Altalune - FIRST CONCERT EVER

In this First Concert Ever segment, Aaron Cheatham, bassist of the alt rock/emo/post-hardcore band, Altalune, shares his story of his first concert experience. You can check out the story below:

I was 13 years old, with three years of bass playing under my belt, asking every adult I knew about new music to practice. One of those conversations led to my aunt’s boyfriend telling me about a band with an amazing bass player, but I instantly forgot the name. Months later, I was flipping through Sirius XM channels in my mom’s Jeep while waiting for her to come out of her office. That’s when I heard this baffling, percussive bass line playing triplets under a wailing country voice. I hit the “info” button—My Name is Mud – Primus. I immediately recognized the name as the one my aunt’s boyfriend had told me.

I spent the next year begging my parents for albums, computer time to find tabs, and a 6-string bass. I got all three. I was completely enthralled with Les Claypool’s bass playing and spent all my time learning Primus licks. They quickly became my favorite band.

One Saturday, my dad told me he heard Primus was playing that night in St. Louis and asked if I wanted to go. We got in the car immediately. Forty-five minutes later, we arrived at The Pageant, a mid-sized venue with GA standing room in front of the stage. I pushed my way through the crowd. My small stature helped me move to the very front of the stage, and I ended up face-to-face with Les Claypool. The feeling was ethereal. That show left a lasting impression on me, and I’ll never forget it.

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