Have you ever been part of a crowd where everyone was moving in beat with the music and everyone’s arms were in the air together in unison, the crowd singing louder than the lead vocalist to the lyrics. Like those concerts in the 60s and 70s. No cell phones, nobody trying to impress anyone. Just absorbed by the music.
I can still get that feeling now even when I’m alone. Memories of those concerts and times make the hair on my neck tingle when certain songs come on at certain times.
That was such a powerful feeling and rush. 20, 30, 40 thousand people in sync and all focused on the band. The only pause in the energy is the seconds or minute or two between songs. Concerts seemed longer in the days I went frequently. Which is a long time ago.
A friend is going to a show this evening of a big star and an old one. The disappointing thing I see now is a lot of people sitting on their butts with phones in the air in the video and clips I see.
Recapturing that magic is tough, I guess. That and the fact that a lot of popular acts have aged. Some have lost members and it doesn’t sound or feel the same.
I experienced that a long time ago. When I followed The Who and Keith Moon passed. When they got Zack Starkey, it was close but never the same. I had the same thought when I thought about seeing Rush again but without Neil Peart, I’m sure it would be different. I’m not saying different isn’t good or maybe in a few cases better, but it’s changed.
Though for me when I see some of these groups I feel like I’m back in time and inhibitions fade. Even when I hear the songs at home or in the car it takes me to that special seat at a concert. Sometimes right up front. Yeah, we slept out overnight for seats from a ticket office window.
But the number of concerts I’m willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on is 0 because it’s been a few years since seeing a big show. We might start looking at smaller shows and venues.
From some of the stubs I have from the 70s the average price seemed to be around $8 a seat. That inflation adjusted to today’s dollars in 2026 is around $45-$50. Most of the tickets for nosebleed sections are $150 or more. I just checked a show I was interested in Roger Daltrey playing at the MGM in National Harbor. $155 cheapest seat.
Such is life. I guess if you still have a lot of people paying that price, go for it. That could be about to change though.
