When I saw Elvis Costello a few years back at Pier 17 in NYC I was a bit disappointed that there was an opener, because I had gotten used to EC going for 2+ hours over the years and that wouldn’t be possible given the venue’s curfew. But I was so shocked by how great Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets were (I was sadly only familiar with “So It Goes” and “Cruel To Be Kind”) that I made sure to show up for his set the next summer when they brought to tour to CT. I should feel embarrassment, but I’m just happy that I finally got exposed to him by 40.
That’s excellent! I am so used to catching on to musicians so long after they’ve been established that I’m going to write a book about it. Five years ago I acted like I had discovered Phish, etc.
And by the way, Elvis Costello is one of the all-time greats as well.
I have been a fan since the Rockpile days but never saw him live until a year or so ago. I was able to talk my wife into going to Roanoke VA to see him with Los Straitjackets. Their set that night was almost what you described and it was great. She enjoyed the Mexican Wrestling masks that the band was wearing. I can endorse your idea of going to concerts alone. I went by myself to see Dave Edmunds, now that show really rocked.
He had to retire from performing due to a heart condition. Recently he had a serious heart attack and was revived after being dead for a few minutes. I read that he is seriously ill still.
This is great. The last show I saw before lockdown in Sydney was Nick and Los Straitjackets - it was incredible. I think “What’s So Funny” is the best song ever written. My whole family loves music but I’m very happy to see shows alone, if necessary - it’s great!
Thank you so much! The next morning I woke up and said to myself, I wish I could go again tonight—not even because the set list would have been different but because it was just so much fun.
Great name for your substack, by the way. I just subscribed.
Excellent! Sometimes I buy tickets to a concert and then the day comes and I’m kind of like, I’m too best to go to this. But once you’re there, it’s a lot of fun.
Don’t know what your take is on Dylan or the Dead, but I wrote an early piece about Gregory Peck / “Brownsville Girl” and one on “Brown-Eyed Women.”
Some of the best shows I've been to are ones I've been too tired to go to, then I drag myself out. Love Dylan, pretty ignorant about the Dead, to be honest - I've subscribed!
Pages and Frames — ending the stigma regarding solo concert-going since 2025.
Way to know your audience.
We’ve all been nodding our approval since the first line but at “$40” I heard the combined audible creak of 600 computer chairs as their sitters leaned forward.
When I saw Elvis Costello a few years back at Pier 17 in NYC I was a bit disappointed that there was an opener, because I had gotten used to EC going for 2+ hours over the years and that wouldn’t be possible given the venue’s curfew. But I was so shocked by how great Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets were (I was sadly only familiar with “So It Goes” and “Cruel To Be Kind”) that I made sure to show up for his set the next summer when they brought to tour to CT. I should feel embarrassment, but I’m just happy that I finally got exposed to him by 40.
That’s excellent! I am so used to catching on to musicians so long after they’ve been established that I’m going to write a book about it. Five years ago I acted like I had discovered Phish, etc.
And by the way, Elvis Costello is one of the all-time greats as well.
I, too, am a huge Nick Lowe (and Rockpile) fan. I wouldn’t have gone to hear him play with anyone who didn’t know his music either.
Thanks for reading!
I have been a fan since the Rockpile days but never saw him live until a year or so ago. I was able to talk my wife into going to Roanoke VA to see him with Los Straitjackets. Their set that night was almost what you described and it was great. She enjoyed the Mexican Wrestling masks that the band was wearing. I can endorse your idea of going to concerts alone. I went by myself to see Dave Edmunds, now that show really rocked.
That sounds great! Apparently, Edmunds became something of a loner—have you ever heard that?
He had to retire from performing due to a heart condition. Recently he had a serious heart attack and was revived after being dead for a few minutes. I read that he is seriously ill still.
Didn’t know that.
This is great. The last show I saw before lockdown in Sydney was Nick and Los Straitjackets - it was incredible. I think “What’s So Funny” is the best song ever written. My whole family loves music but I’m very happy to see shows alone, if necessary - it’s great!
Thank you so much! The next morning I woke up and said to myself, I wish I could go again tonight—not even because the set list would have been different but because it was just so much fun.
Great name for your substack, by the way. I just subscribed.
Thanks Daniel! I saw Deer Tick three nights in a row and have zero regrets!
Excellent! Sometimes I buy tickets to a concert and then the day comes and I’m kind of like, I’m too best to go to this. But once you’re there, it’s a lot of fun.
Don’t know what your take is on Dylan or the Dead, but I wrote an early piece about Gregory Peck / “Brownsville Girl” and one on “Brown-Eyed Women.”
Some of the best shows I've been to are ones I've been too tired to go to, then I drag myself out. Love Dylan, pretty ignorant about the Dead, to be honest - I've subscribed!
Pages and Frames — ending the stigma regarding solo concert-going since 2025.
Way to know your audience.
We’ve all been nodding our approval since the first line but at “$40” I heard the combined audible creak of 600 computer chairs as their sitters leaned forward.
Sounds fantastic…I hope to catch him next time he comes this way. Which, lucky for me, is likely, since his label, Yep Roc, is based here.
It was great!