I may well have been overthinking this but I would very much like my 13 year olds first gig to be “ proper “ . So , has to be be young band , bags of attitude , rock and roll ( not that sh1t I often catch him listen to ) . Number one contender at the moment is the mysterines . Loads of noise and mayhem . Sexy lead singer cones to the mic :
“ Hiya . We re the fookin mysterines “
Any suggestions
Link to follow
My favourite recentish rock band is royal blood but they are about 10 years old now. I think they meet some of your criteria. Someone introduced me to a band called wooze yesterday, I think they're brand new and I thought they were good, quite retro.
Yep royal blood tick the boxes . Mysterines supported them .
why not let the 13 y.o. choose?
13 year olds need education!?
How will you get a 13 year old into a good gig?
Aren't most of them 18+, and others 14+?
With that out of the way....Billy Nomates. Young, punky, attitude, a "girl", proper clever. Not vampish like Courtney from The Mysteries though. Tomboyish. Might be an issue for your lad.
Or She Drew The Gun. Again not vampish, and a very "out" gay woman. Might that be an issue for your lad (and you?)
> How will you get a 13 year old into a good gig?
> Aren't most of them 18+, and others 14+?
> With that out of the way....Billy Nomates. Young, punky, attitude, a "girl", proper clever. Not vampish like Courtney from The Mysteries though. Tomboyish. Might be an issue for your lad.
> Or She Drew The Gun. Again not vampish, and a very "out" gay woman. Might that be an issue for your lad (and you?)
Woahh there cowboy . Where on earth does that spring from ? I think you’ve read far more into the op than is neccseray . Homophobia ? Really ? I suggest that the mysterines woykd be a good good first gig for a 13 year old because they are “proper rock and roll “ and suggest that the lead singer is “sexy “ ( perhaps a poor choice of words but watch a few of thier early videos ) . I think you may have over reacted . Now there’s surprise .
Edit : and it’s Leah Metcalfe not Courtney
Mysterines a good choice (and yeah, singer is gorgeous, you're half way there).
The issue isn't going to be the band, it's going to be the absence of er, motivational supplements. Maybe a six of Irn Bru will do it. Of course one can experience proper rock n roll without these things, but if your intent is to steer the lad away from the perennial dross marketed at his age group (a noble cause in my opinion) at some point the matter will arise.
I think your plan is good. Just as if you let kids pick their own food it's no surprise many choose shite like KFC, it's a good idea to provide a varied listen diet too. My Dad took me to see Neil Diamond, my kid gets the Stooges and Flaming Lips - I think it's part of good parenting.
That said, the best music is meant to piss your parents off, so be careful.
I think you're the one that's overreacted. I quite carefully made no accusation of homophobia.
Sorry I got the name of the lead singer THE MYSTERINES totally wrong. Senior moment. It is of course LIA Metcalfe. Some devious autocorrect had changed THE MYSTERINES to THE MYSTERIES in my earlier post without flagging it up until after I submitted it.
How are you going to get a 13-14 year lad into these gigs? (just checked, the Billy Nomates show that I have an optimistic ticket for, is 18+. Most evening gigs I've been to, have been 18+
> I ve looked and the venue is 14 and over ( he’s a big lad ) wound you like to come ?
edit: typos
Blagging into gigs underage is a vital element and disturbs me if it's not the done thing any more. I'd say go before he's old enough. What can happen? Even if pre-paid tickets and you get nabbed, well worth the cost as a father-&-kid caper.
Along with Neil Diamond my Dad and I got caught sneaking into a Beach Boys concert once (he was in his 50's at the time). Never miss the opportunity because all too soon he'll be gone listen to One f*cking Direction and you will rue the day.
I love this website.
No offence but I am struggling to read due to all the typos.
But I have quite deliberately, and very carefully, made no accusation of homophobia against you or your son. Why would I? It was me, not you, that brought up the slightly tomboyish appearance of Tor from Billynomates, and the sexuality of Louisa from She Drew The Gun.
