This One Time…I Used to Go to a Lot of Rock Concerts

I used to be pretty metal. You know, before I had kids (and after my dance club pop phase in high school). I always listened to rock and heavy metal, but it wasn’t until college that I actually lived it. Before that I’d been to small venue concerts like the ones at the county fair or the time I saw Becky Hobbs. (I bet you just said Who?)

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In college I went to my first rock concert. It also coincides with me opening a completely unnecessary credit card, but I wanted tickets man. Tickets! So, my college roommate and a friend of ours went to Chicago for the 2001 Family Values Tour featuring Staind, Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots.

It. was. awesome.

Brian and I with Godsmack and another couple at the Meet & Greet. (I’m on the far right smiling like a goon)

Shortly after Brian and I started dating we began going to a TON of concerts. We even went halfway across the state for a big musicfest. We’ve seen a lot of bands such as Korn a few times, Metallica twice, Godsmack (6 times and met them), Trivium (met them too!), Rob Zombie, Dreamtheater, Stone Temple Pilots, KISS, Megadeth… my memory is failing me. Those were just the headliners I can think of right now. Oh and Deathklok (yes, of Metalocalypse. Yes, an animated band can go on tour!) and Mastodon.

That’s me with Matthew Heafy, the lead singer of Trivium.

Hey, I even have a tattoo of Metallica’s old ninja star logo. You’ve probably seen it in pictures and videos since it’s on my forearm.

Now we’ve traded in mosh pits for kiddie sing-a-longs.  I mean, Yo Gabba Gabba Live is basically a rock concert for kids. That’s the kind of stuff we go to now.

I’m too old to go to concerts anymore. It’s a sad realization because I loved them but..

• I don’t want beer sloshed on me or smoke (of any kind) blown in my face.
• I don’t want random dudes (or girls) hugging me or trying to pull me to the front.
• I don’t want to stand in line.
• I don’t want to stand the whole time.
• I don’t like general admission – give me a seat please!
• No more “trapped in a box” hearing syndrome.
• No mosh pits.. I can’t afford the potential injuries.

One thing I miss was our after concert tradition of going to George Webb’s diner for food and drunk people watching. We had the best dates.

That part of my life has passed, but I’m still lingering in it by wearing my tour shirts every chance I get. Don’t question my metal authority!

Darcy Zalewski

Darcy is the founder of “Life With Darcy and Brian,” where she combines her love for education, board games, and crafting to create engaging learning experiences for kids. Her creative projects and writing have been featured in outlets like The Toy Insider, CafeMom, Mom.com, Parents.com, Country Living, and The Pioneer Woman.