Austin's First Rock Concert

Last night, we took Austin to see a concert featuring Chief Big Way, fronted by none other than Joey Belladonna. "Joey who?", you may ask? Joey is the driving force behind such songs as "I Am the Law", "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)", and "Caught in a Mosh". Still lost? These were all songs performed initially in the mid-80s by the thrash metal band Anthrax, whom Joey was the lead vocalist for from 1985-1992, and again this last year as the band's lineup from the mid-to-late eighties has reunited.


Now before you freak out and wonder what we would be doing taking Austin to see such a performance, it needs to be said that Joey (as Austin affectionately took to calling him) is originally from Central New York and (surprisingly, to us) still has a little bar/cover band that he plays classic rock hits with when he is not out on the road doing more "commercial" stuff. So...in this instance, Chief Big Way performed at the Gazebo in the center of Sherrill, NY from 7:00 to 9:30. We thought this would be the perfect time and place to bring our boy out for some music.

We arrived 30 minutes early (meeting Kevin and Peggy) and set up our chairs right in front of the gazebo...something that we thought might be a bad idea, but we decided to give it a try. We assumed that the music would be too loud so close, but we also wanted Austin to get an opportunity to see the musicians up close should he want to, and we wouldn't be able to move up closer later...so we got dibs up front. Austin ate his dinner while he patiently waited, then he joined Daddy in his chair when the music was set to begin.

Covering Rush's Tom Sawyer

The music was indeed loud...but Austin really enjoyed it...until the guitar solo, when the sound became a little too aggressive for his little ears. So, after the first song, Austin told Keith that the music was too loud and that he wanted to move back where it was quieter (we had already prepped him and told him we could move back to where it was quieter if he wanted). We moved back farther in the lawn where the view was a bit more distant, but the volume more suited to Austin's ears...and he really enjoyed himself. Don't mistake us, he was still 2 years old...he didn't pay attention throughout the duration of every song (although he did cheer after each), he ran around a little bit, and didn't stop talking (to us or strangers). But there were moments where his attention was transfixed on stage, and those moments were pretty cool.

The highlights of the night, other than the music, varied. If you were Austin, the highlights were likely your first popsicle and the glow-sticks that Aunt Peggy and Uncle Kevin brought. If you were Keith/Christine, the highlight would probably be that Austin didn't have an accident at the concert, peed twice in his potty seat in the lawn, and pooped in the ladies room with Mommy (woo-hoo, his first use of public facilities). If you were Kevin and Peggy...well, you'd have to ask them.



In the end, we got to listen to some good music, and Austin had a blast! On our way home last night (not yet a mile away from the concert) Austin said, "I want to go to the concert again tomorrow with Aunt Peggy and Uncle Kevin." We are not sure if he wanted to listen to music, or just get more glow sticks, but either way, he seemed to have a very nice time, and so did we.