Going To Shows or Playing It Safe

Double boosted and going to shows.   Most likely been micro-dosed with the Covid too.  Have to say that it seems that I know more people that have caught the Covid in the last few months that haven't and with everyone vaxed and boosted, thankfully nobody I know has gotten seriously sick (knock on wood).   Seems like just a part of modern life and more and more a good excuse to take five days off work. 

this week I drew the line on an indoor 3rd string GD cover band...

Saw the Stones at SOFI last year, Wolf Bros. 2 nights at Radio City Music Hall in April, McCartney at Climate Pledge on May 2nd, went to NOLA Jazz Fest 2nd weekend all four days, and caught a club show when there.  I also have been to a Kraken game and have logged a lot of air miles and been through many airports.  I'm vaccinated, maintain good physical health, and try to not get caught up in all the media-fueled doomsaying.  

Acoustic Hot Tuna on 4/20 was my first show back. Taking my daughter and her friend to see Mitski this summer 

Thinking about Phish at the Mann

>> only doing one indoor show so far this year  -  Phil in Bridgeport.

The Bridgeport venue is a shed

https://media.nbcconnecticut.com/2021/07/Hartford_HealthCare_Amphitheatr...

I got Wolfid at Radio City when I attended Bobby Weir and the Covid Brothers.  No sure which night got me sick. Or was it from Jimmy's Corner?   ....hmm... goes to show you don't ever know..

Sold out Beacon last night (We're still trying figure out what our LAST show there was; thinking TTB.) for Joe Jackson.  Few masks, but the tix we're sold back when vax requirements were in place, so maybe fewer potential idiots in attendance?  A refreshing lack of chat-holes, especially for a Saturday in NYC.  Restored my faith in live-music-supporting humans somewhat.

JJ was in great voice. Band tight AF.  Ass-kicking  drummer; didn't catch his name.  

This band and EC/The Attractions would make an amazing double-bill.

But like every show since KC last September, I'll be waiting this week out and wondering.

Also, pointing out rising cases and hospitalizations, and  people still drowning in their snot, isn't media-fueled doomsaying.

Been to one show since March 2020. Phil outdoors at Planet Bluegrass. Was double vaxxed and boosted and still got Covid (not at the show) so yeah, I'm still cautious. It was pretty harsh for me and I wouldn't like to repeat it. Have tix to see the Phil Lesh Incident at Red Rocks in July. 

I'm concerned but am tired of hiding, so I've been going to music & sports events. The concerts have been mostly jazz shows in small indoor clubs, which are obviously not the best places to be these days, but the venues are keeping capacity limited, I try to sit away from others and I've been keeping my mask on, for whatever good that may be doing. So far so good... on both the quality of the music & on dodging the plague.

I've been to a few Giants games this year with a couple more coming up, but I don't worry too much about those because it's always windy and I hang at the very end of the stadium, where on weeknight games not too many people are.

Probably the most risky events I've attended have been a couple of Warriors playoff games, where the venue is full and everyone is screaming; not a good scene for avoiding the enemy, but I figure the way things are going, unless I completely hole up in my house like the summer of 2020 I'm going to be exposed to it one way or another no matter what I do.

It seems like this damned thing isn't going away any time soon and I'm too old now to hide forever, so I'm picking my spots, doing what I can to minimize exposure when I am among the rabble and hoping for the best.

But as always, expecting the worst.

On it goes.

I'm attending a small indoor show this week at a venue that still requires Vaxx and masking...

and nobody is attending Giants games...

I bought tickets to a bunch of outdoor shows (saw Billy Strings at the Santa Barbara Bowl a few weeks ago, and I'm looking forward to P&F at the Frost, Gov't Mule at Libbey Bowl in Ojai, JRAD at the Frost, and TTB and Los Lobos at the LA Greek), and one indoor show, Dylan at the Pantages in LA. I'm concerned about the indoor show, but with Covid on the rise again, I'm starting to have some second thoughts about the outdoor shows too. I'm double vaxxed and boosted once, and should probably try to get the second boost in the next week or so, and will likely wear masks everywhere I end up going. I'd rather not wear a mask, but I want to go to shows and play it safe.

But here's the thing. At the Saturday Billy Strings show a few weeks ago, there was a young dude sitting right behind my seat. He had had a few, and was running his mouth most of the night, and when he talked excitedly, I would feel spit hitting the top of my head. (In case you don't know me, I'm bald.) It seems that no matter how safe you try to make yourself, you're always going to run into bozos, and that's the real wild card in this game at this point.

