Last night I saw the Doobie Brothers in concert; the group has the distinction of being the only band I’ve seen twice in my lifetime. I was a teenager when I first rocked to “Listen to the Music” almost 30 years ago. This time, my own teens rocked right alongside me.

Reunion concerts are the rage, and aging baby boomers (myself included) are only too happy to plunk down $75 to recapture our inner wild child, if only for an evening. However, there are definite differences between attending a concert then and now.

Then: You wondered if that cute lead singer had a girlfriend. Now: You wonder if the lead singer has a grandchild.

Then: You barely scraped together the money to buy the ticket and chip in for gas; purchasing liquid refreshments was not an option. Now: You have the luxury of deciding between the $11 beer or $16 margarita.

Then: Halter tops and skimpy outfits helped keep you cool at a summer concert. Now: Anyone over age 35 in a halter top or skin-tight romper leaves everyone else cold. (Not to be catty, but, really? I got way too many views of “the Girls” of  the 40-something halter-clad woman in front of me who was pawing her 50-something boyfriend. Yuck!)

Then: With your nose bleed seats, you had to rely on the album covers to imagine what the band members looked like. Now: With video jumbotrons, you actually can see those little ants prancing around on stage. (See, there ARE plusses to seeing concerts now!)

Then: Your awareness of other concert-goers was limited to the friends you came with and those people whose feet you tripped over as you scooted out  the row to go to the bathroom. Now: You look forward to prime people-watching at the concert.

Have you been to any reunion concerts? Did you notice any Then and Now differences? And how did the group/artist sound 30 years later?

I’m happy to report that the Doobie Brothers sounded as good as ever– even without Michael McDonald!