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I'm in the group that for the most part would just listen to the album at home...dealing with a crowd of what winds up to be drunken idiots is not my idea of a good time.

It depends on the band.

Some bands I can pass, others I simply cannot and will move mountains to see in person.

I've never been a fan of musical festivals, but there is just something about seeing bands live that I love. Sometimes magic happens and it is such an amazing experience.

I see it as a healthy diet of music you must include live, it doesnt compare to just hear the recording. I have to see everyone I dig live before I commit to being a fan. If they cant do it live I'm not impressed. As for drunken idiots - depends on the kind of venue/music you are going to. Some are worse than others.

Being the girlfriend of a touring musician for the past 3.5 years I have been to a lot... A LOT of shows. Not only his bands shows and the festivals they play, but we go to see the bands that they've toured with in the past when they come to town and visit with them. I used to tour with him, nation and worldwide. Totally over it. I'd rather drive around listening to my ipod now.

If you're talking giant music fest, yeah, I'd just as soon stay home most of the time. But if you're talking about a smaller venue (say, the Casbah in SD. Or the Fillmore in SF at the largest), then I'm all about the live show.

I love going to the shows for certain bands, for others I will listen to the cd at home or get the DVD of a live show on Netflix. I do want to check out Bonnaroo one of these days - though dealing with stupid & drunk people might hinder the enjoyment of all that great music in one place.

I may not like battling crowds as much as I used to, but as far as the music's concerned, nothing beats a live show. So in that regard, I would much rather see a live act because of how great it sounds.

That being said, when I like an artist, see them live, and they stink, it totally ruins their studio recordings for me.

Cheers,
M

I like both, but I believe listening to music at home is for your enjoyment, where as going to a concert is more for the musicians and showing your support.

How much is the ticket? How cool is the venue? Is it a 'school night'? If all the answers are reasonable, then I am there!

Feeling the vibrations of giant speakers in the immediate and spontaneous creation of songs I love by the artist who make them is akin to a religious experience for me. That said, it is such an expensive indulgence, unless the seats are great, stay home. I wanted to take teenage son to a stadium concert just once and when he finally consented to go with embarrassing old mom, the only seats left were bird's eye views of the stage and the surrounding fans were drunk or little kids. A total waste of money.

Depends on the venue...

If it's a nice cozy place like the Plush Room at the York Hotel or the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko here in SF where I can be shown to a table and order drinks and nibblies from attentive waitstaff - then I'm perfectly content.

However if it's someplace huge like the Oakland Arena or a place like Bimbo's where it's a free-for-all, the floor staff is rude and there's zero indication of how to get a reserved table - No thanks.

sassylashes -- I've been to about three musical events. Two were concerts - one rock and one country -- the other was a symphony. Sadly the first one I went to (the country) was the only one where I didn't have to deal with at least a dozen people in front of me who kept getting up and down to get more drinks when they seemed like they had more than their fair share before they even got there.

depends on the band. there use to be alot of good bands coming through my town(cheap prices of like 20-$30) but the venue they would play at got bought off & now only Disney tv stars(jonas brothers, miley cyrus) are the only ones to come now. :(

The thing that makes me the saddest is when I see a band I've become a big fan of and they blow. That hurts my musical heart.

I am absolutely all about the live shows. I have seen upwards of 30 in the last year and a half, and if it's a band I'm really into, then I'll drive several hours to see more than one show on each tour. I live in Florida, so most bands come to Orlando (where I live) as well as Tampa (an hour and a half away) or West Palm Beach/Boca Raton. If you really love a band, there's nothing like seeing them play live, to be honest.

I generally prefer live concerts but the last few I've been to have sucked so I'll reserve final judjgement until The Killers next month