Two Shows In One Week

By Jim Calder

Last week I was fortunate enough to see two amazing musical performances and both definitely left a positive impact on my life. When I told a friend that I was planning on writing on these experiences for ProLong Magazine, she seemed puzzled and asked, how do those concerts Prolong your life?

I laughed a little and explained that our online magazine is not just about prolonging one’s life; this is just one aspect of what we are about. Then I went home and thought about it and realized that others might also be confused.

I believe that the core of ProLong Magazine’s message can be boiled down to this: none of us know exactly how long we have on this earth so we should all get the most out of the years that we have. This is done by enjoying the things that we find joy in. Matt Tucker, our writers and I believe that the keys to success are found in improving your mind, body, soul, relationships and career.

It is really quite simple if you think about it.

As I write this, it is an extremely warm night in November for Philadelphia, Pa. I am sitting on my roof deck, with a cigar in one hand and a glass of vodka and diet coke in the other hand. As you can see I am nowhere near the poster child for perfect health, and I have never claimed to be a poster nor a child.

My business partner Matt does a much better job in the health department for me to even try, however, the competitor in me is trying to change a little. For starters, I have given up eating beef and pork and in just three months with no increase in exercise, I have dropped 15 pounds.  Imagine what I could do if I gave up alcohol, chicken, fish and turkey too.

Returning to our core message and focusing on activities and things that you love, I have always been a fan of music. It is one of the most expressive art forms that exists with the power to change the world at times. Music affects our soul, our minds, our feelings and emotions.

Working full time and co-starting a business in my free time has left me little time for fun lately. However, I am slowly learning as a co-founder of ProLong Magazine that I need to help set the example.  No matter how much work may be on my plate from my busy day job and side business.

One of my best friends Brian, called me up last Friday to let me know he was flying back home from two weeks of work training. His wife couldn’t make the Pearl Jam concert that night in Philly and wanted to know if I could make it. It was the second to last show at the Spectrum ever, before they knock it down and it was also the day that we launched ProLong Magazine. There were a million reasons to stay home that night and work on the website, but one reason to go, which happened to be the best: Lead By Example.

Official Pearl Jam band photo taken by Danny Clinch.

Sure I could have stayed home and worked a couple of extra hours on the site … or I could have gone to a concert that I could someday tell my future grandchildren about. Obviously I made the right choice. Life is full of these choices and we need to really take advantage of being able to make smart choices. I am not saying to blow off working all of the time. I believe that the key is finding the proper balance, between extremely smart work and stress relief/fun.

Sometimes we also have to choose between fun and fun. A good friend had an all weekend bachelor party down in Dewey Beach, DE this past weekend. However, months ago my wife purchased us Ray Lamontagne tickets for this past Saturday night. We danced to Ray’s song “You Are The Best Thing” as our wedding song this past summer, so this choice was relatively easy.

Here are some highlights of the two shows that I was lucky enough to be able to attend this [ast week.

Company
Pearl Jam: My best man in my wedding and one of my best friends of 14 years.
Ray Lamontagne: My wife Melissa, the love of my life.
Edge: Sorry Brian, Ray wins this one.

Annoying People In Front Of Us
Pearl Jam: Some 7-foot dude was standing a few rows in front of us in the aisle with his annoying girlfriend. He was the concert goer that we have all come across in the past. The one who insists on waving his hands in the air and acting out every lyric in a fashion that could only be taken as an insult to anyone who is deaf.
Ray Lamontagne: The couple right in front of us actually had binoculars for a small show at the Tower Theater, which is very small and the stage is very close. They also made out a few times and rested their heads on each other.
Edge: Pearl Jam

Alcohol Consumption
Pearl Jam: We got there late so only two beers each in the parking lot and then three more inside. I accidentally spilled one beer in the bathroom so a good four total.
Ray Lamontagne: Only one beer, but I was driving.
Advantage: Pearl Jam

Price of Frosty Beverages
Pearl Jam: $8.90 for a can
Ray Lamontagne: $8 a beer
Edge: Ray by $.90 a beer

Key Songs
Pearl Jam: Hearing Eddie play Jeremy and Alive again and songs of the new album.
Ray: Hearing Trouble and a different version of our wedding song.
Edge: Ray

Views of Stage
Pearl Jam: Right on the side of the stage 300 level
Ray Lamontagne: Balcony of the Tower
Edge: Ray

Atmosphere:
Pearl Jam: Rocking out hard, did not sit down once.
Ray Lamontagne: Mellow show where everyone remained seated for the whole show
Edge: Pearl Jam

Final Score: Tie
Both concerts were amazing and unique for their own great reasons. Rock on friends.

Jim Calder is the brand architect and co-founder of ProLong Magazine. Jim was born with the perfect combination of cockiness and self consciousness. He has over 10 years of publishing industry experience and lives and works in Philadelphia, Pa. He currently can be found on the greatest adventure of his life as a newlywed with his wife Melissa. Jim can be contacted via email at jim@prolongmagazine.com