Gig Survival Tips For the Chronically Ill

As I’ve mentioned on varying blogs here on the XMR HUB, I have chronic illnesses. Mine are invisible, meaning I look able-bodied even when I feel like I am on death’s door. I know there are many others like me who are obsessed with music and love going to gigs and try to balance that …

2019 Roundup

Another one down. So here is my annual list of places I’ve been and things I’ve seen in the past year. January 9-20: UK research tripJanuary 14: Good Grief Charlie Brown @ Somerset House, London, UKJanuary 17: London, Sugar & Slavery @ Museum of London Docklands, London, UKFebruary 7: Chris Farren & Jeff Rosenstock @ …

“stop sneering at our joy like it’s a careless mistake”

This past week I attended two out of four nights of Jeff Rosenstock's mini-residency at Bowery Ballroom (nights 2 and 4 - the 7th and 9th -, respectively). Since I have chronic pain, I had a seat in the balcony which meant I had a great view of the show and of Jeff's fans on …

Embodying “God Damn – It’s Great To Be Alive”

It was November 26th, 2015. A Thursday. Thanksgiving, if you were in America. But I wasn’t. I had taken a red-eye flight the night before to London and found myself in a sleep-deprived haze standing inside the cavernous, and famous, Alexandra Palace. I was there hours before doors opened for the night to work a …

after all, it was rock ‘n’ roll.

My identity was formed at a young age in a dark community center room, with music blaring loudly through amps and speakers. I went to my first arena concert at age 7 (Billy Joel), my first GA concert at 12 (Sum 41), and my first local show at 13 (I honestly couldn't tell you who …