It has been years 8+ years since I posted. A few months ago I reapplied to be able to post (my old user name was ET BBAL). I thought this was a good thread to re-introduce myself.

Anyway, a couple of years ago my child who I believe was in 7th grade, maybe 8th, at the time wanted to go to the rave to see Panic! At The Disco. Said there was a parent that would take him. We were uncomfortable about this arrangement. I would have just said no, but mom said she would take him. That morphed into we would take him. We are in the middle of the pit and the first band goes on (Junior Junior I believe) and suddenly I am ready to pass out. Not sure if my blood sugar crashed or if I got claustrophobic, but I had to get out of the crowd. So now I am at a show I didn't want to go to, sitting against the wall all by myself, listening to a band that I thought was really bad (apologies to any Junior Junior fans) and to say I was not happy is an understatement. Anyway the second band comes on - Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls - and I absolutely loved him/them. Went on line and bought some CD's the next day. The first time in at least 12 years that I had purchased any music. Since them we have seen him 3 more times. Hence, my new user name. I am trying to spread the word. Kind of punkish (he used to describe his music ad folk/country/punk), but very upbeat and positive. And he is almost non-stop touring. From England, but often plays in the states. His website lists every show he has ever played and during every show he references what show your at. As of Aug 25th he was at 2389. That is a lot of shows!

Another band that we recently discovered at Collectivo Coffee of all places, and again because my kid wanted to see someone else is Castle Comer. They are from Australia, although it sounds like they have a benefactor in the Chicago area which allows them to survive and play shows in the midwest. I think they are on the upswing. High energy lots of fun.