I planned to use the three days between returning from Louisville and departing for Europe to rest. That seems reasonable, if not smart. Trouble is, one of my very favorite bands is playing tonight at the Rady Shell in downtown San Diego – Khraungbin. The venue is spectacular, a shell-shaped structure designed for live music, right on the water next to SD’s lovely skyline. I have no doubt that Khraungbin’s music will shine in that setting. Given that this is the opening date for Khruangbin’s extensive 2024 tour, and the opening 2024 show for the Rady Shell, it will likely be epic.

The dilemma is that it’ll be a tough evening trip. Leave about 5pm, probably 90 minutes of travel each way (best case), getting us home past midnight. Plus, this is a “no seat” event (?!). Weirdly, there are only two types of tickets (VIP and GA), and in each case the assumption is you’re standing up. There are no seats, and you can’t bring a folding chair. So standing and jostling around with the almost-certainly-high and rowdy crowd for 2-3 hours. Ugh.

This makes me feel old. Somehow several thousand people are going to make the decision to see the band in a unique, world-class (though uncomfortable) setting, but I won’t be one of them. Because I can’t see myself standing for three hours for a concert. Twenty years ago, sure. Probably. But at this point in life, it sounds like a fairly bad idea.

I’ll just have to wait for the Youtube replay of the event and live with that. Or maybe catch a showing somewhere else in the US where they have actual reserved seats.