I ended up going to Evanescence by myself because none of my friends can relate to that type of music~ I still feel so young inside, but then I look in the mirror but I still feel like I am out of place in my neighborhood, like, I am just a kid playing house

thanx for sharing your story!!

I have a similar experience going to Sleepytime Gorilla Museum shows, albeit without the reminders of the past. They draw a mixed crowd, about 1/3 prog/metal (older guys with beards & bald spots), 1/3 random persons and 1/3 goth.

They played two shows up here recently, one in Eugene that was all-ages. I was outside waiting for doors to open and was a patch of gray (t-shirt) in a sea of black. A few of them were giving me the “what’s the lame-looking older guy doing here” look. I felt more than a little self-conscious, as you can imagine. Of course, doors opened 45 min. late, so by the time I got into the venue I felt like I was on display.

However, I got a free pass. Members of the band would walk in, see me, and greet me loudly and with hugs. The first time the kids seemed uncertain as to what to think. By the time Carla came through they were looking at me as if this were my secret identity, and they really ought to recognize me but just couldn’t make the connection. The confusion was well worth my earlier discomfort.

187CALM, eh? There’s a blast from the past. Saw them play several shows at the Cactus, usually with Shovelhead or Cafe Of Regret. Nice folks.