In an age where iTunes and Pandora and Spotify reign supreme, it's so easy to forget to support live music. But there's just no substitution for it. I could see the same band a hundred times [see the band above*] and each set is its own entity; completely independent from their recorded album.
The beauty of live music is how unpredictable it is: the band tries out a new, unrecorded song for the first time; they decide to play one of their favorite covers [and of course you LOVE that song]; one of their friends from another band is in town and jumps on stage to do an impromptu collaboration; the power kicks out and they decide to play the rest of the night acoustic; the entire show [openers and even some roadies] get on the stage with all their instruments and jam; they play that one song, [and they NEVER play that song] the song that makes your heart ache. You can't get that on the internet. Watching a Youtube video won't suffice; you need to be there.
The mark of a really great show was always measured by how hard my ears were ringing and the bruises I got from being front and center. I might be a little older [and hopefully wiser], but I miss those days of getting knocked around, feeling every fiber of the music in my head and my heart.
So speaking of live music...
It's a good thing I decided to get the fall concert list started early, since there are so many great bands making their way to Atlanta much sooner than I thought. For some of these shows I actually don't know the bands too well, but gave them a preview and they sound promising. Others are a MUST go, so I'll be busy the next few months. I miss the days when I got tickets to shows for free. Gone are the days when I could go to shows three or four nights a week. Now I'll just have to settle for one or two :)
On a more random note: In making this list, I found a band called Snarky Puppy. I'm mentioning them for no other reason than their name is Snarky Puppy. It's the little things. Other gems include: Spanky and the Love Handles and Puffy Areolas. I couldn't make this up if I tried.
'Fall' 2012 Upcoming Shows:
All Get Out 8/30
Yeasayer 9/8
Ocean is Theory 9/7
Built to Spill 9/13
Beach House 9/16
There for Tomorrow 9/17
Strung Out 9/18
Music Midtown [Foo Fighters, The Avett Brothers, Florence + The Machine, LUDACRIS, Neon Trees, Garbage and more] 9/21-9/22
Glen Hansard 9/23
The Walkmen 9/26
Alabama Shakes 9/29
Bombay Bicycle Club 10/6
The Shins 10/8
Matt & Kim 10/12
Langhorne Slim & the Law 10/13
Grouplove 10/16
Milo Greene 10/18
The Temper Trap 10/19
Passion Pit 10/20
Minus the Bear, Cursive 10/24
Lagwagon 10/26
A.C. Newman 10/28
Yellowcard 11/12
Morrissey 12/3
*One of my favorite concert photos: I took this of Brand New at Starland Ballroom, June 20th, 2006
Someone please tell them to release a new album and tour in Atlanta. Or just play their old stuff live; that would more than suffice :)