My girlfriend and I are scheduled to watch the Offspring tonight. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re a punk rock band that formed in 1984 and made the big time in 1994. Some of their earlier hits include “Come Out and Play,” “Self Esteem,” and “Gotta Get Away.” They scored a lot more hits than those I just mentioned and it’s sure to be a great show.

The Offspring has been at the top of “must see someday” list. A couple of years ago, I saw Suicidal Tendencies at a rock festival in Louisville (KY) who were at the top of my list. Then I saw Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, a couple others near the top. That left the Offspring alone at the number one spot

Why do I mention all this? Because I suddenly feel old.

Is it because the Offspring has been rocking for over 40 years. Nope. I’m glad they’re still getting after it.

Is it because I only know their old hits. Nope. I’ve dug all their albums and enjoy some of the newer songs even more than the early stuff.

Is it because the tickets cost way more than I could’ve ever expected to pay for a concert back in 1994? Nope, but it does sting the wallet.

What made me suddenly feel old and creaky was the email we received from the arena. One of those “know before you go” type of announcements.

The venue is smoke free. Cool.
We’re not allowed to bring in bags unless they are clear. Check.
We’re not allowed to bring weapons. Yeah, duh.
The venue opens at 6:30 pm, the opening band goes on at 7:30, and the Offspring hits the stage at 9:00. Wait. Nine? That’s almost my bedtime.

Yeah, that was my first thought. Not “We’re gonna tear the roof off this joint!” Not “This is gonna be a great concert!” No, I had to utter, "That’s almost my bedtime."

Ugh.

I go to bed early so I can wake up and create. Writing at 4:30 a.m. is like a high for me. I love it. Late nights impact my creative time. I still try with a lack of sleep, don’t get me wrong, but I’m running on four cylinders then, not eight.

KISS always says, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old.” I think we need a new mantra: “If it’s too late, you’re too gray.”

In the summer, I took my girlfriend to see The Goo Goo Dolls (her favorite). The outdoor concert was fantastic, but we didn’t get home until nearly 1 a.m. The next day at the office I felt hungover and I didn’t even drink.

I’m not wimping out. I can’t do that. I’ve got too much pride not to rock out with the Offspring. But if you need something tomorrow morning, I might be a little slow to respond.

This post originally appeared as a VIP Newsletter.

If It's Too Late...