DrumDoug
Senior Member
As we come out of lockdowns, I’m seeing more and more posts by bands and venues promoting gigs. The thing that stands out to me, and has for several years now, is how old all the bands are. I’m almost 50 so this includes me. It just seems that all the live music is the same baby boomers who have been playing for decades. Every once in a while I’ll see a band member who is in their 30s, but that’s rare. I’ve even tried searching out younger bands. I check out venue listings and look up the bands, but no younger musicians. It doesn’t seem like young people in general care about live music. I can be playing in an empty bar, while across the street, young people are lined up trying to get into a club with a DJ. Maybe it’s just the area where I live, but I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. There are 10 million people within a 50 mile drive. I work at a high school. I’ve tried asking the students about music, but other than a couple that play guitar, no one is in a band or even knows someone who is. Is there not a younger music scene? Are they all hiding from the old folks? Do I live in a weird music bubble? I see people post that live music is alive and well. Not around here. And I’m talking pre-COVID. I planned on playing music until I was old. The thing is, I’ve always played with older musicians, now I don’t think there will be anyone to play with by the time I reach retirement age.