The Imagination Of A Teenage Music Geek

This is gonna be a bit of a story of nostalgia of sorts. Please bare with me, cause I don’t know where I’m gonna with this, but I say roll with it. So yeah, back in my teenage years, let’s say 1996, cause I think that was awesome year for music, and I was 15. I’ve always imagined going into an indoor venue to go see a band play, and, it would be the coolest experience ever. My only issue was that I was 4 years too young to even step into a bar.

My thoughts were I’d go see a band, a band that everybody would be interested in, and we’d have this special thing in common (like as if the band had made this special get together that was just for us), and it would dark, with pretty lights, and everyone would be outta their minds, drinking or getting high. And not just on drugs, I mean, we would be really feeling the music as a high. From all those music videos that they played on Much Music back than, as a teenager I totally idolized the artists that we’re releasing those videos, and that chance to be right there, and rock with them in a concert would be the greatest feeling ever.

I’ve heard of all ages venues, but at 15, I was really intimidated to go to them. They also had school dances as well, which I thought we’re fucking lame. I mean, I really didn’t want to get caught doing the “Macarena”. Fuck that. You couldn’t get me dancing on the dancefloor anyway. The school dances would come and go, and I’d be in the basement rockin’ my own tunes. They really should have had rock bands playing at our schools when I was growing up, just so when I was old enough, I’d go see a live band downtown, and feel pretty comfortable with going out. Yes, I felt intimidated, but my time would eventually come.

Speaking of dances, a few years later, the whole rave scene was becoming pretty mainstream. You know, with all that techno, and shit. Our school dances eventually ended up like raves, and kids would be coming into school, showing off their bags of little colored pills of ecstasy. I dunno where they got them from. Who knows. I really imagined what it would feel like to be on drugs, but, I opted out, not going down that route. There’s other highs in life, the ones where you are jamming to even techno music, and that shit just makes you feel good listening to it, without the use of drugs.

I think I gotta little off topic there, with the whole message of “DRUGS ARE BAD!”. But anyway, when I eventually became of age to go downtown, and was old enough to see a band play, it was everything that I had hoped for. Except for that odd, horrible band that was playing last Saturday night at Cheers, “what the hell was that”? But I’d creep up to the Attic, with a beer in hand, sit on a stool (or was it a tickle trunk), watch the flashy colors while this punk rock band played, I dunno who they were, but they were awesome.

And right now, I still get that awesome feeling at times, not everytime when I go to a show, but when the stars are aligned, when the music is so good, and the crowds is really into it, and I’m truly experiencing it. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, cause it’s the coolest night ever.

About the author

Justin

Me, I'm an avid music goer, documenting/photographing Halifax's music scene. I like loud shows, and long walks on the beach.