On occasion, I read books at rock concerts. I don't really do this as a rule, only in special circumstances, like if I'm at the rock concert by myself for a while, or I'm standing in line. I usually got there by public transit, and I never take public transit without at least one book, and perhaps an alternate book in case my mood wasn't right for the first one. When I was in high school, I often pulled out the collected essays of Franz Kafka while hanging around at punk shows, possibly because I thought it was really cool and punk rock to be reading Kafka. In the most uncool and unpunkrock thing I may have ever done, I recall one hot day at the Siren fest in Brooklyn when I was waiting for my brother to show up, and just had to dip back into whatever new Harry Potter book had come out. It was unwieldy, but I don't think I was the only one.
Here are my suggestions for books to read at (outdoor) rock concerts, where the light is good and when your friends are in line for beer and stop to chat with someone they run into, and you're just hanging out on the blanket by yourself.
Especially if you're seeing Thurston Moore's new act, bring along your copy of Kim Gordon's memoir, Girl in a Band. So far, I've read about 30 pages, and it's pretty good. Gordon had what sounds like a very happy childhood with groovy academics for parents. I look forward to the part when she's writing about the NYC scene of the 1970s and 1980s.
The best shows for reading are kind of droney and atmospheric and maybe a little cerebral, without lyrics that you need to pay a ton of attention to, and without inspiring you to get up and dance. I could probably read almost anything while listening to Tame Impala, who I like, but am not blown away by. If I were at their show, maybe I would bring something like Malcolm Bull, Anti-Nietzsche.
These days, as you know, a lot of bands are getting back together and touring. Last night I saw a little of Jane's Addiction doing Ritual De Lo Habitual and it kind of made me sad. I left early. For such retro-shows, try hauling out City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg, who is too young to have lived through the time period he's writing about, sort of like that kid I saw at the Rock festival yesterday wearing a Jane's Addiction t-shirt.
I'm planning to see Son Little this afternoon, and I will be toting a lightweight paperback of Octavia Butler's Dawn with me to read on the train/lines. To be honest, I will probably not be reading during this show, alone or not.
If you're going to see some new band and they might be kind of good,but you're not sure whether you're going to like them or not and you just want a book along for insurance, and maybe you will read it on the way there and the way home, bring along Patti Smith's Just Kids because Patti Smith would not steer you wrong and there will be someone there who's read it and will want to talk to you about how much they loved it.
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