Life of a Live Music Junkie

I am an avid reader and writer. Besides these two hobbies, my passion is going to live music shows.

One of my first memories for a live music show was seeing Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons. I’ve seen them perform least four times. I distinctly remember my Mom taking me up to the stage and crying when Frankie Valli shook my hand.

I was lucky to see some of the first generation of rock and roll such as Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis all because of my Mom. She would take me to shows a local theater. I would dance and clap along, no realizing who I was watching perform.

MTV Generation

I grew up in the 80’s. Everyone from Duran Duran to Iron Maiden was an influence to me. MTV opened a whole new way to find new music. By the time I turned 15 I was enthralled by the music my brothers were bringing home. It was fast. It was hard. They didn’t sing as much as they screamed along with their guitars. It was perfect. I became a metal chick.

My brothers and I formed a deep bond because of heavy metal music. We related to the lyrics. We devised plans to sneak out of the house to go to NYC when we were way too young to see our favorites. We saw the Big 4 bands; Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer in small clubs and stadium shows. Living near New York City has its advantages.

Finding a new sound

I would listen to more than just metal. I still had my pop music idols (Duran Duran anyone?). I was also still listening to bands out of the 60’s and 70’s. I worship at the altar of Led Zeppelin and The Doors. By 1988, I The Grateful Dead caught my attention. My high school boyfriend nicknamed me “his heavy metal hippie chick”.

I began to go to lots of Dead shows. I would follow the band just like all the other fans did.

It was a huge change from my metal chick days. I went from wearing black and leather to rainbow and calico. The friends I made during those years became my second family. We have been friends for almost 30 years now.

Always looking for the new sound

I love discovering new music. I listen to satellite radio and regular radio. I listen to music more than I watch TV. Spotify allows me to curate my own playlists for work, going to the gym and reading.

Going to music festivals is another way that I discover new bands. For the past three years, I’ve attended a big hard rock festival out in Oklahoma. Rocklahoma is where I’ve discovered “new to me” bands. My current obsessions are Bad Wolves, Halestorm, In this Moment, and Badflower. Rocklahoma has three stages that host music all day. There are also campground stages where I’ve seen small bands, like Grind, Wage War and Ryder, a New York based band that I’ve only seen live while in Oklahoma.

New concert season

I am currently scheduling concerts to go to in 2020. I’ve decided to skip the reunion tour of Motley Crue/Poison/Def Leppard. I’ve seen all three of these bands in their prime. I’m ready to see Bad Wolves, the Black Crows and other bands heading out on tour this summer. I work hard for my ticket money and I need to choose wisely.

What about you? What music gets you pumped up for your day? What bands/singers do you turn to when you’re sad? Leave me a note in the comments!