My First Concert

The Wallflowers were in my head. This is my "Hey, you've grown up" band. My first memories of them was when I was nine. They were hitting Grammy glory with One Headlight, the song they'll tragically always be known for. That’s not the song that hooked me, though.

I suppose I was in elementary school. My dad drove me and my brother there every morning. The routine was, he has his coffee and breakfast at the table, my brother and I would absorb what was on the tellie to make it through school. We didn't get cable. Whatever station it was we had, it knocked out music videos. 

I saw the band for the first time in music video for The Difference. I have the image of Jakob Dylan with his bright blue eyes, basically his father's looks. It was like I was in a trance because I know I was standing up with my lame rectangular green bookbag on, the car was warmed up, and we were ready to leave. I remember sitting back down just to watch, listen to the song for another 10 seconds, give or take.

That was all of the Wallflowers for me until I was 17. I was getting out of the metal scene, bringing down the horse. I kept listening to that cd, followed by compulsion after compulsion to see them live. My first concert was seeing the Wallflowers at the Virgin Megastore release of Red Letter Days. The thrill was the best. Great locale and I was one of the first there. Most people didn't remember who these guys were or realize there was a show at the store. I loved it when I waited on lines and oblivious pedestrians ask what's going on there.

I was hours early at Virgin. I had the new album in the cd player, watching the stage get set up, browsing the isles and isles of music. When it came down to the show, I was right up stage right next to the speaker. The stage was small and I'm small - the situation couldn't be more perfect. I was directly facing Greg Richling, the bass player. I think he smiled at me the whole time. I like to believe that. Here it was - my first concert in utter awe because I was in the zone, locked onto every song and beat. 

The Wallies marked a transition. I wish I could come up with something nerdy to call it now. Teehee! Maybe the point of inflection. But anyhow. I think somewhere down the line there's always a point of being ready to wake up on the beautiful side of somewhere.