This year marks the 30th anniversary of my life as a frequent concertgoer. I had attended a few shows between 1987 and 1995, but 1996 was the year that it really took, all thanks to an excellent Natalie Merchant show at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa. That was in May 1996, and by the end of the year I'd attended five more concerts. Now, thirty years later, according to my records (ticket stubs and a spreadsheet I've maintained for the last couple of decades) I've seen at least 183 shows and approximately 274 different artists. To celebrate the anniversary, I figured I'd share some statistics and reflections on 30 years of watching live music. First Concert As far as I know, my first concert was The Oak Ridge Boys at Braden Auditorium in January 1987. I was 9 years old, and I loved "Elvira," that guy with the long beard (William Lee Golden) and the one with the deep voice (Richard Sterben). First Concert I Actively Chose After The Oak Ridge Boys, I saw t...
To be read at maximum volume.