The Mosh Pit is for Standing

For me, live music is a passion. Even music I don't typically like is better live. I came of age during the time of grunge. It was an important time for me as it was the first time I realized music beyond the radio dial. My curmugeon friend likes to remind me that grunge is dead and I couldn't agree more, but I'll always appreciate the genre that gave me cause to open my ears. I've been to a lot of shows. I've been fortunate to see some of my favorite bands and some of my sister's favorite bands as well(these would be the ones I would never see otherwise - George Strait, Garth Brooks, David Allen Coe (oh the shame), Rascal Flatts and others).

One of the great things about living so close to Detroit is that a lot of good shows come this way. On Monday, I saw my first. I first heard Weezer in 1992; I've loved them ever since. They've toured frequently but never close enough to West Virginia to justify the travel. I bought a floor ticket which was neither the least nor most expensive and thought nothing of it until I entered the Palace. To my left I saw a giant banner, "THE MOST PIT IS FOR STANDING ONLY." I started to get a little scared. I signed the waiver and headed to the floor getting a decent spot. The more I thought about the waiver, the more scared I got. For a few minutes I entertained the idea of asking an usher if I could sit in one of the empty seats. Just in case.

I know I'm getting older. I know this because I didn't hurry home after work. I know this because I opted for a pair of comfortable running shoes instead of cute ones. And because I grabbed the first black shirt I could find. I slapped on some lipgloss without looking in the mirror and ran the straightening iron quickly through my hair. I hopped in the car and prayed that I'd miss the opening act because I'd never heard of them and didn't want to stand for four hours straight. I missed the first opening act, but not the send. It was gluttonous and maturbatory self-indulgent schlock and it was fronted by the man who does it best -- Tom Delonge (former Blink 182). I loved it. I jumped up and down with the twelve year old girls in their hot pink t-shirts and fringed bangs. I felt old, but I felt alive. Then we waited for Weezer to hit the stage. They opened with one of my favorites, "My Name is Jonas" and I almost cried.

I miss that time in my life. That time when Michael Stipe would look out into the crowd and you just knew that he was looking at you (this was before he came out naturally). I got hit in the head by a water bottle thrown by Julianna Hatfield's guistarist in 1995 and was excited about it. I miss the emotion. And it all came back to me on Monday. I left the arena Monday night exhausted and sweaty. I left feeling alive.