When I was single, I was in a Detroit rock band called The Basements. We played our last gig at my wedding, and after that I hung up my left-handed bass. For a while, anyway.
One day I got a call from Royal Oak rocker Judy Davids, asking me to join her band. The Mydols had started out as “bad mommy” punk rockers. They performed at classic Detroit dives like Lager House, Small’s and The Old Miami, with ironic takes on motherhood like “Never Mind the Laundry” and “Hot Rod Your Home.”
Due in part to their rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, the band broke up, and Judy was looking to put it back together with a new lineup.
With a toddler at home and baby on the way, I said yes on one condition – that we ditch the late-night bar scene in favor of more family-friendly gigs. She agreed, and together the Mydols wrote an album’s worth of kids songs and booked daytime shows at libraries, outdoor festivals and the Detroit Zoo.
It was a formula with which our friends in Candy Band had found success, and it was kind of “a thing” in the aughts. They Might be Giants, Barenaked Ladies and The Verve Pipe had recently produced kids albums.
Our lead singer, April Boyle, had rallied a bunch of respected Detroit bands to contribute children’s songs for her Family Hootenanny compilation, and Birmingham teacher Mr. Seley was finding fame outside the classroom with songs from his album Eat Your Books (and Read Your Vegetables).
Our plan worked. Parents with the tiniest of tots flocked to our shows, thankful to enjoy live music less bland than Barney.
Eventually, the Mydols moved on to other things, but the rockin’ families who came to our shows continued their concert-going ways. Looking back, I realize you don’t need to “dumb down” music or write special kids songs to reel in families.
Detroit has always been known as Rock City, and in this town, it seems it’s never too early to take your kids to concerts.
Passionate parents
It turns out metro Detroit parents are super stoked about exposing their children to live music.
When I posted a callout on Facebook hoping to find a friend or two who frequent gigs with their kids, the comments blew up.
Some said they loved going to concerts before they had babies and didn’t want parenthood to stop them.
Others said it’s a great way to bond with older kids, exploring music their teenagers love or meeting in the middle with a throwback show.
And while there are some downsides to bringing kids to concerts – the crowds, the noise, the potentially bad behavior and language – music lovers have learned to navigate the pitfalls and create memories that last a lifetime.
Amy Estrada of Livonia will never forget going to see One Direction at Ford Field when her daughter was turning 15.
“She was a total fangirl,” Estrada says. “My parents went in on the tickets and we surprised her for Christmas in 2013. She cried and then anticipated it for months. We both loved it. It is honestly one of my favorite memories with her.”
For Dawn Thie of Brighton, braving Justin Bieber with her then-6-year-old daughter was a great way to promote music as a shared value. “Music is part of life, and the more we connect with music, the more we connect with our creative selves.”
In Wixom, Doug Cloutier finds concerts a way of connecting with his teen.
“I took my son to Green Day for his 16th birthday. It was great,” Cloutier says. “They came out just after I got out of college, and he and his friends found them on their own. It was cool that we both had a different relationship to the music but it was something we could still share.”
And Sherri Baughman of South Lyon says concerts fostered musicianship in both her children.
With her son, Taylor, she has seen Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat at Interlochen; Foster the People and Kimbra at Detroit’s The Fillmore; and Smashing Pumpkins at the since-closed Palace of Auburn Hills.
Taylor, who was 19 at the time of publication, has played piano, guitar and percussion – and today produces EDM, or electronic dance music, as a hobby and collects vinyl records.
Her daughter Kat, 14 at the time of publication, has seen Ellie Goulding and Ariana Grande, among many other performers.
“My philosophy when they were young was to expose them to various genres and let them decide where their interests lie,” Baughman says.
Paula Messner of Royal Oak, founder of Candy Band and now leader of Miss Paula and the Candy Bandits, says her kids grew up in the music scene, accompanying her to shows at her hometown’s Arts, Beats & Eats festival and American Idol Live.
One year, during Lollapalooza in Chicago, they saw Devo, Green Day and Lady Gaga – legendary acts they may never get a chance to see again.
“They came to all my shows and kind of took it for granted,” mom says.
These days, they grab tickets all the time and Messner drops them off.
“They love music now. They go to all kinds of concerts. They just can’t get enough,” she says.
Taking children to concerts while they’re young can also help prepare them to handle arenas and crowds in the future, says Alex Lundberg of Farmington Hills.
