Armstrong - FIRST CONCERT EVER

In this First Concert Ever segment, the hard rock/metal artist, Armstrong, talks about the story of his first experience with live music. You can check out the story below:

I remember it very well. I had been looking forward to this show for weeks, and pretty much thinking about it non-stop. Looking back on that night now, I realize that it was a catalyst that sparked something deep in my sole, and would play a large part in shaping the next 20+ years of my life. It was a concert I’ll never forget. But it was a concert I came very close to never seeing.

Life was pretty simple growing up in a small town in West Texas. My dad was a rancher, and my Mom was a school teacher. To put it plainly, we didn’t have a lot of money. We couldn’t afford much in the way of extra curricular activities, vacations, or nice things. I was also raised in a conservative home, and would consider myself pretty sheltered as a child. Though I was raised on country music, I discovered hard rock and metal around 12 or 13 years of age. I started listening to bands like Def Leppard, Metallica, Pantera, AC/DC, and more. I was hooked. I soon picked up a guitar and never looked back. One day I saw a commercial for a rock tour coming to my area. I can still hear it: “The Maximum Rock Tour!!! Featuring Anthrax, Megadeth, and Motley Crue!! July, 9th. Get your tickets NOW!!!" I knew I had to go. My parents had other ideas though. In my family circle, there were “taboo” things that should be avoided and steered clear of. Heavy metal was one of them. But I wasn’t deterred. I HAD to go. After several rounds of “No, you’re not going.” my perseverance paid off. My dad finally agreed to let me go under pain of death if I f#*ed up in ANY way. I was beyond excited.

The day finally came, and I hitched a ride with one of my brothers friends who was going. After snagging a ticket at the box office, we stepped into the coliseum where it was being held. We had floor seats, and I can still remember what it felt like walking into the venue of my very first rock show. All the sounds and smells. All the people. All the excitement in the air. All the heavy anticipation we were all feeling. The atmosphere was electric! Then finally the lights went out, and the crowd EXPLODED. Anthrax was first to take the stage. Me and my buddy immediately started working our way to the front row. It was then that I got my first taste of how crazy PACKED it is in the front row of a rock show lol. You can’t move your legs or arms, it’s almost impossible to breathe, and crowd-surfers periodically land on your head. But I was loving it! After Anthrax, Megadeth rocked the house. We stayed pretty close to the front, absolutely drenched in sweat by now. Then it was time for Motley. Me and my buddy moved back a little to get some breathing room. Their set was jaw-dropping! They had the lights, the pyro, the props, the energy, and all the hits that I had been listening to on the radio for the past few years. I’ve gotta admit, all the cussing over the mic, and the abundance of weed were a pretty big culture shock to this small town kid. (I did not partake in the smoking lol.) Despite this, I was in absolute euphoria.

By the time the lights came on after Motley Crue played their final song we were completely exhausted, but energized at the same time. Though I was still trying to process what I had just experienced, I knew one thing. Though I had suspected it before, I knew for sure now that I wanted to play music for the rest of my life, and be on that stage one day. And so my journey as a musician began. It hasn’t stopped yet.

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