On my way home from work there is a billboard for the San Manuel Indian Casino showcasing the latest act that will be performing there. It's always some has-been act from the 70s or 80s, like Lynard Skynard, even though half the original band has passed. The other day it was Chuck Berry, I didn't even know he was still alive. The band playing at San Manuel is always some act that was big in it's day but now has faded to obscurity. And I always feel bad for them, that their career has come to playing at a random Indian casino, like that is the only gig they can get even though they used to sell out stadiums. And the band always looks so old in the picture. I always imagine the middle-aged people attending these shows with their worn out concert t-shirts that no longer fit and reminiscing about when they first saw them live.
This week, I was driving home and saw that the band playing at San Manuel is the Stone Temple Pilots? What? I love STP, they've been my favorite band since I was 13, they are still good and should not be playing Indian casinos! They are not a has-been act, they are still relevant, right? Ok, I was 13 in 1993, sixteen years ago. STP has broken up I don't even know how many times and Weiland has been in rehab or jail countless times. I couldn't believe that one of my favorite bands has been reduced to this. I saw them in 2000 at the Universal Amphitheater (I have no idea what it's current corporate name is now) and at the Santa Barbara Bowl. They are amazing live. Definitely above playing at an Indian casino in the middle of no where.
Seeing that STP was going to be playing at San Manuel made me feel old and little like my dad who's musical tastes have not changed since 1976. Maybe I need to get with the times and find some new music. I don't want to be one of those old people at the concert with my old t-shirt going on about how great this band was back in the day. But, seriously, they were awesome.
I had a similar reaction when K-Earth 101, the OLDIES station started playing music from when I was in high school! I even got in the face of someone from the station who was sitting at a promotional table at an event. "How dare you play music from my high school days and call them 'oldies'!" I said. The station rep, who was at least 15 years younger than me just laughed and gave me that, "Oh you're so pathetic" look.
ReplyDeleteMy other, much more entertaining experience was going to a David Cassidy concert a couple of years ago at the La Mirada Theatre. Talk about a shrunken venue! And it wasn't exactly a sell out for the one-night-only appearance. It was hilarious watching the "Menopausal Mosh Pit" that formed in front of the stage. And let me tell you that girls who wore tube tops and halter tops in 1970 have NO business wearing them in 2008!! But when David sang "I Think I Love You", I was 10 again and had a great time!!! Cindy Yount