Decomposing Trees

Not that long ago I realised that after 3-4 years of frenetic concert going I've seen most of the bands I really want to see. I think I've been to over a hundred shows/festivals in my life so far. Most bands I like I want to see at least once. Unless they are a really great band I don't need to see them again. In fact, there's only a few international acts I've seen multiple times (not including festivals), namely Sonic Youth and Ryan Adams. In hindsight, that attitude seems almost mechanical, ticking off bands from a list to say that I've seen them.

There are a few bands on the list that I've had the opportunity to see but haven't such as the Black Keys, Wilco, Animal Collective, Bonnie Prince Billy, the National. It's no longer a case of I HAVE to see these bands, more I wouldn't mind seeing them. It's not exactly ambivalence but its not a necessity.

I would only list a few acts that I must see if they ever tour, namely John Cale (I am still really annoyed about missing his first Australian tour in 27 years by two days due to my overseas trip. I won't get over it for awhile), My Bloody Valentine, A Tribe Called Quest and Television

Does that mean I'm over going to concerts and seeing live music? Not exactly.

I guess it's a case of becoming more discerning about what I go to. Seeing lots of bands means that fewer shows and bands really stand out. It's the same with music generally. I don't want to go to a show for the sake of going to a show. It buys into the idea of deriving status from attending a show rather than enjoyment. I'm not really into paying $50-60 (at minimum) for status. (I won’t go into my quasi-Marxist views on the concept of ‘indie’, status and conspicuous consumption)

I don't think it helps that as festivals become more popular considering that most bands come to Australia as part of festivals. I acknowledge that festivals are a business enterprise nowadays but more recently it has meant that most festivals don't bring out more than one or two acts that I really want to see because they don’t need to.

I’ve also noticed having been to so many shows I've become less patient. I feel like I've done my time so I'd rather go to a show at a smaller venue and just relax over a drink than go to a packed out show at say the Hordern where I'm uncomfortable and stand and wait for hours. It's probably why I enjoyed All Tommorrow's Parties as a festival. (It doesn't help that I seem to be cursed with the ability to choose a spot next to annoying people wherever I stand at a show/festival)

I still enjoy the social aspect of going to a show since I usually go with friends or run into people I haven't seen in awhile. And of course when you see an amazing band it will just make your night and I will go on about them. Still, it makes me wonder whether this is all just a phase that I’m starting to grow out of such as how I used to obsessively follow rugby league or read comics many years ago.