Do you feel that beat? No?
With recorded sound having been around now for more than 130 years, since at least 1877, when Edison invented the phonograph (though the phonatgram predates that invention – more about that another time), it’s easy to rely only on recorded sound as a source of input to the musical brain. Live music is much more of a multi-sensory experience than recorded sound can ever be. So, it’s a good idea to take advantage of every opportunity to hear live sound whenever possible.
There are many resources to find live performances in your area, like the Living or Arts and Entertainment section of your local newspaper or your local college. There are also resources on the web to help search for live shows or the music you want to hear.
LocalMusicVibe.com searches initially based on the IP address of your computer and immediately delivers events in your area that are within ten miles of its best guess as to your location. You can also search by venue, by type of music and by group style or name and by different locations, if you’re in the mood for a musical road trip.
JamBase.com has a slightly different approach, but also offers many ways to search and has a section dedicated to festivals. They also offer an iPhone app for on-the-go searches.
Regionally-centric sites, like CityBeat.com for Cincinatti, sfstation.com for San Francisco, CenterStageChicago.com for, you guessed it, Chicago music and concert events, abound, with the addition of reviews and feedback.
So, get off your duff and go hear something live, before your brain atrophies.