Welcome to SR Bruce
I love to see live music too and I realised too that part of it was an excuse to get drunk. I spent more time at the bar than watching the band. I always preferred smaller venues too and I suspect that was because it was easier to get to the bar. It's worth bearing in mind that a lot of people go through a really angry patch when they give up drinking so maybe your reaction to your friends and the band could be down to that (or the band was just rubbish and your friends were annoying
). I just mean it doesn't mean you won't enjoy going to see bands anymore but maybe giving it a rest for a little bit will make things easier on yourself x