>>>and nobody is attending Giants A's games

Fixed that for you.

Giants attendance is doing fine. Not as well as in The Before Times, but the weekend games are doing 30,000+, and the midweek games are usually around 15,000+, which is just the way I like it.

As for the A's, I don't blame their fans for boycotting games. The team has been screwing them for years, and this year especially is like an endless gang rape for the hapless fans in green caps. They raised season ticket prices by 40% and then once again traded away all their best players.

I wish I had a dollar for every time in my life I've said, "I'm sure glad I'm not an A's fan!"

Saw a few indoor gigs last year. Got all outdoor gigs this year unless I go to Bruce Hornsby. 

Just bought a pair of nosebleeds for Elton John @ MetLife.  It's on Lily's concert bucket list (I'd rather be checking off the Stevie Wonder box, but this will make her happy too).  I'll let her know Thursday (our ann'y (34!)).

Not holding any tix for indoor venues until October (Ibeyi @ Brooklyn Steel).

I've given up. It is what it is, this is the world now, I'm going to shows. If it seems questionable, I'll wear a mask 

I decided not to attend the Melvin Seals JGB show last night, due to the explosion of C19 positive cases in the people I work with (late Friday night, our director ordered a two week hold on in-person visits). My kiddo got pretty sick with Covid well over a week ago and is still testing positive. The other kiddo is finishing classes and REALLY does not want to miss any school days right now. 

I'm not paranoid, but I don't want to mess things up for  anyone else at this time. 

Still hoping to see Phil (and some of you) at the Frost. 

You're not being paranoid Johnny, just careful.

Over the years I've often regretted not having the opportunity to have kids of my own, but then I've also often thought about how nice it is not to have kids to worry about constantly/endlessly until the day I die.

Because despite not having any I know a lot about kids, so I'd worry. About everything. I know it.

And that would wear me down.

So keep doing what you're doing John, and let's all stay safe and still find a few ways to have some damn fun!

Im all in, going to shows, both indoors and out, Giants and Warriors games. movies etc. Vaxxed/double boosted and ready to rock!

Let's face it, hundreds of people die every day of a multitude of reasons.  If you're vaxxed, don't have cormorbidities like cancer, obesity, a compromised immune system, and are otherwise in decent health, chances are slim that this virus will kill you.   What's that old saying?  

What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger.

Mankind may be further fucking up Mother Earth by not just letting this thing run it's course.  Cull the herd in the old Darwinian sense, and what remains of the herd will only be stronger.

Hope everyone figures out how to remain safe, healthy, and strong, while not surrendering to panic and irrational fear.  Life is in the living.

05/26-28 Delfest
06/29-07/03 Peach
07/16 Phish 
07/19-20 Phish
07/30 Phish
08/04-07 Bear's Picnic

Almost obese  double boosted, haven’t tested positive yet, been to indoor shows, wore mask on a recent flight (surprised to see the face shield being worn in the terminal)  but for the most part have been mask-less in public spaces. Everyone’s comfort level is different and I respect their choices.

Been to one outdoor show and hung with Ken in the open air section for the first set. My seat was in the lower bowl and for the second set I skipped sitting down there and stood on the concourse between the upper and lower sections. Not many shows here, but in September will be going to Denver and hope to hit a show at Red Rocks or Pearl Jam at the arena 

Outdoor shows only this summer, I think.

I worry a bit about standing in line.

I've been to DSO at the Warfield and Bjork at Chase both indoor this year and have outdoor tickets for Phil, Nora Jones and Alanis Morissette in the next couple of months then one more indoor for Roger Waters in the fall re-scheduled from early days Pandemic. 

That said I don't go to small clubs anymore, and the Sac Kings absolutely don't rate risking Covid over. Last weekend I went to a birthday party at the Mariposa Hunters Point Yacht Club which is a dive bar, next weekend I'm spending three days with a bunch of friends in a big house in South Lake, then later in June going to my wife's graduation delayed by three years. Those are the events I'm most worried about. Lot's of talking in small rooms. If one person has it there most of us are getting it. 

All indications at this point is this fucker virus behaves like the common cold, but of course way worse symptoms. So I'm still masked with an N95 inside retail and try to eat outdoors when I go out to eat, but have cut way back on that as well. 

Seems like between Covid and climate change the earth is slowly starting to take care of it's monkey problem.

