Sodawax

Yesterday, sometime in the afternoon while repainting my fathers swimming pool, I get a call from a long time friend saying he's got an extra ticket for Bad Religion tonight at the House of Blues. I'm not exactly sure how many times I've seen Bad Religion perform. I lost count somewhere around 16. I figure now, it must be up to around 19 or 20. So, I went on and told my friend, 'Why the hell not, I can see them at least one more time.' I'm sure it probably won't be the last, however. I pretty much grew up listening to Bad Religion as they were my favorite band throughout my highshool years. If you knew me back then, you wouldn't be surprised to see me at a Bad Religion show. You would, infact, expect it. I had every album and knew every lyric and drum roll to every song. I had an entire wall in my bedroom dedicated to nothing but Bad Religion parafanalia from photos, posters, and record covers to signed t-shirts, ticket stubs and posters. I've got countless items with Bad Religion autographs and have met and even hung out with members several times. I've been on a cover of a magazine with the band and once sat next to them as they played a private show at about 2 in the morning in front of about 30 young fans. Yes, I was a BR nut!
But as I've become older, of course, I'm not so nutty anymore. If I was, at 32, I think I'd have a problem. However, I do still have much of their parafanalia, most of it is stashed away in boxes. I still listen to them from time to time from the songs I've downloaded off my computer. But there's still a great deal of songs I haven't heard in years.
Going to the show was like a flash back in time for me. I don't really go to concerts anymore. Maybe one a year if that. And to know how many I use to go to as a teen, there's no number high enough to count. If I went to that many Bad Religion shows, maybe we can have an idea. I've seen Unwritten Law just about as many times. The Vandals, Green Day (even when they still had long hair), Blink 182 (before they added the 182) The Pixies, Fugazi, Pearl Jam, Nofx, Sublime, Ramones, Circle Jerks, Pennywise, Ministry, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Nirvana, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Primus, etc... If they played in the 90's, I've seen em, and mostly in small venues. I've even met over half of them at that.
To admit, it was nice going to this show and hearing the great old songs that I haven't heard in years that I use to listen to daily. Of course, my voice isn't use to singing along to the songs like before. I still remembered the lyrics, but I havn't been able to talk all day.