Since he was a wee lad, James’s musical preference was clear. He’s a metal head.

Even before James could sit up unsupported, oldest brother Thomas would sit with him or prop him up in a bean bag chair and crank up Metallica.

From the very start, the baby’s tiny head would bob to the beat. No doubt about it, he was a head-banger.

As he got a bit older, James would crawl up onto the rocking chair and point at the CD player and command: Shuh-share number four! It didn’t take long for us to figure out his request was for “Of Wolf and Man” (apparently, “shape shift” lyrics caught his attention). Once we were all on the same musical page, he’d firmly grasp the arms of the chair and commence to not only head bang but also rock the chair. Vigorously.

James’s taste in music has certainly grown over his nearly 20 years, but at heart (and head) he’s still a connoisseur of metal and rock music.

He finally made it to an Alice in Chains concert over the weekend. He’s been a fan since around 2013, thanks to Guitar Hero. Around that time, he and I were in Evansville shopping, and he picked up AIC’s self-titled album with sweet Sunshine (the three-legged doggie) on the cover.

I don’t remember exactly why, but my exceptionally poor sense of direction caused us to get ridiculously lost driving home. James didn’t mind a bit. He popped the CD in the player and introduced me to his second-favorite band.

Last fall, it was announced Alice in Chains would step in as headliner for the Louder Than Life rock festival in Louisville.

James was ecstatic

Unfortunately, record rainfall that week all but ruined the outdoor venue and the concert was canceled at the last minute.

Side note: The death of Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell in 2017 really got to James. Missing a concert was a disappointment, but knowing you couldn’t count on aging rockers being around forever made it all the more important to catch AIC the next time around.

Fast forward to last Friday: James packed up with his buddy Kadin and the two of them headed south to Nashville, the Music City.

James had cautioned Kadin (who’s still in high school) not to expect any mosh pits. He reasoned the band was older and the audience probably would be, too. Mosh pits require tremendous stamina and that probably wasn’t anything to count on for this concert.

As James explained the concept of mosh pits to me, I understood the physical movement involved, just not the purpose. “It’s a way to expend energy, let go of pent-up frustration, and just have fun,” he explained.

“Like when brothers wrestle …”

I still shake my head over both concepts, but I guess it makes sense.

He brought home this story: There was a big guy – about 6’4″ and built – standing behind us and he started talking to people around him. “I used to like mosh pits,” he told us. “But now I’m more of a wiggle pit kind of guy. I’m too old for all the pushing and crap. I’ll just stand here and wiggle.”

Sure enough, when the next song started, Wiggle Pit Guy started … wiggling. With the audience standing shoulder to shoulder, the wiggle movement pushed out into the crowd, first in ripples and then in waves.

“It was like Shrek on the bridge,” James continued patiently. That was all it took. Got it.

James’s favorite quote from Wiggle Pit Guy was: And I’m not about all that violent crap. No kicks in the head. No tomahawks to the back …

As the concert came to a close, Jerry Cantrell and his bandmates took a traditional stage photo.

If you look closely, you’ll see a familiar face

And perhaps, if we look really carefully, we’ll even catch a glimpse of a middle-aged tall guy who likes to wiggle.

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