"Now that's you're 21 you've got a lot to lose"

So I turned 21 this weekend.

If I was on the nightlife gig, I'd have plenty of comments on the absurdity of 21st birthday policies: for example, the Shandygaff doesn't let you in until 26 hours after your birthday.

However, one aspect of my new of-age status does apply to my blog's little corner: access to the cover band scene.

I've been in the original music camp since I came to State College. I've always thought the idea of a cover band was pretty much a waste. Throwing a few familiar tunes into a set is fun, but why devote your time to totally unoriginal material?

The opposing side said it was just music to have fun and get drunk to, but I've always had trouble buying it.

Flash forward to Saturday and I'm in a booth, half-empty beer in front of me, enthusiastically air-drumming during the big slowdown and explosion in the intro of "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand. And while I stiffled a giggle when I heard "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," I also have to confess I was upset they chose to cover Blur while I was in the little boy's room.

I was still cognizant enough to recognize this shift in attitudes, so I asked a sober friend who was with us what he thought. He said that, while they were proficient enough in terms of musicianship, he still didn't enjoy them very much.

Then I tried to figure out the advantage of hiring a band to play covers instead of just using a jukebox or DJ. It's certainly more interactive and spontaneous. No one cheers for a record, but if it's a live band kicking into a song you like, it's more like a show. And it makes more sense to pay attention to, and dance to, a live band.

So why the turnaround? Are there just times when you drop your pretensions and want to have a good time? Is there anything wrong with having a live band to punch out some songs you can sing along with? Is it just a better option than having a radio or playlist running in the background? I imagine that, as I continue to head out on the weekends, I'll come to grips with this changing of the tides in my attitude on cover bands.