Week 84: 1970 Chevelle SS

I  love Chevelles, from the squared off yet hip 1964 debut through the early 70s Chevelle Malibu wagon through the 1973 Chevelle -- the body style changed in 1974 and they kind of lost me then, but that was nonetheless a great 10 year run.

Chevelle, the rock band, was the last real rock concert I attended, by the way, when they opened for the Foo Fighters. My wife and I had taken my then teenage son to the show some seven or so years ago, before either of my two youngest children were born. Since then, no concerts. I did hear snippets of a Stones song being played by a cover band at some distant stage at a carnival a few years back, but then I had to chase my toddler as he ran off toward the Loop-O-Plane, after which the smell of funnel cakes distracted me and the stage was forgotten. For some reason, babies interrupted my rock-and-roll lifestyle.

Maybe it's approaching age 50, or maybe something else, but lately I've been hankering to attend a full-fledged rock concert again. I've found myself seeking out recorded concerts on late night cable or catching great shows like Austin City Limits, even sometimes sitting through PBS telethons, which often air music events, just to see a show. Old bands, new bands, PBS friendly bands, it doesn't matter -- I watch them all. I'm missing concerts.

I have always loved music - rock, folk, funk, zydeco, blue grass, soul, indie creations of all flavors -- but my recent desire isn't about any particular band or musical style, but about the experience of the live show. I miss the energy, and strangely, the community.

Similarly, I've found myself dreaming of going to an actual movie theater. I understand the irritations involved, but I don't care -- I want to see a giant screen and a movie like it was meant to be watched, even if I would rather watch an old black and white movie.

I mention this because this rock concert/movie theater thing is relatively recent -- I've only started thinking this way over the past ten or so months, and I'm not sure why. I mean I understand why I love the live music and movie theater experiences, I just don't know why I have suddenly become so interested again after all these years. Even before the Foo Fighters show, I hadn't attended many concerts or gone to the movies much since before my oldest son was born, and that was way back in 1989. I'm telling you, I think this might be an age thing.

Whatever the case, the practicality of actually going to movies and concerts again with a house full of kids is what it is -- not really there, and I'm okay with that. More reasonably, however, I think I will make a real effort to get out to at least one concert and one movie with my wife this year -- that should be doable.

Until then, maybe I'll drop by my oldest son's apartment.

He now has a high definition widescreen TV, perfect for watching a PBS friendly concert, and, if I'm lucky, he'll let me turn it up loud.


Thanks to Phil Pekarcik for the hand, literally, and the photo of my Chevelle.

For the record, a few years ago my wife and I did take the kids to see They Might Be Giants, but it was during the day at the Tops KidFest, so the band was only doing their children's songs. Still, it was a lot of fun -- and the audience was really well behaved.