I was struggling with this for a really long time—honestly, it went on for weeks, maybe even longer
But then I finally landed a job at a big call center, and just like that, the fear completely vanished. Seriously, if you're dealing with the same thing, take my advice and just go for it.
Dennis Hall41 said:@quietbison86/">@@quietbison86 Honestly, concerts just don't have that same edge for me anymore. A lot of them feel stuck in this routine loop—I mean, if a band is pulling 100 shows a year, of course they're going to get predictable—but I’m just over the whole struggle, you know? Dealing with cheap, watered-down beer and standing around for three hours straight... it's exhausting. In like 80% of cases, it just boils down to watching a band go through the motions. After that Fleet Foxes show, I was like, "That's enough," and decided I'm only hitting up gigs for artists who actually move the needle for me. There is zero chance I'm dropping $100 or $200, $100 for some band I only bother to listen to maybe three times in five years.
I totally agree—instead of serving that watered-down Žuja, they should actually stock some decent beer. If people want something better, let them pay a few extra bucks for quality, right?
Anyway, I still love the vibe at shows. Obviously, some are better than others, and half the time that's entirely on the performers themselves.
The real headache for me is that the acts I actually care about mostly play big festivals, and trying to hit every single one of those is basically impossible since they're always halfway across the country.
Look, I pay for Deezer, so it’s not like I’m out here stealing music for free, right?
As for cassettes—I don't even have a way to play them unless I dig up some old Walkman from a thrift store. And digital files? Honestly, what's the point of hoarding files when I already have a streaming service? CDs are just... meh, I've always been too lazy to bother with them. I love vinyl, obviously, but I don't own a turntable. Between that and having zero space or cash for a setup right now, it's a struggle—but man, I really hope to have one someday.
I love buying merch, I really do, but I can't be bothered dealing with all that headache—sales tax, customs, insane shipping costs... you know the drill. It's much easier to just grab what I want at the show.
At the end of the day, nothing beats live shows. They're my absolute favorite way to support artists. 😍
This one is easily one of my favorite Depeche Mode albums—I’d put it right up there with Nevermind, System of a Down, and SGR. The whole vibe is just perfectly dark, isn't it? Honestly, some of the best stuff they've ever done comes from this record, specifically tracks like Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Behind The Wheel, and The Things You Said. It flows so smoothly from BC, which felt like a more polished version of the same energy. Seriously, Wilder did an absolutely brilliant job here. Basically, it’s an album everyone needs to have in their rotation.
Alexander Adams94 said:It’s about showing respect and giving the artist some attention. I want to be completely sober and locked in when I’m listening to something I actually care about.
Man, thank God I'm not listening to unknown or Nirvana, otherwise you'd be asking me why I haven't overdosed or checked out early! Look, respecting an artist doesn't mean you have to go around copying their absolute garbage—it means taking the beautiful, positive stuff they created and using it to transcend their mess. That’s what would actually make those artists proud of what they left behind for us, right? It's not about me getting wasted and high just to mimic Jimi Hendrix or Lana Del Rey. I want to learn from them, grow, and fix the parts where they missed the mark—all while being carried by the power of melody, vocals, and composition, not by being drugged up or drunk. Honestly, I’m at my happiest just sipping water while a performance moves me to tears. That’s when I know it’s real—true connection, no pretension on my part.
Of course I wasn't implying you should copy someone's entire life—just that you can pay tribute to a musician, maybe with a little drink in hand. Obviously, you don't need to drown yourself in booze.
Anyway, Nirvana is perfect for a night out, whereas Hendrix goes hand-in-hand with... well, other substances (but let's not get into that 😁). It's common knowledge: music born from certain substances usually pairs best with them.
Alexander Adams94 said:Look, I don't usually drink along to music I actually respect. It feels like total disrespect to the artist. When I’m drinking, I want stuff that’s catchy and fun—vibey, you know?—but not necessarily something I hold in high regard. I wouldn't say I have this deep, soulful reverence for glam metal, but after a few beers—and if there happen to be some hot women nearby—I can't deny it hits the spot. It sounds damn good in that moment. But I absolutely cannot get wasted listening to Lana Del Rey. She’s basically the woman of my dreams, and my conscience just won't let me go there.
Whatever.
Most musicians out there created their best work while they were totally hammered or under the influence of God knows what, so I don't see why you can't raise a glass to them.🤷
Joshua Kern said:Could someone please walk me through this recent Hollywood obsession where comic book villains are suddenly handed their own movies? It seems like the trend is to frame them as the protagonists, forcing us to watch them struggle against even more despicable antagonists, all while expecting the audience to somehow root for them.🤔 I just don't quite grasp the logic behind it. Harley Quinn is meant to be an adversary to Batman, a true antagonist, rather than some central figure who ends up walking away as the hero at the end of the film.
It’s all about the merch, obviously. Look at the fashion industry—they make a killing off the t-shirts.
Besides, I don't even see them as villains anymore. They lost that whole purpose a long time ago.
