I fell In love with the girl at the rock show

This is an overdue post....I should have written it a couple of weeks ago, but didn't. I've mentioned here many a time that music is a passion of mine. Heck, the whole theme of this thing is music. There is nothing however quite like the experience of seeing one of your favorite bands live. There is an energy that is simply unrivaled.

Over my birthday weekend your Mom and I got a chance to be "grownups pretending to be teenagers" and stepped out to see your Dad's favorite band Alkaline Trio. Now, I'm not the normal audience for this band. Far from it actually. We'll call their music literate punk for lack of a better term. Not the stuff that your average 45-year old father of two listens to but I never said I was conventional. Average is for the boring.

Your Mom had never been to a punk rock show before. What better time to be initiated than her 38th year. (She's all up in arms reading this right now, saying "I'm only 37!"...it's your 38th year, dear.) She had been listening to some of the band's music on her iPod leading up to the show to acquaint herself with the songs. She said she really liked them but doubted that the concert would be as rowdy as I warned her about. Okey dokey...not my first rodeo, hon.

We made our way into the club which was basically a hollowed out warehouse with a stage. We weaved through the crowd and got a good spot about fifteen feet back from the stage. The two opening band's set were very sedate. You could tell the crowd was really not that into it. As we stood surveying the audience, it was an eclectic mix of people. Most were young (18-25) and probably had no idea who the band on my tee was, circa 1984. Kids.

The lights dimmed and Alkaline Trio blasted into the song "This Addiction". The crowd went berserk on the first chord and swelled into a living entity, churning into a stew of sweaty punk energy. Your Mom's eyes widened in surprise. And then she started laughing. One of the things I've always loved about your Mom is how she takes on new experiences and runs with them. Look for that quality in your mates, guys. Adventurous, daring women help keep you young and life exciting.

I dug in and bounced incoming pit participants back into their swirling mess of bodies, making sure your Mom was protected from the all-too-common elbow to the the face. I sang (screamed) at the top of my lungs along with the band, fist high in the air. I was 17 again...and Zac Efron was nowhere to be found. "Can't smash up that beautiful face." (Lyric reference)

I made a few ventures out into the pit when a favorite song moved me to jump in. I don't know how iI was able to do this for two straight hours when I was younger. Now, one song left me doubled over, a sweaty, wheezing senior citizen. No matter. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. We had a phenomenal time. It was great sharing something that I enjoy with your Mom. She's a trooper. I doubt she ever experienced anything like this at a Brooks & Dunn show.

I can't wait to take you boys to your first concert. You both seem to love music and your first experience with a live concert hopefully will open up a new level of enjoyment for you. And Seth, try not to elbow dear old Dad in the face.

Headline from "The Rock Show" by Blink-182, 2001