You’ve met them, I’m sure of it. Fans of all sorts of things – music, anime, artists, television shows, etc. They can be pretty nutty with their intense focus on whatever it is they like.

For the longest time I thought fans of “higher caliber” music would certainly behave in a much better way than fans of music in the “lower echelon.”

Firstly, the rating of music as being better than the next is certainly a subjective thing. Your Grade-A might be my Grade-F and vice versa.

For all intents and purposes, Radiohead is Grade-A in my book, or Grade-A++++++++. Feel free to pick your poison. O-Town, in comparison, is way down in Below Zero. See how I did that? They suck so badly they don’t even rate on a grading scale.

Back to my initial point: The Fans.

You’d think that fans of Radiohead would be different from fans of Jimmy Eat World who would be different from fans of the Backstreet Boys.

Alas, they are not. Even with the widely different types of music performed by each band (and yes, I know BSB is more of a music group than a band – that’s not the point right now) the fans tend to act very similarly.  They are protective of their choice. They know all the ins and outs. They look down on numskulls who don’t know the “early” music performed at a concert and only sing along to the latest CD.

I’ve come across message boards, forums, fan depots and “meeting spots” for all three of the aforementioned musical talents. I’m telling you, when it all boils down to it, the fans are the same.

Radiohead fans will talk about Thom Yorke’s “cute red pants.” Jimmy Eat World fans will argue over who looks better: Jim vs Rick. Backstreet fans can probably tell you just how many tattoos AJ has.

And you know what? None of it actually matters.

None of it.

Not when we’re talking music, at least. Because who the fuck cares that Thom smiled more at that one set or Zach didn’t come talk to the fans milling around after the show or that Howie got married?

With all that said, I do have to admit a little something.

After the craziness that was I during the most intense years of being a Backstreet Fanatic, I never ever thought I’d fall back into fanaticism of a musical group ever again.

I was wrong.

Because Radiohead? They have me hooked.

No, I’ll never bother getting the nitty gritty on Jonny Greenwood’s personal life, something I did in my teens with Kevin Richardson. No, I’ll never give two fucks about what Thom wore on stage, something I did in the past with AJ. No, I’ll never hunt down the “correct” hotel, reserve a room and strategically place myself in the hotel bar in hopes of catching a glimpse of Ed, something I most certainly did with Backstreet.

Either way, I will be a loyal fan until the day I die.

Since learning how production, music writing, composition and all that jazz works, I’ve steadily gone down hill with my love for all things Backstreet. Sure, they’ll always hold a special place in my heart from all of the crazy memories.

But let’s face it. Backstreet is – by no means – Radiohead.

And that’s that.

Radiohead – Nude (live @ APW Festival 8-8-08)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMTQGheuhyU]

Radiohead – How To Disappear Completely (live @ APW Festival 8-8-08)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtCrimnV3go]

Radiohead – Idioteque (live @ APW Festival 8-8-08)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tsl4eJru5Y]
Uhm… I might’ve lost my shit during this song.

I’m pretty sure there’s no way on earth I could properly express to you how excited I am about the next two weeks.

Here’s why:

Radiohead

The Roots

Sia

Girl Talk

Metric

Chromeo

The John Butler Trio

G.L & Special Sauce

Tristan Prettyman

and finally…

The Backstreet Boys

I’ve never listened to this many different live acts in a two-week span IN MY LIFE and I haven’t even listed everyone I’m going to see! I don’t have a clue what I’m going to do with myself. Something akin to a kid going apeshit in a candy store.

Oh, and somewhere in September I’ll be in the audience for this show thanks to my super duper fabulous boyfriend:

The Daily Show

I’m really fucking difficult to deal with.

Don’t believe me? Just ask my mom.

I’ve got no clue when, why or how it started.

I do vividly remember throwing a HUGE tantrum when my best friend tried to hop the neighbor’s fence with me to go pick cherries for my birthday party in the 1st grade. I seriously flipped the hell out and damn near pushed him to the ground in an effort to do it all by myself.

Somewhere along the way, I also developed this lovely thing called abandonment issues. Yet again, I have no idea why it started but the fear of it cripples me to this day.

I have erected a wall that is thick and huge.

I don’t always know how to let people in. The newer you are in my life, the harder it is.

The two aforementioned observations are completely interlaced. I have a bad habit of assuming that everyone I care for or about will just disappear in to thin air one day.

::POOF::

Gone.

On the one hand, I seriously hate it. It causes difficulties when there aught not be any. On the other hand, I love it. It keeps me reasonable and detached from random people that have no real baring on me or my life.

To have found someone who is seemingly able to cope with my stand-offish behavior while I adjust to this new relationship is not only amazing but fucking fantastic.

I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I’m damn glad we found each other.

I doubt I’ll blog too often about the boyfriend, despite my habit of over sharing,  but I felt like saying  this much.

He’s awesome.

End of story.