It's only rock n' roll but I like it

There are a few bands that I always dreamed of seeing but knew I never would. Deaths, break-ups and the fact that I was barely in High School were some main obstacles. I used to slow dance with myself to Duran Duran, crying because I knew I’d never meet, let alone see Simon LeBon perform. Later I was too young to drive to concerts (and too broke,) to see bands like The Ramones, Echo & the Bunnymen and the Damned. I did however have cool folks who took me to the Rolling Stones, (Guns n’ Roses opened,) Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, (that was a friend’s parents- my folks thought there was something wrong with him… go figure,) and MC Hammer. Please- save the jokes-at the time he was the bomb. =)

Now that this 80s re-emergence is happening, I’ve actually had a chance to see some bands that I was sure I’d never see. Shows that I only dreamed of in my tiny room when I was 9 years old. I saw Duran Duran last year and cried when they played "The Chauffer." I saw the GoGo’s at the Greek a couple years ago, and actually hung out backstage watching Belinda playing with her baby. A far stretch from her punk days playing with The Germs. I saw the Pixies a few times on their reunion tour. (Although, I didn’t discover them when I was that young, as soon as I heard them I knew I had to see Frank Black screaming.) Tonight I saw Echo & The Bunnymen, which blew me away. They sounded better than the albums. This is such a big deal for me because these are childhood dreams come true.

However, the one band I missed and will never reunite is Nirvana. And I still get choked up hearing Kurt’s voice. I think a lot of people my age do. I guarantee that almost every gen-Xer will tell you where they were when they heard of his death.

Music is such a powerful part of our lives. Just the way a familiar smell can conjure memories, so can a song. I’m thrilled that music has veered away from that awful rap/rock back to real rock n’ roll. And I’m sure I’m going to end up like my mom, who was playing the Stones when I was 3 years old, saying “tempo Samantha, tempo” as I banged my spoon on my high chair to the music. I feel sorry for anyone who can listen to Elliott Smith and not cry- or at the very least reflect. I feel sorry for people who are so close-minded that they only listen to one type of music, (and please- for the love of GOD, don’t let that be jazz.) I just told a friend that I was sure I lost my membership card to the punk-rock club because I just bought Lionel Richie’s “Easy” on itunes. Yet, that falls right next to The Locust on my ipod. (Please check them out if you have no idea who I’m talking about.)

I suppose what I’m trying to say is never let that passion go because it keeps you young. My first entry into my very first diary, (when I was 8,) was that I saw my favorite video on MTV that day- “Safety Dance” if you can believe it. I went out and bought the record. I still get that same giddy feeling at 31, listening to The Dandy Warhols, as when I was 15 listening to Cinderella’s “Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone.” (Which is still an awesome song!)

I think everyone should have an ipod, or hell, a walkman, and have some private rock out time at least once a week. It’ll change your life!