Listen! Is the band you used to love from 20 or 30 years ago coming to a place near you? Tickets are available? My advice is to give it a miss and buy another of their albums. In the last couple of years I have seen some of my absolute favourite bands from the 80s and 90s. In every case they have been bloody spectacular, singing their songs for more than thirty years have in every single case made them better, more expert, easier with the deal and totally fabulous.
In each case they look a little older, but they have really looked after themselves. On the whole they have new band members, full of energy and playing with flair and style. Except for one of them they have played smaller venues, but one was in a stadium. I won't mention who they are, I'm sure I'd get in trouble, and this isn't to insult anyone.
Throughout the days leading up to all these concerts, their old songs were pulled out, memories flashed by, a little hankering for days gone by, memories flashing past of those loved and lost. Of people and places I've moved on from. Times of utter joy and a few times of utter misery. Little flashes of dances, parties and exotic holidays.
You get dressed up, you make your way to the venue, have a drink with your friends or who ever you are going with, possibly a few reminiscing memories get mentioned. You file into the hall. You wait, the lights go down, the artist comes on stage, the audience gives an enthusiastic welcome.
And you look around, and see a sea of grey hair. T shirts pulled over paunchy tummies, jeans too tight for anyone over 40 – specially 60. And then the dancing starts, and personally, a very uncomfortable feeling of 'this is just weird' comes over. You are reminded that 30 years ago everyone here was young and beautiful and vibrant and rocking the house down, and today they have heard a calling from somewhere deep within and are trying to answer that call with what feels like a very sad, slightly stiff mirroring of what they feel they used to be.
And that's it really, you are in the biggest reminder that in this hall is death on it's way. Here is a visual reminder of what age does, and the sagging chins and thickened waists remind you that you are not immune. That 30 years ago there would have been loads of people who have passed on to another universe now not here this time. That there are people here who are facing arthritis and chronic ailments and we are none of us getting younger, that this is the best any of us are going to look. That 30 years ago, we thought we were immortal and were amused by dad dancing, and now that is actually us.
So, what am I saying? just that it is sad, and unless you are in the best place you have ever been in your life, you might like to give it a second thought. I have spent today (the day after) feeling absofuckinglutely ancient.
