Thursday night I saw The Ataris play for the first time in over a decade. Last time I saw them , they were probably touring So Long, Astoria with my girlfriend at the time, Jenn.
Coincidentally, this time around they were touring So Long, Astoria reunion tour. Basically they played straight through the album, which was great because that was the album that made me a bigger fan, where my ex liked older stuff. Another coincidence is that I also attended this show with Jenn... As well as her boyfriend and a friend of mine Stef.
It's amazing what 10 years does to your outlook on life. At 22 I was a punk shit who had fun at these shows. Now at 32, I'm a married father whose a little more self aware. So the songs that used to be just fun, now strike a chord.
In This Diary - seriously an anthem for growing up into adulthood and leaving carefree life behind.
Saddest Song - makes me hate my father who left in my late teens, and makes me miss my son and strive to be better for him
The Hero dies in this One - as Kris described himself, hit very close to home thinking of my gone grandmother and how family has struggled in her absense.
I.O.U. One Galaxy - the song that would break me down to tears in my post Jenn era. It was out song. Came to terms with it and could once against listen without heartache, this time twisted a nerve because she was right there and made me wonder if she remembered.
All and all a good night but mentally confusing. First time in almost 8 and half years I've been out with Jenn, and I actually missed the friendship we had as part of our relationship. We actually spent some time reminiscing about the shoes that we've been to in the past and I was impressed by some of the ones she actually rembered. I get jealous of people with their others at shows, since my wife isn't into it at all, so I've missed out over most of the last decade. Maybe Dashboard Confessionals will your and we can go to that together since she's been to maybe 2 or 3 concerts, and that was one we both went to, although months before we met