> I love this website.
this is tonight's "Friday night drinking" thread (whatever happened to those?!)
To answer the OP, Fontaines DC are touring in October (was going to be over the next few months but postponed. I know there's tickets for some of their gigs left. I'm looking forward to it at least.
If you're able to get tickets, Idles are insanely good live, they announced some extra dates recently so you might get lucky.
Getting a 13 year old in to either gig... Well, I've not thought that far ahead.
> this is tonight's "Friday night drinking" thread (whatever happened to those?!)
Got pissed and forgot?
Sounds like a plan for disaster for me. Let them choose their own shit. They can always lie about it later.
> Sounds like a plan for disaster for me. Let them choose their own shit. They can always lie about it later.
My first gig was Voice of the Beehive when I was 16 in 1991 I chose it. But then my Dad wasn't exactly interested in such stuff anyway.
Wow, I actually thought The Mysterines WERE "huge" (to me, huge is playing 1000+ capacity venues). Looking at their tour dates, I don't know a lot of the venues but if they are still only playing The Garage (midweek) as their London gig, then they are indeed small-medium. I am really surprised! Especially as I saw today that Dry Cleaning's London gig is at the Kentish Town Forum!
Mysterines at The Garage would be superb. Hopefully the same for the other venues (I don't know Hebden Bridge Trades Club but from the bands/artists I've seen including that one on their itinerary, it'll be a good size, 300-600ish which I think is optimal for this sort of music)
> I am sure it's still the done thing but passing off a 13-14 year old as 18+ might be tricky
That's true, but best to find out from the front of the line. If it doesn't go it doesn't go so it's off for coffee knowing at least they tried and they have the coolest Dad-Kid story on Monday morning. To my mind it's the effort that matters and you never know - they may just get in.
> Wow, I actually thought The Mysterines WERE "huge" (to me, huge is playing 1000+ capacity venues). Looking at their tour dates, I don't know a lot of the venues but if they are still only playing The Garage (midweek) as their London gig, then they are indeed small-medium. I am really surprised! Especially as I saw today that Dry Cleaning's London gig is at the Kentish Town Forum!
> Mysterines at The Garage would be superb. Hopefully the same for the other venues (I don't know Hebden Bridge Trades Club but from the bands/artists I've seen including that one on their itinerary, it'll be a good size, 300-600ish which I think is optimal for this sort of music)
All the more reason to think they will be lax on the door...
> All the more reason to think they will be lax on the door...
I think things have become a lot less lax since your days (your profile says 40; I am 45...)
Unless you have recent experience of getting underage kids into gigs.
I know a friend of mine was somehow blagged into Camden Barfly by her Dad, when she was 13, in 2003. So maybe....
But it looks like mike123 is going for The Mysterines (14+) with his 13-14 year old lad who is big for his age, should be OK!
> That's true, but best to find out from the front of the line. If it doesn't go it doesn't go so it's off for coffee knowing at least they tried and they have the coolest Dad-Kid story on Monday morning. To my mind it's the effort that matters and you never know - they may just get in.
Depends on logistics and anticipation/expectation!
> Depends on logistics and anticipation/expectation!
It does, and all good capers do.
Phil Dunphy would do it.
> 13 year olds need education!?
Its a fine line between "education" and having dad's tastes shoved down his throat.
And to OP;
You may have to end up accompanying teenager to some of their choice, as well as your choice; you never know, he may educate your musical tastes!*
Although I have spent more than one evening over the years in the bar with other parents while some awful boy / girl band did their thing on stage..........
Edit - why have you waited this long to take them to the firat gig? Daughter No' 2 saw NMA at age 3.....not sure she "got" them at that age though.......
> because it may well be the sh1te that at 13 years old listen to . Oh no no no .
"sh1te" is relative isn't it? I wouldn't have wanted to be taken by my dad to listen to some "cool" music when I was a teenager. Wouldn't he end up at a gig with loads of people in their 30s and 40s?
