I No Longer Sit and Memorize Lyrics

I remember when I was 13, sitting in my bedroom with the door closed and the music blasting, reading liner notes like my life depended on it.

I was obsessed with finding new music. Music that was on the radio. Music that wasn't on the radio. Music that wasn't part of the main stream...

That's right, ska, industrial, and even some hardcore punk tracks would rotate on my 6-disc changer.

I told myself, "I love music so much. I'm never going to be one of those lame adults that just listens to what they listened to in high school and college. I'm not gonna be the person who only knows new music because it's what MTV or some TV show told them to like."

And today, while I was listening to Poe on Spotify and reading Lady Gaga tweets I realized the inevitable; I've become that adult.

I know every word of Weezer's blue album, but I had no idea there was a red album released along the way.

Where did I fall off the music band wagon? How did I get so far removed from the basement punk shows?

I grew up, that's how. I don't have the luxury of sitting around listening to music for hours upon hours... there's TV to watch.

My 14 year old niece is no help. She loves the 90s and other classic rock. Don't get me wrong, it makes her Aunt Sue proud when she tells me 'fun facts' about Nirvana as if I didn't live, eat and breath them when I was her age. I was just hoping she'd be my lifeline into what's new.

As for the basement punk shows, I've gone to some in recent years, thanks to my fantastically musical pals who are in kick ass bands. But, I don't spend time looking for shows in zines any longer.

Probably because no one puts out zines anymore. Probably because there are no record stores anymore.

As you grow older you change, and sure parts of that suck. I guess I'm just glad that when I was a teen consuming every band that I could I cast a wide net and got some great angsty music that helps me feel like a kid again when I need it.