17 years + 1 day ago, I started loving live music shows. September 21, 1992:  Pearl Jam, Drop in the Park. Warren G. Magnuson Park, Seattle.  Pearl Jam made me love real bands, smaller venues, and being part of a flash group loving on the music together.

That 1992 Pearl Jam show was the first time I felt part of the music and a participant in the event. Stage front, jostling and being jostled, passing crowd surfers, getting stinky dirty.  I swear he looked right at me.  I held my breathe as  Eddie Vedder climbed the light scaffolding and swung like a monkey for what seemed like forever.

Until Pearl Jam, all my prior music shows were of the rock-arena variety. You know: hard-ass seats, eye strain- headache-inducing distance, and muddy sound. Alone in a crowd of thousands. Just for the priveledge of saying you were there. (Think Rolling Stones, The Police, Billy Joel, Van Halen.)  I haven't been to an arena show in years and very possibly may never go to one again.

The Drop in the Park show was a date with I guy I had been wanting to go out with. He asked if I liked Pearl Jam and would I like to go with him. ("Who?" I thought, "Yes!" I said. ) Between the asking and the date, I did hasty recon so I would be able to carry a conversation and know something about the band before I showed up.  (Um, maybe I haven't changed much since then.)  I haven't been in touch with the Pearl Jam date guy in 16 years. Not because he wore a baja shirt / mexican hoodie to the show. (Don't mock,  it was the fashion at the time.)  I'll always have general affection for date guy -- and for Eddie Vedder -- for being the catalyst of change in my music perception and experience.

You won't see me at the Key Arena show tonight, although word on the interwebs is the new Backspace is worth checking out.  If you go, get close, get in, let go. Watch for the PJ magic to be at work again creating new music lovers and live music supporters.

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This morning I woke up tired - but still buzzing - from last night's Pink show at Key Arena. It exemplified everything I love from a lifetime of pop music into two way-too-short hours. The show was a perfectly-choreographed spectacle that was dazzling to watch for every single second. It was the rare show that was improved by moving from the much-smaller WaMu Theater to Key Arena (even if the sound left much to be desired). Pink was even perfectly charming when she forgot the words to one song by noting that it's "what happens when you don't lip synch. It's annoying".

Even better, when I checked my e-mail this morning, I got an e-mail from the awesome photographer and all-around great guy Alex Crick, asking if we wanted to post some of his stunning photos on TIG. How could I say no to that?

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at Key Arena

The crowd was so rabid and intense, there were bodies flying out of the undulating mass of people from the moment Trent and company entered the stage. I had adrenaline pumping through my body as I tried to be aware of the photographers surrounding me, the security guys EVERYWHERE, the audience screaming, singing, and gasping for air all around me, and ...oh yeah, TRENT REZNOR THREE FEET FROM MY FACE.

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Kanye West is whining again and now he's pissed at Entertainment Weekly and its writer Chris Willman because they reviewed his tour (specifically the opening night show in Seattle at Key Arena) and they gave his show a (*gasp*) B+.

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at Key Arena

While nearly all the songs were there, they were slowed down mucho and at least an octave lower in most cases.

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Got a pile of money burning a hole in your pocket and a yearning for musical nostalgia. We've got the answer!

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