I guess you could say that I'm going to shows and playing it safe. Fully vaxed and wear a mask at shows. I had stayed away from indoors shows until recently but I've stretched my business reserves just about as far as they can go. I need to work and my work is at shows. So, I have attended a few indoor shows. I still haven't hit any small venue/bar shows yet but when the right one comes along, I am sure I will be there. Shows that have photo pits are better so I don't have to fight for space up near the rail. My plan isn't perfect but I do what I can to minimize potential of being infected as much as I can. 

This is all good but, as ever, continue playing it safe by avoiding risky sex at RAVES.

"Expert: Monkey pox likely spread by sex at 2 raves in Europe"

https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20220523/expert-monkey-pox-likely-sprea...

Saw 2 Q shows in PortChester in Oct and King Crimson at SPAC as the only 2021 shows I would get sick over

Gave away the sweetest Yankees seat I will ever have (2 rows behind Yanks dugout) over my wife's concern that I would bring COVID home 3 days before she left for Paris. It was a Christmas gift from her..... Irony!

Seeing Phil in Bridgeport & Bethel, Belew, Levin & Massamento inside at Woodstock's Bearsville Theater

Graham Nash

Yanks vs Mets

I'll keep getting boosted, but am done hiding in my house

DelFest is happening after 2 years of cancelations and since it's outdoors with plenty of room to spread out and no crowded clusterfucks getting in, we're going to attempt it.  I'm planning on being more sedate than usual and hang in the back; maybe I'll schlep the binoculars. 

I'm more worried about the locals up there breathing on me in a beer line than my fellow music fans (mostly an older demographic). I'm going to still mask up when around people anyway.

I did cancel our latenight tickets in the indoor barn venue - which sucks, but oh well.

>>> What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. <<<  

An old saying that unfortunately isn't necessarily true. The long-lasting consequences of Covid aren't making everyone stronger. They may have some transitory immunity to the strain they had, but that's it.

As someone with co-morbidities, I'm vacc'd (I wear a Mouse-via-MikeE button), boosted x2, wear a mask when I'm indoors with anyone, and haven't been anywhere indoors except too many medical offices. Grocery pick up in the parking lot, friends pick things up, etc. But, I didn't go that many places before these times.

I do have plans though: Acoustic Hot Tuna here in Eugene in a small theater in June, seat on the aisle, I'll be masked. And plans that were Covid-interrupted in 2020, Europe at the end of summer - I hope that works out.

I have a lot of N95 and KN95 masks.

we have 2 indoor shows coming up, paul cauthen and calexico. 

then spear outside..

Been to 4 indoor shows in the past 5 weeks.  Small venues, biggest one was 1100, smallest 75 people.  So far, so good.  Going to test again tomorrow evening; guess I'll find out then.......  

I haven't gone to an indoor show since the pandemic started.

Planning on only going to outdoor shows this summer, just like last summer.

Can't miss Phil in Bridgeport!

Just received Booster #2 and have been masking up in crowded indoor settings, stores, etc lately but not feeling paranoid. It again/still seems like person-to-person spread has the highest probability for infection so I roll accordingly.

Judit, so no Cuthbert Phil for you?

I've been going to lots of local shows (one venue outdoors, the other very high ceiling, and spacial).  Small shows with local bands, think i'm going to wait another year before the larger venues.

Rusty, I don't think so.

Just got back from seeing TAB at Red Rocks and also a cardiac MRI I had scheduled to coincide in the Denver area.

I have comorbities and have not seen an indoor show in nearly 2.5 years.  I wore a tight fitting N95 mask the entire time at Red Rocks and noticed VERY few other people were wearing any type of mask.  I mostly hung out on the tree pads to the side where there was some space, but there's no controlling the "randos" that roll close by for whatever reason.   With the numbers ticking upward, I'm having second thoughts about D&C in Boulder and then SCI in Dillion / Red Rocks.  I'll likely play it by ear and see how the numbers are closer to the events.  

I wonder how much higher the rates are than the numbers.   I have 6 neighbors who have it in a well spaced neighborhood (they don't hang out together) and a my coworker got it over the weekend.   So much for a respite summer.   Maybe by August?  But the predictions were for a tour de force of a fall.   

So over it.  

oh this isn't about being gunned down at your fave festy?

nevermind

double nevermind

Got my second booster yesterday, and my arm hurts a bit today, but I'm ready for a little rock and roll.