That wet, drenching, just slippery and way too slick sweat last night was a special sweat.
It was summer concert sweat.
Specifically, it was a 311 summer concert sweat- the kind of sweat that changes the color of your t-shirt, makes rubber beer bottles slip out of your hand, creeps and crawls into your eyes, and causes you to think Gatorade is running out because of how fast you drink it.
But it's also the sweat of nostalgia. It's the sweat of familiarity and knowing that despite all the bullshit, some things are right in the world. P Nut is always going to roll out a killer bass solo despite what the cost of gas might be and Chad Sexton is always going to lead the most bad ass drum jam this side of the Mississippi regardless of the absurdity of Bush's Economic Stimulus plan. Nick Hex and SA, those dudes are always going to be bouncing around the stage, singing and rapping their hearts out despite the pretty sound economy and the guitarist will be shredding the shit out of Stage Right if those Mormon kids go back with their crazy families or not.
Although with that sense of familiarity comes the sure-footed signs of uncompromising reality.
I'm getting old, dude.
Not ancient or anything, but really, things just aren't what they used to be.
And I'm totally fine with that. If anything, I've grown accustomed to realizing my age at concerts. At Widespread Panic in Towson senior year, Paul and I got yelled at by some G D hippies for getting too close to the stage, making me realize that shit man, the party's over here. Time to move on. At It, the large Phish thrown down up in Maine, the apocalyptic lot scene and the vacant eyes of all those kids tromping through the mud hit me hard because none of it seemed real anymore. It was all happening around me, as opposed to happening with me. Now that party ship was setting sail too- and drug tests had become a symbolic change as well as very real one. Then last night at 311, where the kids walking by just kept getting younger and younger and someone was feeding all these little ninjas some might fierce jungle juice cause they were all absolutely wasted- gals crying and dudes all jacked up looking for the next fight- the disconnect was there again.
Yet at the same time, concerts have also been where I've felt the youngest and most at home. Spearhead, G Love, 311's show last year, Phish shows in '01, Beastie Boys just to name a handful.
So really I don't think it's as much about the band as it is some kind of crazy crash landing of fate and timing and high temperatures. Which really isn't that bad. Because if you're going to have a age-realizing moment, it might as well be accompanied by some good music.
It'd be a damn shame if it happened at the grocery store.
They play shitty music there- nothing to realize your age too. Good to buy milk too, but terrible to define yourself too.
All John Mayer is going to make me realize is that I need peanut butter.
Thanks for nothing, John.
ps. Thanks for the tickets Molly and Zack Attack.
Showing posts with label 311. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 311. Show all posts
Top 7 Bands I would play drums for
Top 7 Bands/Performers I would love to play drums for:
This is based on a band/performer’s musical style, popularity, history, venues played, personal influence, and other random variables.
1. 311. 311 goes first because as I was just driving home from Erin’s and listening to 311’s From Chaos, I started thinking how I’d love to play drums for 311. That thought led me to think about the top 7 bands I would like to play for. 311 are a pick certainly because of musical style. They combine everything I love to play and the music just seems like it’d be a blast to play.
2. Rustic Overtones. Listening to Rustic back in high school made me want to be in a band and for a while, every band I imagined myself playing in was in some way or another, based on Rustic. The end of Rustic was disappointing, but it didn’t seem to deter any of the members, or in inhibit them in anyway. The music was great; big and fun. It always seemed like a band that it’d be a good time just being the drummer, hanging back and just kicking beats while all that music swirled around you…yes…swirled.
3. James Brown. I love kicking beats, staying tight. I’m not a big fan of fills and whatnot and for those reasons I think that playing behind Brown would be ideal. I was listening to his album In the Jungle Groove and the whole thing is deep, heavy beats throughout the entire album. From what I’ve heard about his live shows is that they seemed to have that same vibe. That sounds like something I could really get into.
4. Sublime. Like 311, this pick is largely based on musical style. But where Sublime differs from 311 is not so much the popularity, but the history of the band. The heroin use aside, Sublime has always seemed like it was a fun band to be in. I love wearing shorts and almost every picture I’ve seen of Sublime, they’re wearing shorts. That’s my kind of gig.
5. Jack Johnson. Playing drums for Jack wouldn’t be my ideal musical choice, but I could tolerate it. And the fact that my tour schedule would revolve around the good surf and would feature gigs and recording sessions in Hawaii would certainly help.
6a. The Roots. This pick is largely based on the fact that if I could trade places with
Roots’ drummer, Questlove, I would in a second.
6b. Jane’s Addiction. This pick is largely based on my secret desire to play steal
drums, surf, and hang out with Flea. I would’ve been cool to help start Lollapalooza too.
7. Phish. They almost didn’t make the cut. I don’t even really listen to Phish
anymore, and the other bands on this list have all sustained their popularity with me and my Ipod. But I can’t turn my back on Phish. I love 90% of their music and they played some pretty amazing shows that would have been crazy to be a part of. I can’t even fathom playing for 7 hours on an Indian reservation in Florida for 80,000 tripped out dreamers and wanderers to celebrate the Millennium. Sometimes I have a hard time trying to imagine myself even at that show. But that should be understandable.
This is based on a band/performer’s musical style, popularity, history, venues played, personal influence, and other random variables.
1. 311. 311 goes first because as I was just driving home from Erin’s and listening to 311’s From Chaos, I started thinking how I’d love to play drums for 311. That thought led me to think about the top 7 bands I would like to play for. 311 are a pick certainly because of musical style. They combine everything I love to play and the music just seems like it’d be a blast to play.
2. Rustic Overtones. Listening to Rustic back in high school made me want to be in a band and for a while, every band I imagined myself playing in was in some way or another, based on Rustic. The end of Rustic was disappointing, but it didn’t seem to deter any of the members, or in inhibit them in anyway. The music was great; big and fun. It always seemed like a band that it’d be a good time just being the drummer, hanging back and just kicking beats while all that music swirled around you…yes…swirled.
3. James Brown. I love kicking beats, staying tight. I’m not a big fan of fills and whatnot and for those reasons I think that playing behind Brown would be ideal. I was listening to his album In the Jungle Groove and the whole thing is deep, heavy beats throughout the entire album. From what I’ve heard about his live shows is that they seemed to have that same vibe. That sounds like something I could really get into.
4. Sublime. Like 311, this pick is largely based on musical style. But where Sublime differs from 311 is not so much the popularity, but the history of the band. The heroin use aside, Sublime has always seemed like it was a fun band to be in. I love wearing shorts and almost every picture I’ve seen of Sublime, they’re wearing shorts. That’s my kind of gig.
5. Jack Johnson. Playing drums for Jack wouldn’t be my ideal musical choice, but I could tolerate it. And the fact that my tour schedule would revolve around the good surf and would feature gigs and recording sessions in Hawaii would certainly help.
6a. The Roots. This pick is largely based on the fact that if I could trade places with
Roots’ drummer, Questlove, I would in a second.
6b. Jane’s Addiction. This pick is largely based on my secret desire to play steal
drums, surf, and hang out with Flea. I would’ve been cool to help start Lollapalooza too.
7. Phish. They almost didn’t make the cut. I don’t even really listen to Phish
anymore, and the other bands on this list have all sustained their popularity with me and my Ipod. But I can’t turn my back on Phish. I love 90% of their music and they played some pretty amazing shows that would have been crazy to be a part of. I can’t even fathom playing for 7 hours on an Indian reservation in Florida for 80,000 tripped out dreamers and wanderers to celebrate the Millennium. Sometimes I have a hard time trying to imagine myself even at that show. But that should be understandable.
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