The Music That We Listen To

I like music, I play musical instruments, I play in a band, and, I like listening to music.  We had the chance to see 77-year-old Bob Dylan perform this week, where he played the music he wanted to in his own way.  It was great to see him doing that which he does best.  This has capped off a year of seeing performers that we have not seen before who may not have many touring years ahead of them.  There is nothing like seeing music live (i.e., without a net), and more importantly, the people perform the music that they were successful with.

Many of the musicians that we grew up listening to are 15 to 20 years older than I am.  Which means, unfortunately, that those who are still on the road performing have less time on stage before them than the careers that they blazed behind them.  Some, to use the old imagery, have traded in their instruments of choice for the hand-held harp.  I am fortunate to have seen many musicians play live (there is nothing like good live music), while there are some who I procrastinated on and will never have the opportunity to see perform live.

Twice I have dreamed of bands I will never see – Louis Armstrong and the Beatles.  As weird as that is (especially for someone who has vivid dreams), a dream will be as close as I will get to see them play.  That does not make up for the fact of not seeing them live.  In these two cases, I was way too young to see either of these before their demise.  How many times in our lives do we, however, miss the opportunities that are before us, hold off on participating while thinking that there will be a next time, or place some excuse between us and the things we strive for?

After seeing Tom Petty a few weeks before his untimely death, it became clear that the musicians we listen to will not be around forever.  Of course, this is true in all endeavors in our lives for wherever our pursuits and hobbies take us.  To make the effort, and sometimes it is an effort, to step out of our comfort zones, to strive to see whomever we wish to see, to meet the people we wish to meet, or experience the things we wish to, we need to put the time aside, make the appropriate plans and take the actions necessary; Otherwise, the day will come where the opportunity will have passed and we are left with the regret of not doing what we wanted to do.  Go out and hear that live music.  Go out and take that opportunity.  Go out and live the life you deserve.