for years, and is now helping others.
I'm in love with these songs. I'm in love with the memories they gave me. I'm in love with the people I got to meet. I'm grateful that when I am in my worst pain, I can escape through their sounds. I'm excited to see familiar faces, who have been my allies whether they knew it or not. And these guys who are just guys with families, and lives, and fart, and say stupid stuff to their loved ones some times, and say loving things to stupid people sometimes... my music is dedicated to them. I'm dedicated to them. They are amazing to me. ..and that's why this old gimpy bag in wheelchair with service dog will be there again.... Not for the tshirts, not for the swag... just experiences. That's what the band is to me, and that's why I love them, and why I love others who love them.
love letter done...and...continues
I write and sing, and I'm disabled.. Unabled...alterabled. F the PC BS, because I'm a gimpy person who can't do what I want to do, and it sucks ass. It happened slowly and it happened in a way that was almost a constant, HA! Try playing guitar NOW! or HA! You think you can use that gorgeous piano now??! But I constantly built work arounds. I sing a lot. A whole lot. For myself, and for others. But I write for me, and others get it, so that's cool. That's why I have seen this band oodles of times in many formats and will continue to do so. Why? I'm the same age my grandma was when I was born....and I've never had kids, nor wanted to... and there's a lot to be said about being born in the 1960's, and not really aging like the folks born in the 1950''s. (we seem to be allergic to aging.)
This year, my husband made it possible for me to see four shows, and a friend I met on the board helped in this as well. I was able to buy a ticket for the fourth show because another fan, who loves the music and loves people who loves music was able to sell me a face value ticket to a second Los Angeles show. WHY? WHY does someone breaching 50 want to follow a band state to state just to hear music from other people around the same age? It's easy-- these are the people who grew up with me. These are my friends that I never met, or met, but may never meet again. They have families, they've had heartbreaks, they've kept their lives focused on music, just as I have, so that when the bad times were bad, the music could take them on a new journey.
Our friends have died. Our friends have broken our hearts. Our friends have found us when we've been in the deepest saddest moments and talked to us back to our humanity. These folks who work for this band, this band, the fans who have as much reason to love the music as I do, and who have stories of meeting each other, the band members, Kat and Sea, the beginning and run of Pearl Jam radio... hearing interviews and seeing people instead of these plumped up "what-a-stargaga" who may be greatly talented, but just don't feel like you could have a cup of coffee or talk about how shitty it was that the government in this country has it less together than some third world countries. You, me, anyone who feels like a real person talking Pearl Jam is because you see them as real people.
YES they have careers that in 1991, no one expected to be as big as (bigger than) the Rolling Stones. Yeah, there was a time when you could go hiking someplace and actually run into one of the guys just having a few days in the woods. Yes, there was a time that if you went to a coffee shop late at night, you may find some guy with a Composition notebook having coffee and talking about Henry Rollins newest tour, or Rock for Choice with Donita or Jennifer from L7. I still remember the great Bile drinking contest from lollapalooza. I can't give up on my friends wh have taken me from bad marriages to good marriage(!), from being alone in the desert in New Mexico, to living in 6 states, and surviving disability-- learning that one of them was just as screwed up but hid it better for years, and is now helping others.
I'm in love with these songs. I'm in love with the memories they gave me. I'm in love with the people I got to meet. I'm grateful that when I am in my worst pain, I can escape through their sounds. I'm excited to see familiar faces, who have been my allies whether they knew it or not. And these guys who are just guys with families, and lives, and fart, and say stupid stuff to their loved ones some times, and say loving things to stupid people sometimes... my music is dedicated to them. I'm dedicated to them. They are amazing to me. ..and that's why this old gimpy bag in wheelchair with service dog will be there again.... Not for the tshirts, not for the swag... just experiences. That's what the band is to me, and that's why I love them, and why I love others who love them.
love letter done...and...continues
When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
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Got to read this. Later
48 here
Watching A's lose.
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
On my way into work today, walking into the entrance, I was feeling blah. A young woman entering in front me had a tote bag. It said music=life. I smiled and said, love your bag. Totally changed my day. Music has the ability to completely change your mood. Obviously, just seeing the word "music" is enough for me.
