Not since the advent of peanut butter and jelly has there been a combination quite as complimentary as rock music and booze. In an industry of drug abusers and alcoholics, it's no wonder why-liquor heightens and accelerates most everything, which is what I pursued before ever turning 21. Yes, there was an unspecified period in my time as a minor that I had a fake ID.
During that time I attended as many shows as I could, which led me to the realization that you really can't have live music without spirit(s). (Fake IDs are not a route I'd recommend-my cover as a 26-year-old blond from Virginia came to a crashing halt when I was busted at the Fox Theater. Missing Hot Hot Heat to hide in a thorn bush was so not worth it.
) As much a part of the society of rock n' roll as Chuck Taylors and one night stands, it's been my experience that alcohol is a mandatory part of the live music culture. Some of the most interesting conversations I've ever had have come directly from asking, "Can I buy you a drink?' I tend to epitomize whiskey in particular as the mascot of rock music.
Perhaps due to its constant representation in songs-Bright Eyes' "Well Whiskey" and Alice Cooper's "Lace And Whiskey" at the top of my list-or perhaps due to my own experiences, whiskey brings out an appropriate wildness in us all. From chugging out of a flask in the bathroom to having venue owners buy me shots, I've got the educated authority to say that you've not seen a good show until you've seen it through a pair of beer goggles. Just like Lennon and McCartney, PB and J, and Ricky and Lucy, booze and bands is a combo that I can't imagine living modern life without: there are just some duos that cannot be denied.
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