How often do you get a chance to see live music

Several times per year. I try to go to just small venues (bars) and theatres any more, and I always bring earplugs (hi, my name is Dan, and I'm an old fart). For the life of me I don't know why acoustic bands at small venues amplify. Even if its just one guy and acoustic guitar. I'd bet that if they didn't amplify, the crowd would quiet down considerably. I recently caught Francine Reed at a beautiful outdoor facility near Atlanta. The band wasn't too loud (for once), but she was horribly miced! Her voice pierced my ears all night long. I wouldn't had known it was even her singing save for seeing her on stage. The whole experience was completely ruined by (poor) amplification. I crabbed about it during the show and all the way home. Everyone else there near me and in the car told me I ruined their night by yapping about it. They all thought it was a great show and I was just a crabby old fart. (I am, but that's not the point.)

I left NYC about 10 years ago. I used to live a block from the Bottom Line and got to catch a show there every week or two. Also made it to several other nearby venues pretty frequently. That was then.

Now, I live just outside LA and we have a club here that programs for a suburban audience. The result is a little heavy on the '80s, but when they go further back some great acts pop up. Maybe four to six shows a year, and I'll make it to half of those. McCabes in Santa Monica regularly programs top shelf guitar talent for mostly acoustic shows and I attend quarterly (ish). I also see a show in Vegas about once a year. Jazz a few times a year at local clubs, too. I even made it to Staples Center for my first arena show (Fleetweood Mac) in decades.

I still love seeing live music.

Here in Nashville there`s always live music. I catch a show about 2 times week.

Last Thursday, I went to hear a piano recital by Murray Perahia; Saturday I heard the Colorado Symphony and Sunday I heard a vocal recital by Thomas Hampson. That's a little more than usual, but all three were terrific and I wouldn't have wanted to miss any of them. I try to catch the symphony 3-4 times per month. I'm a member of the local folk association and hear great musicians there at least monthly. I used to be a great fan of rock and jazz, but mostly those venues are WAY too loud, and I rarely bother with live shows in those genres.

Well, as long as your asking..
This summer Pablo Cruise & the Beach Boyes were playing locally so my wife & I went to see them. Then the next night The Guess Who & Foreigner were playing at the same outside venue so we went to them also. We're both 53 and it was an enjoyable two nights out. Sure, all four bands barely have any original memebrs and the sound was questionable, but we got out and it was entertaining. And yes there sere drunks, stoners, loud people, obnoxious people, etc. But what the heck, if I wanted peace and quiet I coulda' gone to church. It's all what you make of it and we made the best of "hittin-the-town". Kind of blew our 22 year old daughter away that we can still rock n' roll with the best of them.
-John