Listen, most of us come here for the conversation and debate, the drama and the fights, and the free beer. Oh: you didn't get one? I THINK we just ran out. Sorry. :D

Seriously though, everyone here is on this forum to talk, discuss and slag off each other's music, occasionally to agree that someone's music is worthy of their immense taste, and nobody takes things too seriously. We're a friendly, if totally dysfunctional group, and I wouldn't even be too surprised if someone was in or heading to Chicago and would meet up with you, though I'm in Ireland so I can't. But yeah, going to a gig alone is no big deal. I've been to plenty. You'll find - if it's still anything like when I went, approx 500 years ago - that people will probably talk to you and get to know you when you go. I've had people comment on say a t-shirt or jacket (used to have one I embroidered myself - yeah, what of it? It was fun. No it's not gay. You take that back - sorry, where was I? Oh yeah - of Bruce Springsteen, and got a few good comments about that) or just see you're into the band and may raise a beer, whatever. Even if not, don't be discouraged. You'll find loads of people are going to gigs alone. Hell, I used to travel to London from Dublin to go to gigs on my own, gigs nobody else that I knew would be interested in.

Like they say, just be yourself, enjoy it and get into it, and the more gigs you go to the easier it'll get, and you'll wonder why you let the fact that you had nobody to go with stop you. And then you'll be on your way.

I'm glad our reactions did some good. It's great that you're within driving distance of Chicago, taking advantage of that is a good idea.
About music you're listening to, I've been wanting to check out Purple Mountains for a while, I've read praise of them on this forum. Also cool that you're listening to Julien Baker; I never really got into her music (yet) but I'm a fan of her bandmates in Boygenius!

You will find your style, keep exploring.

Most of the times I try to listen to an album once, when I listen from bandcamp.
My favorite instrument is the bagpipes, my favorite artist is Hevia.
But I try to listen to different things as well.

Yikes. Was going to see them tour because I was too young to see Silver Jews (they broke up around the time I started listening to them in high school). Was super excited to see David Berman making new music again, listened to the album a couple of times, and put it down because I was pretty obsessed (still am) with dance music at that moment. Saw that David took over the instagram account for Drag City, and the next day I see posts about his passing. It ****ed me up, hard. Especially after listening to the album again afterwards, it was right there in the songwriting, but I didn't really hear it till I gave it a deep listen.

Do you like Natural Snow Buldings?

Oh, and I should mention: people who go to gigs go for one reason - to hear music. And maybe get drunk. Nobody cares if you're alone there and, more importantly, nobody will know. It's a big mass of people all standing around. Who's going to know or care who's with who? You could be with that person standing beside you who you don't even know, or even in a group. Even so, nobody will care and there is zero chance of anyone turning and saying hey look at him, he's all alone. Just does not, and will not happen. Everyone will be interested in the show, not you.

So go, and have fun.

Yeah I haven't really listened to much Silver Jews outside of American Water, but I do love that album. I was interested in the new album and thought it was pretty good, but after his death its even more alluring to me. But I have a predisposition towards death-centric albums. Him talking about feeling strange as the people (girl) he loves flourishes really spoke to me after having gone through similar mental health stuff. He totally leaves it all out there on that album. Yeah I love that album lol.


Havent heard of Natural Snow Buildings! Listening to em right now!


Yeah I love Pheobe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus too. I think Julien Baker's music is the kind that grows on you after a while, at least that was my experience.

Lol so true. S'pose I'm just anxious.