Before we begin, a note for transparency’s sake. I’ve gotten some interest in Turntabling lately in terms of sponsorships. One such development includes writing sponsored editorials-as in, I editorialize about what I want and a third party pays for it in exchange for consideration like a link or three. This is one such post, brought to you by the folks at ACheapSeat.com. I’m trying the concept on for size.( I still write about whatever I feel like, but some posts are sponsored and identified as such in case you’re wondering).

It’s sad to confess that I don’t go to live music as often as I’d like. The logistics and hassle of attending a live show at the Chicago House of Blues, for example, in my hometown no less? A right pain.

I prefer the small intimate venues in town (including the might Chicago legend The Double Door) where old favorites (literally) like The Buzzcocks and Stan Ridgway might show up as opposed to, say, an evening of self-flagellation at an Interpol show at a venue massive enough to house a tank division. Standing in line to collect Staples Center Tickets is akin to being flayed alive for me. I’d rather see Peter Hook spin a DJ set at Smart Bar than look at the ant-sized humans from the 90 foot perch offered to me on those St. Pete Times Forum Tickets.

This aversion to large venues and arena rock gets me in trouble with the family.

My sister calls me, asking if we can take her kids to see an age-appropriate live show of some kind. “I can take them to the nosebleed seats to watch a bunch of grown adults make fools of themselves in psuedo furry fetish outfits.” I say. She chides me for insinuating I’d take her kids to a Cosplay night at the local leather bar…but I’m really suggesting Sesame Street Live Tickets.

The furry reference mercifully gets me off the hook from having to torture myself with a night of Muppetry, plus the fact that I volunteer to drag the entire family to the Shedd Aquarium next time they are in town. But when my friends from St. Louis come wanting to see the Pet Shop Boys, I have to beg off again, causing angst and gnashing of teeth. Those venues are far too big, I point out helpfully, for us to SEE the Pet Shop Boys. Why don’t you ask me to go HEAR them instead?

Nobody’s laughing.

Truth be told, my favorite activity by a band is NOT the live show. It’s the LISTENING PARTY. Bands, especially bands that put out VINYL RECORDS, are at their best when they’re flogging that new record, working the room and trying very hard to get some more ears on their music.

This means that I don’t get to see big established bands, as they don’t really care much at that point–some flunky is doing the hard work of flogging Flavor Of The Month Band X to the masses. I suppose that’s why up and coming bands (again, especially those with vinyl to sell) are much more enjoyable in a live setting and at the listening party–they try, they really WANT it.

Hey bands, press up more vinyl and have more listening parties. There are still those of us who would rather meet YOU than have their eardrums gouged out all night by U2 or Decrepit Mode, who really ought to give up putting out albums altogether and concentrate on releasing singles and B-sides. If you MUST release an album, have a listening party, and bring it to Chicago. I’ll review it here.

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