“I think it’s important to take your kids to shows before they go on their own,” says the father of an adult child. “They’re large, unruly crowds, and parental guidance can show (kids) how to navigate those spaces safely and effectively.”
Possible pitfalls
Not all parents consider concerts family-friendly fare, though, due in part to the cost and unpredictability of the crowds.
Danielle Weston of Brighton says, “I took my boys to a concert one time. They were kind of bored, honestly, and it was expensive. I would try again now that they are older.”
Alicia Norton of Canton says she never felt the need to take her kids to concerts when they were young.
“Too many people and, depending on which concerts, too loud, too many drunks and too many people smoking pot,” she says. “I know I am a minority on this, but I guess now I have teenagers and they are looking forward to going to a concert and truly enjoying it.”
Lisa Hook of Oakland Township has taken her daughter to see Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea and Justin Timberlake – but not for some time.
“The horrible tragedies began to happen, and she hasn’t been to one since. These days, I’m not a fan of arena concerts. I hate to be a killjoy. I love music and concerts so much, but safety is a huge issue at concerts these days.”
Shelley Van Riper of Northville shares similar fears. She bought tickets to take her daughter to Taylor Swift this August, the day before her ninth birthday, but is having second thoughts.
“I have the crazy panic about a shooter, similar to what happened in Vegas,” she says of the tragic October 2017 killings at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. “I’m not saying it’s rational, but it’s always in the back of my mind.”
Fears aside
Stacy and Dan Jenkins haven’t let anything stop them from sharing their love of live music with their two kids. The Livonia couple’s first date was a road trip to a Grateful Dead show, and they saw Bob Dylan while Stacy was pregnant with their first.
After their children were born, they mastered the music festival scene, blending family vacations with concerts across the country.
“We have music in common, so it was only natural to bring them with us,” she says.
The Jenkins drove an RV to Bonnaroo in Tennessee when their daughter, Abby, was just 3.
They’ve since enjoyed bluegrass together at the DelFest in Maryland’s Allegheny Mountains and explored multiple genres at the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, among many other festivals both local and far-flung.
They learned to make concerts work for them at their children’s different stages of life, bringing toys, staying at the back of the crowds and avoiding the headliners, which tend to go on late and get rowdy.
She recommends starting with local gigs before braving big regional festivals, but says taking kids to concerts is worth it. Today, Abby, 19 at the time of publication, and Evan, 13 at the time of publication, still love concerts and music in general.
“There are free or low-cost options to bring your kids to, just to expose them to music,” she says. “Music connects people. It opens your eyes to many different cultures. We love all different genres, and each concert we go to the audience is a little different from the last. It’s all about exposure and making our kids feel comfortable in all of these situations.
“To me and Dan, and to my kids, live music is like food for your soul,” she adds, “There’s nothing like it.”
Ages + stages
As summer concert season kicks off, here are some dos and don’ts to think about when taking your kids to a show.
For babies and toddlers
- Start small: Find an outdoor show that’s close to home to do a sound check and see if concerts are right for your family.
- Stake your spot: With babies, staying at the fringe of the crowd makes it easier to escape for a diaper change if necessary. With toddlers, set down a blanket and give them room to dance. Know where bathrooms and exits are at all times.
- Work as a team: Trade off stroller duty with going up front to get a glimpse of the band.
- Bring toys: For outdoor venues, try a wagon stocked with glow sticks, bubbles, dancing scarves or ribbons, rave gloves, binoculars and hula hoops.
- Fuel up: Bring snacks and lots of liquids.
- Prepare: Hats, sunglasses, portable fans or spray bottles can help keep kids cool; bring layers for warmth or rain gear if needed.
For older kids
- Buddy up: Stick together and designate a meeting spot in case you get separated.
- Exit strategy: Download the seating chart on your phone and take note of where you are in relation to the nearest exits.
- Get oriented: Find the first aid tents and let your kids know how to get help.
- Let them lead: Step back and see if your teen can find your seat. Let them snap a photo of parking markers and get you to your car on the way out. This preps them for when they go to a concert without you.
For everyone
Live music can reach up to 135 decibels of volume, the Hearing Loss Association of America notes. Anything above 85 can cause permanent hearing loss.
With sound bouncing off hard surfaces and roaring crowds, it’s hard to escape excessive noise in indoor venues. Hearing damage is irreversible and cumulative, but even one concert can cause loss.
Everyone should wear earplugs. Try noise-cancelling headphones/earmuffs for babies and children.
This post was originally published in 2018 and is updated regularly.
