Every parent does it to their kids when they tell a story about how bad they had to rough it when they were our age. I don’t care what your family background is, every parent does it. If we are lucky, we get to do the same thing to our kids and the circle of life continues.
I was driving down Nolensville pike the other day, near where the old Harding Mall used to be. Now growing up in Nashville, I lived in on the east side over in Donelson/Hermitage. My trips to south Nashville were few and very far between, except for one thing and I will explain that in a second.
I am sure you have been to a sporting event or concert in the last five years and know how you get your tickets. Of, if someone has a ticket and wants to give it to you, it is pretty simple. There is an app you can download, or send it through email and voila, you have your tickets. Pretty simple and saves a ton of time.
I feel bad for my kids though and other kids of this generation. But why, Joe? They get the tickets quickly and everyone is happy. Okay, I guess so, but they will never know these things and this is where Nolensville pike comes in.
You see, there was a building over there called Cat’s Records. Yes, a music store full of albums, and cassette’s and 8-tracks. CD’s were just about to come out but not yet. Your favorite radio station would say that Motley Crue or Krokus or Molly Hatchett was coming to town and there were not very many places you could buy tickets. DJ would say, “Tuesday at 11, tickets go on sale for Styx.” Everyone would then converge on these places. The building is still there and I am sure the memories are alive and well with the sounds of teenagers and young adults mulling around.
Remember, no cell phones were around so you would haul tail to Cat’s and then stand in line for your tickets. It could be one minute or an hour, just depending. I remember standing in line for three hours for Rick Springfield tickets, don’t laugh, but it was worth every second. The sweating in the summer standing there. Getting a ride to and fro. Stealing money out of my mom’s purse to buy said tickets. Meeting people from all around the city that you would have never ran into. Having the guy behind you pull out the biggest joint you have ever seen. It goes on and on and on. Then you get tickets and see your friends and the first question was, “How long was the line?”
Yes, it is much easier today getting a ticket but sometimes the effort and the grind and the unknown made those moments special, topped off by that concert where you lost your mind. I am sure this generation will find their own battle that they will be able to pass off to their own kids.
I will never forget going to see Motley Crue at a meet and greet back in 1983 at Cat’s Records and standing in line to buy tickets to their show. A huge line awaited the guys and they were super nice to every single person that took the time to go see them. Imagine a popular band today, going to some store in suburbia and doing a meet and greet and sell tickets. It isn’t happening and that is why that time was so special.
May places like Cat’s Records and others that provided that service always be preserved in our memories. It was truly another time and place.
