I'm walking to the Keane concert at the Tabernacle here in Atlanta in about an hour. The strange thing about this move is that I came to the conclusion about 3 years ago that I hate most traditional music concerts (by popular artists/bands). It took me a while to really embrace this notion though. Concerts are such an enticing thing, and it's hard to resist the urge to go see a band you enjoy in person. It's even harder to explain to someone why you ultimately find them unfulfilling. But to me (except for very small venues), I feel very disconnected from a band when I'm with a large group of people, plus the quality of the music can never live up to an actual album.
And then there are just general annoying people at concerts that I always tend to focus on and get distracted by. Perhaps it's just my keen observational awareness, but unless I'm very drunk, I cannot ignore the actions of people around me. Not that that makes me ADD or OCD, just that it's not a conducive environment to listening to a band. I also do not like to dance or feel obligated to make the rhythmic motions that most people seem to do just to “fit in” at a concert. And it's not like I haven't tried going to concerts of bands I like. I've seen Outkast, Incubus, Blues Traveller, Craig David (please don't laugh, it's my shameful indulgence), The Killers, etc. all in person and not one time do I remember thinking, “Wow, I'm glad I'm doing this instead of drinking at a bar.”
Notable exceptions to my policy include very small venues (Tabernacle barely counts, and when combined with Keane, my all-time favorite band, it works), orchestras and piano players (or other musical ensembles watched in a quiet, seated atmosphere), local bands at bars (background entertainment to drinking), and large music festivals (again, more of a background to drinking, socializing, and wandering around…this is where I first saw Keane and enjoyed them, at Music Midtown in the pouring rain).
Ok, well, wish me enjoyment; it was, after all, $36 after $11 of fees for sucking Ticketmaster's cock.