I may be the typical feminine, dainty southern gal, but when it comes to rock and roll music, I'm not going to lie, girl-next-door goes right out the window, and that was no exception a few weekends ago when we went to the opening comeback Guns N' Roses concert in Vegas. Our friends, Mike and Holly, invited us to the experience of a lifetime and what we all thought was the impossible - seeing Axl and Slash back together on stage. I have to tell yall, it was nothing short of amazing. Axl sounded like his voice had never aged a day, and I think Slash needs all new guitars for the rest of the tour because I'm pretty sure he ripped through and destroyed every one he had. Not to mention, the fear of Axl not even showing up due to his broken foot, turned Axl coming out on Dave Grohl's throne, was too much to handle. Being such a Foo Fighters fan and having just seen that concert with Dave on the throne, I could barely contain myself. They absolutely killed it!
While the concert felt like a huge welcome back party, I actually think my favorite part of the show was going with such huge GNR fans. Tres and Holly had a tragedy to triumph moment that night. Both told me a similar story of being kids and wanting to see GNR when they were on tour in the 90s, but their parents said no (I mean, who can blame them... those guys were a wild bunch back then). The begging and pleading to go see a band that "will always come back" may have seemed a little dramatic at the time coming from two little tweens, but GNR never came back and then we all learned that they would never plan on it. I remember Tres telling me years ago how GNR was one of his favorite bands and there was no hope to ever see them in concert because Axl and Slash would never in a million years be able to settle their differences. I'm so glad we didn't have to wait a million years because a few weekends ago, I was reminded why I love rock and roll music so much.
I may be as basic as the next gal when it comes to pumpkin spice everything and white-girl rose, but when it comes to my music, you'll never catch me swinging my hair to Swift, shaking my behind to Bieber, or yelling lyrics across the bar when the latest country song comes on. My love of rock music runs deep and it comes with a bit of a sassy opinion, but I'm so passionate about it, I sometimes just can't contain myself. I'm obsessed with good music and by good music I mean anything rock - particularly from the 80's and 90's. Hair metal, radio-friendly 80's rock, grunge, alternative, even punk rock is what you'll find on my iTunes list, and I wish the rest of the world's music list looked the same way. When I hear rock, I feel it in my bones. I try to process how this next generation of folks will ever understand that feeling with Ariana Grande's silly lyrics and Calvin Harris' obnoxious turn tables blasting in their ears, but I can assure yall, the LeTard child will be far removed from that racket.
I am convinced me and my brother's "good taste" in music stems from what I consider fun parenting. We grew up around rock music. Two sacks of potatoes, my parents toted us to concerts before we were even old enough to know what we were hearing. My dad had his own backyard shed, complete with every instrument you've ever seen in a rock band, and would have us come outside and jam with him. And I'll never forget my mom telling me all she listened to was Genesis when she was pregnant, and funny enough, we both still love us some Phil Collins.
Ok, so maybe I teeter between southern belle and hipster, but by darn, my kid is going to be exposed to good music if it kills me. As far as going to a hardcore rock and roll concert alone at the tiny age of 11, I'm sure my response would be the same as Tres' and Holly's parents.' I just hope a band as good as Guns N' Roses exists when we have a kid old enough to go to concerts, and I hope rock and roll music lives on forever.
Check back later this week! I'll be posting a video of me rocking out to GNR in my kitchen doing what I do best... making cocktails!!! Guns N' Roses cocktail recipe coming to you soon! Until then, try my "Rose" Pisco Sour!