Most venues nowadays are either 14+ or 16+ some allow under 18s if they are with an adult. Usually listed as “under 14s must be accompanied” or something along those lines.
Dad rock isn't a proper gig for a 13 year old - let him decide.
At 13 went to see Lou Reed ( rock and roll animal tour) in London went from Derby got the 1.00 train back, great concert apart from everyone else being stoned around me, didn't seem to be out of the ordinary then.
Thanks all for reply’s . He has seen quiet a bit of live music already , just not why I would call a “ proper “ gig . One of the things that would make it that would be no under 14 s ,proper grown ups vencue . He’s been to a few Festivals , local stuff ., friends pub band . We had stuff booked that was obviously cancelled , but he would have been 12 and I think would have been a push to get him in . The reason I suggested the mysterines is that they are very much not old man rock but they are rock and roll . From what I’ve seen on YouTube they are blisteringly good live . Loud , chaotic , energetic , jump up and down rock and roll . Yes I’ll happily take him to see anything he wants but it would be good if his bench mark is something proper . Hopefully when I take him to whatever sh1te him and his mates want to go he’ll say “ hmmm....yes ...they were ok ..,but not as good as the mysterines “.
Also I think I owe blue straggler an apology . I think I misinterpreted his post above and now think I jumped to the wrong conclusion and I’m sorry . I m always surprised when people get the wrong end of the stick on here , this time it was me .
> Also I think I owe blue straggler an apology . I think I misinterpreted his post above and now think I jumped to the wrong conclusion and I’m sorry . I m always surprised when people get the wrong end of the stick on here , this time it was me .
No worries, reading back, I think my comment was open to "wrong" interpretation - I didn't intend it to be!
Can we have some proper examples of the sh1te he listens to? How do we know he's not into Black Country New Road and The Murder Capital while you're nodding along to Planet Rock?
The Sherlocks might be worth a go too. They are a fairly young band, play good guitar music, and the crowd at their shows always seem to be up for a good time.
took my lad to see motorhead at Newcastle city hall for his first gig age 13, he was made up especially when Lemmy gave him a guitar pick, I did make him wear ear plugs though which he was less impressed by. Unfortunately not possible now, but you're right its got to be proper rock and roll.
Take him to a festival. Loads of bands to choose from, you’ll likely both find something to enjoy, which might even overlap, and possibly find some new cool stuff as well.
The Levellers? You get a proper mix of people at those including kids with their parents, and they tend to be very good natured.
When did you last see The Levellers? I saw them a year or two ago and it was a sit down job. They were great, but the band and audience were definitely all showing our age!
> Take him to a festival. Loads of bands to choose from, you’ll likely both find something to enjoy, which might even overlap, and possibly find some new cool stuff as well.
This is what we've been doing with our 13yo. (well apart from last summer of course). You see some great acts, and if they're not great you wander off and try another. Takes all the pressure off.
She wasn't that impressed with Idles though.
See Mike's post at 11.34am Saturday.
> When did you last see The Levellers? I saw them a year or two ago and it was a sit down job. They were great, but the band and audience were definitely all showing our age!
I was at their last gig before lockdown in Liverpool in late Feb/early March 2020 or whenever it was*. The seated ones were the acoustic stuff where it was more enjoyable to sit down, close your eyes and get lost in the music, I think? The Liverpool one was the more usual fun, bouncy one with a decent moshpit...amazing I didn't get a bout of COVID from that!
They aren't the sort of gig where kids tend to go on their own, but plenty of parents do take kids to them, though age limits seem to vary by venue so it's worth checking.
* Edit: 1st March...just realised all I had to do to check was take my T-shirt off and look at the back!
Ah OK. I didn't realise they were still playing "proper" gigs too. They are not as decrepit as I thought. Must keep an eye out once gigs start happening again. The acoustic gig was really good and it's nice to be able to listen properly, but I still love a good jump up and down.
Very much so, yeah. Get a few pints down Chadwick and he's as good as ever. Great solo, too. Though he's probably a bit of a champagne socialist these days!