As a geek i can tend to find solace, at times, in numbers. i have done just that over the weekend. Here is a map of how i got there before i further elaborate on my calculations. A little set up if you will.
i have been very appreciative as of late realizing just how good it is to be me this summer. There have been some great experiences so far and several are still planned, not accounting for any surprise greatness which may lie ahead. One category of planned enjoyment this summer involves shows coming to my general area of the country.
My ladyfriend and i decided last year to cut back on our number of shows attended as we tighten our belts during these turbulent economic times. We agreed to only see special and unique shows that we could not stand to miss. i have indeed turned down quite a few shows but man this summer has some real hum-dingers i could not afford NOT to see.
Rise Against and Rancid (after one had a mediocre album the other put out a career best), Rival Schools back together and opening up for someone, and the return of all original Sunny Day Real Estate band members... good summer to be me.
Still no math? It is coming.
i got thinking about which show i was looking forward to the most with all these amazing tickets sitting in my desk drawer. Rise Against and Rancid: two great live bands i have seen before. i really am partial to Rise Against's last guitarist but know they put on consistently good performances, seeming to get better every time i see them. Rancid too is a solid live show and i am sooo addicted to their new album. Both bands, however, have seen considerable success over the years so although the show should be great it is inevitable that there will be some "goofers" at the show either becoming fans through Guitar Hero or other such sources. Still very excited though and i am quite happy that both bands are able to make a comfortable living making great music.
Next in chronological order comes the Rival Schools show. These tickets will go down as one of the best birthday presents i have ever received. i made peace with the idea that Walter had moved on to other projects when out of nowhere came these tickets... SWEET! i will most likely buy one of each type of merch at the show. The weakness, however, is they are opening up for Eagles of Death Metal. i do not like death metal, serious or ironically used. i will be leaving that show early and have made peace with it not being a Rival Schools headline show. This is indeed the set that i am looking forward to seeing the most this year... that is right: this year.
Lastly comes the return of Sunny Day Real Estate in their original line-up. Diary is one of the best albums to come out of the 90's and is responsible for truly defining a new genre. Y'up, emotional hardcore was really defined by this album more than any other single album. You want to argue it with me? Go ahead, you do not stand a chance.
Now as excited as i am about this incredible show i still am more excited about seeing Rival Schools live. But there is something extremely special i feel when thinking about this specific concert. It is truly a Sunny Day Real Estate show. They are not opening up for another band. The people who go are going, are going to see them. Not someone else. Even more unique is that Sunny Day Real Estate have never seen the successes of bands like Rise Against or Rancid. The people going to this show are going to just be true Sunny Day Real Estate fans.
How fucking cool is that crowd going to be? Really! If your are me (and you probably are not, but you could be as i am sure someone has pulled off human cloning in some secret lab somewhere) this is going to be a pretty comfortable group of people to spend an evening in a room with. The asshole factor at this show should me near nill.
This is how the math began. Our planet is horribly overpopulated with approximately 6.9 billion people. No matter what your particular interest or set of interests at least 1% of the population must share at least similar types of interests. In selecting 1% i figured that this is a safely conservative percentage to go with.
Without getting into a full dissertation explaining the 1% it seems fairly safe to say that 1% of the population shares much in common with you from interests, to illnesses, to beleifs and ideals. That is approximately 69 million people. 69 million! Even if i just look at the country i live in with about 307 million people that still leaves 1% just over 3 million people. That is right, in my own country there are that many people who have similar interests or feelings or troubles.
Fuck... i am really not as alone as i might feel at times. Now that 1% may not be enough to take over the world and although they could potentially change things it is improbable on a large scale. But i was not intending on masterminding a coup (at least not this weekend). i was just helped in finding a little more peace with the aid of math. None of us are all that alone in this world.
Whenever i bump into someone i believe may be a part of my 1% i am going to try and enjoy it for all it is worth. i will keep an eye out for them like pennies on the ground, previously overlooked and unnoticed.
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