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Green Day

August 24, 2010

By Paul Lane CNHI The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Tue Aug 24, 2010, 06:00 AM EDT

DARIEN CENTER — There’s nothing like a rock concert to make a person feel old again.

Surrounded by teens and 20-somethings during the recent Green Day show at Darien Lake, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit like a man in a Darth Vader costume at a “Star Trek” convention.

My wife and I had loads of fun, mind you. But, in attending our first concert together in at least 18 months, several pieces of evidence conspired to make me feel as though my best concert-going days may be behind me.

• We entirely missed the opening (AFI). Despite having paid to see that band just as much as the headliner, I can’t say that it bothered me in the least.

• In my more vibrant days, I would have nervously canvassed the concert grounds until I saw the beer vendor. When we got in, all I had my mind on was making sure I got something to eat so I wouldn’t get hungry halfway through the show.

• A cup of beer cost $11. As my wife so accurately pointed out, there was a day when I wouldn’t have thought twice about paying that much. That day is long gone. I mean, $11? Seriously?

• And $40 for a T-shirt? That would pay for an entire afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese, for cryin’ out loud.

• As I heard some kids shouting out the words to “Basket Case” and other early Green Day hits, I couldn’t help but ask myself whether they were alive when the song was released (1994, if you’re interested). Whipper-snappers.

• I was quite relieved to be so close to the restroom, which I utilized three times during the performance. Hold it, schmold it, I gotta go when I gotta go.

• Standing through the duration of the show wasn’t much of a challenge — or so I thought until I sat down. My feet ached halfway through the drive home, and I felt it in my legs even as I went up to bed. I guess I need to stretch first next time.

• I didn’t wear earplugs during the show. But that’s only because I forgot to grab them out of my coat pocket before we left the house. I had every intention of wearing them.

• Not only did we entertain the notion of leaving before the show was over, but we also followed through on that idea, walking out during the final song of the set and listening to part of the encore as we sauntered to the car. How can one or two songs compare to the extra sleep that’s to be had by beating the horrific traffic?

I mean, right? Right ... ?

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