Evolution of Bands

I adore Jimmy Eat World.

Jimmy Eat World reminds me of being in college. There is at least one Jimmy Eat World song that reminds me of each boyfriend or male interest I ever had. I believe I even attended a Jimmy Eat World concert with three of the other contributors on this website a few years ago.

Speaking of concerts, I went to one last Friday. The concert was billed as “Green Day and Jimmy Eat World.” It should have been billed as “Green Day with a small warm-up act by Jimmy Eat Who?”

This concert took place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, which already should have been a tip-off. I’ve been to several Jimmy concerts, and the very largest one was at the Bronco Bowl (does anyone else miss the good ol’ Bronco Bowl?), and that was after the inexplicable big boom of “The Middle.”

I’m going to mention here that I have traditionally thought those who scorn the success of their favorite non-mainstream bands were a little off. I mean, how can Band X continue making music if they never hit it big? That whole starving artist thing--it’ll come true eventually if they never get a hit, and then they’ll be too emaciated to strum a guitar or beat the drums.

So when Jimmy Eat World exploded onto the radio with “The Middle,” I was happy for them. Then I was annoyed as the radio annihilated what used to be a good song by playing it four thousand times a day. Then I was appeased when they put out Futures and I realized that they were still making good music, radio be damned.

But Friday. Friday, I was saddened to the point of actually having tears dramatically well up in my eyes. My seat was at the very top section of the American Airlines Center, and I felt about a mile away from the band. I could see Jim and Dave jumping around as always, but the energy just couldn’t travel to where I was sitting. The crowd--an enormous group of teenagers (mean age approximately 13 years) all ironically sporting the exact same nonconformist Green Day-supporting outfits--actually booed Jimmy Eat World at one point. I was scandalized.

Jimmy Eat World only played seven songs, a thirty minute set. They were the warm-up band. After three radio hits in a row, I leaned over to the person I had gone with and said, “I swear to god, they better not be saving ‘The Middle’ for their finale.” But alas, that was indeed the plan. The bored teenagers on the floor were suddenly energized and bopping around to the music during that last song.

”You’re all a bunch of fucking posers!” I yelled to the teenagers from my nosebleed seats, unable to restrain myself. A scared-looking twelve-year-old moved a couple steps away from me.

But it was okay. At least I got to hear them play at all, even if it was only seven songs. And Green Day was alright, too. I mostly agreed with the political propaganda they were spewing, but couldn’t help laughing at them and shouting again when they put out the message to “vote the bastards out of office.”

”None of these kids are old enough to vote!”

God I’m old.