Bradley Ramos11 said:I’m actually planning to catch the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Florence this June. 😁 But yeah, they’re basically the gold standard when it comes to this topic...
honestly, I'm worried the concert might have to wait a bit 😁
Back when I was a huge fan—judging by all those live sets I watched online—there was always something about their live energy that just didn't sit right with me. Not quite hitting the mark, you know? But then again, maybe I'm overthinking it and the actual show won't be such a letdown, but what if it is... 👎
Vojko V is absolutely terrible in the studio, and don't even get me started on his live shows 👎
Honestly, my hype for Red Hot Chili Peppers just totally tanked after seeing them live—I actually told myself I’d only go see them one more time if they ever hit my city, and that was strictly because of John
Noah Roberts46 said:That’s basically every band I’ve ever seen live. ☕
Look, if their stuff pops up on a random playlist, sure, I'll listen—it's fine. But am I actually going out of my way to hit play? Not happening. Honestly, there are entire eras I just can't get into—like pretty much all of glam rock, with the sole exception of T. Rex.
So you see an artist live and they just... click with you? That's actually wild. 🤔
Unless the concert was a total train wreck, an artist should really just start growing from that moment on, right? 🤷
Samuel Ruiz75 said:I’ve been stuck on DEBILOZA kolektiv since back in 2006—that was when they dropped Dubnamite, right? Man, that next album, Firma Illegal, was absolutely killer. After that, I honestly lost track of their discography—they've put out so much stuff—but I can still name a handful of great tracks on one hand. Still, you have to hand it to them: they know how to put on a hell of a show. I totally get why people are still showing up to their gigs. It’s the kind of music everyone ends up liking—from the guys at the local bar to the hardcore metalheads.
They’re just such a textbook example of "concert music"—you know what I mean? Like, they're great for a live show, sure, but how often are you actually sitting there, actively listening to them when you're just hanging out at home? It rarely happens.
Richard Barrett53 said:HP used to pull way more shows where they’d just stick to the old stuff—it's like they were stuck in a loop or something. Honestly, why even bother playing the new tracks if you're just going to dwell on the classics every single night? It gets repetitive, doesn't it? Look, they’re basically the textbook example of a band that has completely reinvented itself over the years—to the point where I totally get why someone would just walk away and stop listening altogether. It happens! But honestly? I’m still cool with them. I don't really fall into that trap of being "too cool" for anything—it's not like I'm obsessing over whether it's strictly punk or not, right? At the end of the day, if music is designed to hit the masses, it can still be damn good.
Man, I’ve reached that point where most bands just feel like a chore. Take The Killers—they were alright for the first three albums, but after that? Total snooze fest. Same deal with Franz Ferdinand; they hit their peak after two records and then just checked out. Honestly, it’s weird even saying this, but the Dropkick Murphys are starting to lose their edge for me too. And don't even get me started on the struggle with Arctic Monkeys and Muse—it’s an absolute uphill battle every single time a new album drops just to keep from getting bored out of my mind. Then there's Damir Urban... man, he used to seem like a legitimate artist, but now? He feels like he's just playing it safe and being pretentious. I can't tell if he actually lost his way or if I'm just getting too old for this stuff. Is it him, or is it me? 😁I’ve been following Vatra since they were playing dive bars for fifty people—back when they actually sounded decent—but ever since they hit the mainstream? Total downhill slide. It's the same story with Coldplay, too; everything they've put out since Viva La Vida has just been a massive disappointment.
Look, I’ll say it: Nightwish is one of those rare bands that I’ve stuck with through every single lineup change and evolution—and honestly, it's hard to put my finger on why. There's just this certain kind of magic there, you know? I can't quite explain it, but they've got it.
Everything at HP has gone downhill ever since that whole mess with the complaint book. Honestly, what are they even doing? It’s all just a disaster now.
Arctic Monkeys are such a weird case study, honestly—I mean, talk about a rollercoaster ride. They basically tanked after their third album, then dropped what was arguably the most mediocre thing ever recorded, only to suddenly pivot back to glory with AM. But even then, if you ask me? AM still isn't quite their peak masterpiece. And now they’ve gone and "drifted" again with this latest record, diving into these experimental waters that are totally new for them—which, personally, I’m actually digging. It's an interesting shift, right?
Muse after Resistance? Hmm... honestly, I think Drones is the only one that actually hits.
Let’s be real—Coldplay completely tanked with viva la vid. It was a total disaster. Seriously, how do you go from being massive to dropping something that just... flops like that? It's honestly embarrassing to watch.
Korn used to be one of my absolute favorites back in high school—I actually tried revisiting them recently, but man, they’re right on the edge of being unlistenable for me now. And I don't even mean their newer stuff; I'm talking about the classics from Life is Peachy or see you on The Otherside. The riffs and the lyrics just don't hit the same way anymore.
Nightwish—well, I stopped listening once Tarja left. I just can't get into power metal at all lately, so I haven't even bothered checking them out since then.
Children of Bodom—honestly, I have no idea how I used to listen to them. My ears literally hurt just thinking about it now.
Actually, when I really think about it, metal isn't even one of my go-to genres anymore, and I could probably put most of those bands in that same category.
Along with metal, I’d also throw in Hladno Pivo. They aren't what they used to be; they just feel totally fake to me now.🤷
To be fair, I still spin a lot of stuff from my high school days. I have these phases where I'll dive back into the classics like The Doors, Zeppelin, Nirvana, AIC, RHCP, and so on. I never truly stopped listening to them, but there used to be these massive gaps because, like I said before, you just get bored of listening to the exact same music over and over again.