It’s Friday, which means around here it’s time to have some fun. This week it was officially announced that Steven “Screamin” Tyler will be the next judge on American Idol. Now I used to be a HUGE Aerosmith fan, so if anyone is allowed to make fun of Steven Tyler it’s me. When I first heard this news – my first thought was “oh cool, so just like golf there is now Senior American Idol Tour – only people above 50 are allowed to try out”. That’s nice! Then I realized “Oh this is the REAL American Idol, and Simon is being replaced by Steven Tyler… yea this has tons of potential”. Really? Steven Tyler? Isn’t he a little old for this gig? I mean… like Kramer, his face literally does look like a catchers mit. No seriously, I’m actually sure that he’ll do quite well in this roll, I just hope he doesn’t end up face down on the stage like he has so many times before.
But hearing this news did remind me of my past. Not the face down on the stage part – but the obsessed with Aerosmith part. I was first introduced to Aerosmith when they released their Nine Lives album back in 1997. I was 17 at the time and immediately fell in love. For Christmas that year, I remember asking my girlfriend to buy me the box set (yes… the BOX SET!) that included their first 10 albums! I even started putting together a notebook (I think I still have it somewhere) that included all their album covers and every lyric to every song they ever wrote. I read their autobiography called “Walk this Way” in about a week. Did you know that Steven Tyler wrote the song “Dream On” on a piano when he was 17 years old. Did you know the line ‘Every time I look in the mirror, all these lines my face getting clearer” is not about the lines in his face? You know the bass drum near the end of “Living on the Edge”? Well… he stole that from his high school was he was expelled and used it in that song over 20 years later. Yea… you could say I was obsessed. Over the next 3 years, I would see them in concert 6 times! My greatest concert experience happened at an Aerosmith concert in Pittsburgh when my buddy and I pushed our way to the front of the crowd and were literally about 10 ft from the band as they belted out Dream On! Total awesomeness!
Ah yes, those were the days. It’s been almost 12 years since my first concert experience at the Bryce Jordan Center. I’ve moved on and made many changes since that stage of my life. The most recent concert I attended was the Casting Crowns. These days – I love the Casting Crowns – they are my new favorite band. I’ve seen them in concert 4 times, and I’m sure that number will continue to rise. My wife and I even had the privilege of meeting Mark Hall and the rest of the band members of Casting Crowns at that concert. I’ve also seen Jeremy Camp twice, TobyMac, Pearl Jam, Skillet, Kutless, Steven Curtis Chapman, Lynard Skynard, Dave Matthews Band, Disciple, plus others I probably can’t remember.
So today for fun day Friday… Let’s talk about concerts. I’m curious oh loyal readers… what was the last concert you attended? What was your best concert experience? And if you won a trip to the concert of your choice… what would it be?
Matt Riggins Blog 