I was on a natural high for a week after my first PJ show. That was 15 years ago. Boggles my mind how the anticipation of the next show hasn't waned one bit.
Rock on and never stop. Best wishes to you.
Love that lady mention, why is it some guys miss the fact the OP is a woman. No offense, just find it funny.
LOVE this thread. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Alpine Valley Resort is etched in my brain!!!
By the way, I know what you mean about people born in the 50's aging. I'm so much younger than most of them myself.
Sincerely,
brianlux,
8.5.51
yup, born and remain female, but some of my guy pals are married to guy pals so its all good
Henry David Thoreau
My top three:
See A Grown Man Cry...
Now Watch Him Die
and
Black Coffee Blues. I'm a full collector of the 2.13.61 catalog.
Henry David Thoreau
2006: Vienna 2009: Berlin 2010: London ~ Berlin 2012: Amsterdam 1+2 ~ Werchter ~ Arras ~ Berlin 1+2
2014: Milano ~ Trieste ~ Vienna ~ Berlin 2018: Padova ~ Rome 2022: Budapest ~ Vienna
EV London/Hammersmith 2012
EV Berlin/Zitadelle 2017
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
Lost my dream job.. (I found another)
Lost my fiancée..
Moved to a new city and lost some old friends...
You just cemented that I'm moving around some shifts and driving 8 hours to see PJ on this tour, because I still have Pearl Jam.
thank you.
Excellent! I have 14 of Rollins' book and have read most of them- currently reading A Dull Roar. I like your picks a lot. Smile, You're Traveling is also one of my favorites. Henry inspires me to keep going- "Hack or pack". What are some other favorite authors of yours put out by 2.13.61?
When I look back on my last 20 years I can't believe how much PJ or any band could have been such a big part of my day to day operations. I would have never guessed music playing such a big role in my life?
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
You rock cos MAN I get Pete... Empty Glass was my heart in every note and word. I listened to Who Are You until it was so warped it started to sound like the Comedian Harmonists singing in Belgian.
Henry David Thoreau
My wheelchair has a 1992 tshirt of the guys in cartoon form, and a stick man on the basket. My service dog is a chihuahua. My licence plate in CNMNGRL -- those are all me
Henry David Thoreau
Thanks dollface!!!! Gonna make it a life's mission to drink in every note and laugh with all my joy.
Henry David Thoreau
Our patterns make up our paths, and sometimes our paths alter our patterns... but whatever you do, keep the music in you. It's doing great things for your heart.
Henry David Thoreau
Excellent! I have 14 of Rollins' book and have read most of them- currently reading A Dull Roar. I like your picks a lot. Smile, You're Traveling is also one of my favorites. Henry inspires me to keep going- "Hack or pack". What are some other favorite authors of yours put out by 2.13.61?[/quote]
I performed with Don Bejema at Above Brainwash so I'm partial to him, and when I met exene cervenka, we were lying on the floor at a music performance at Calarts, and I had sweat pants on while everyone else was dressed to the 9s. I was wearing a shirt from India and eating snow peas, quietly lighting a candle for every song I loved. She lied down next to me and tucked her dress into her underwear, saying, 'I like your style", so I'm partial to her, too.
Henry David Thoreau
2014 Cincy, Detroit, Moline, & Milwaukee
2015 Central Park
2016 Lexington, Ottawa, Toronto 1 & 2, Boston 1 & 2, Chicago 1 & 2
2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2018 Seattle 1 & 2, Missoula, Chicago 1
Believe me, I'm all for whatever makes you happy, as long as you're not hurting anyone else.
I actually think the "brother" and "man" references is because at one time, people assumed all PJ fans were guys.
I saw them in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 and soon 2013. Eddie Vedder in 2008 and 2011. Brad in 2010, Flight To Mars in 2012, and RNDM in 2012 and 2013. I saw Soundgarden way back in 1996. So, I have seen Pearl Jam as a whole, and each of them in their other bands/solo.
Enjoy that first 39th...hoping there's a lot of them coming your way!!
Henry David Thoreau