On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Jam Productions announced that the Foo Fighters would play an 800-person show at Chicago’s Cubby Bear venue that Friday. The Cubby Bear, a 21+ punk club in the heart of Wrigleyville, is the site of Foo frontman Dave Grohl’s first concert. There, in 1983, 14-year-old Grohl achieved rock enlightenment at a Naked Raygun show. This was pre-Nirvana fame, so we can assume that illegal action was taken to gain entry. Where would Dave Grohl be without his first live music experience? Where would we all be if we could get into any show without worrying about age restrictions?
While 21+ shows are clearly not the primary cause for fake ID sales, they are a common incentive for continued use of fakes by those who already possess them.
“I can’t think of a much better use for a fake ID. I had a fake ID when I was younger. I used it to buy alcohol, but it’s much more proactive to go to a concert,” said Meric Long, singer/songwriter/guitarist for indie rock band The Dodos.
Some people might even consider getting fake IDs solely for concert purposes. Others are too fearful of the consequences – and rightly so. Security at Double Door, a 21+ venue in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, is not sympathetic. It is their job to honor and protect the club’s license, not to succumb to desperate fans’ sweet talk. Genna Saccomonto, Social Media and Special Events Coordinator at Double Door, says that the staff has caught many underage people trying to get in with fake IDs. While they may not immediately call the police, they confiscate any fakes they come across and issue warnings. No exceptions. However, if anyone gives security a hard time about refusing entry, they have no qualms about bringing the police.
“I don’t really have a problem [with the age restriction],” Saccomonto said. “Even when I was underage, I didn’t care that much because Chicago is a big city, so bands come through pretty often. If [underage fans] can’t catch a band at a 21+ venue, they should be able to see them elsewhere sometime soon.”
She has a point. But the ultimate concern is the notion that certain venues and shows should be associated with an alcohol-fueled crowd. Not every person of age drinks alcohol at concerts, and not every underage person wishes to drink. 21+ restrictions foster a dangerous complex of alcohol being intertwined with live music.
Sure, some people might choose to drink for whatever reason, but concert culture should not be exclusively tied to an intoxicated environment. People might head to the bar before a show starts to loosen up, but once an artist takes the stage, the music melts away tension anyway. The vibe is set by the performance, not just by one's beverage of choice.
“I don’t think there should be age restrictions because the artists themselves have nothing to do with people’s drinking habits,” said Abbey Schubert, a freshman in Medill. “Obviously, underage people shouldn’t be at the bar. I understand security giving wristbands to identify those who are 21 and over. But why do you have to close the show off to people who can’t drink? You can enjoy the music without being of legal drinking age.”
Long offers an artist’s understanding of age restrictions, but a desire for all shows to be all ages. “The age restriction is maybe something I cared more about before when ... it seemed like an industry standard, like you had to cut your teeth amongst some sort of scene or something. But now, for whatever reason, I just think the more ages, the better. Music – live music – shouldn’t be restricted to a certain age. It doesn’t make sense,” Long said.
In a perfect world, underage music lovers would be able to experience the enjoyment of their favorite bands playing before their very eyes. Live music is not only a catalyst for enhanced connection to music, but also for human connection overall. Concerts create memories, foster growth and promote togetherness. Maybe someday, youth access to the unparalleled power of live music will be encouraged, not criminal.