Explore The New Stuff with The xx

 

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, even when you’re not just sitting at home. Though going out to see your favorite musicians play in concert can be fun, if you see the same old thing over and over you’re passing up on opportunities to expand your horizons. Passing up a unique experience such as, say, going to one of the tour stops of The xx because you’re not comfortable doing new things can be a true loss. But that doesn’t mean you have to take the plunge without making yourself more comfortable with it first.

First, try not to go into a concert completely blind. Even when trying something new, you’ll often have likes and dislikes. There are several venues for you to try something new with though, and concerts are a great example. You have to be willing to leave your comfort zone, but don’t go to an event you know from the start you won’t enjoy no matter how good it is objectively.

Another thing you should consider is going to somewhat ‘mixed bag’ events, where it isn’t all just one thing you’re totally new too, like a restaurant crawl, a professional sports game, or even a carnival. If an event has some things you like, and some things new, you can at least know you will enjoy some of the event for certain. In the process, you may get the taste of a new genre of art you didn’t even know existed. Concerts are great because there are a lot of bands that play; if you manage to score The XX tickets, you’re in for a treat by the opening acts, who perform covers of songs by other famous artists. If you like some of those artists, then you will like that portion of the show for certain even if you’ve never experience the rest of their music before.

Finally, look at the ratings for any new venue you’re tempted to go to. Knowing what other people think of an act will help you decide whether it’s a good first experience for yourself and anyone you want to bring along. If a show has poor reviews, then it’s not going to give you a good first impression of that type of music.

However, make sure to read the negative reviews so you know why they gave such a poor score. The xx has somewhat mixed reviews at first glance, but when you look at their poor reviewers, they have mostly been a result of one or two rained-out shows, which is no refection on the actual bands quality. Read some reviews and make your own judgement based on their grading and reasoning.

You should practice trying something new when you get a chance, and make efforts to leave your comfort zone. You may even discover you love something new more than what you thought were your favorite things. A little preparation and discretion can make any new thing all the more fun.