There was a period in my life where I didnt have time to listen to new music and I thought I could get by on Metallica, maiden, misfits, and (at the time) my favorite band, Fear factory. I distinctly remember telling people, I'll listen to this til the end of my days, I don't need more.

Then covid happened and I was stuck at home, no longer interrupted by random work or life stuff when I picked what music I put on for hours, and it got stale (No shit). And I started to listen to so much more.

Now my wife and I go to multiple shows a week, hearing all the latest and coolest shit from our local scene (SF); we tell all of our friends: $BAND is coming in 6 months, buy your tickets now, it'll sell out. Or: free show on Saturday, want to come?

We are on friendly terms with members from multiple local bands, we go to album release shows, we get signed merch just by being chatty/friendly, we are helping bands, promoters/venues book with each other by putting them in touch.

Honestly it's pretty incredible. When someone says "there's no good music these days" or "rock/metal is dead" i just ask them... "Well what are you into? I can recommend something". Because they're so wrong...And if thry see what I see, they'd never say that in the first place