Some bands were good, some were band, but they all were part of a learning experience. I wouldn't trade that time for anything in the world.
By luck and good timing, I was able to photograph Alabama Shakes at that bar when they were still called The Shakes. An image from their first show at Egan's was used in a lot of their early press. One thing lead to another, more luck happened, and I've been able to progress into shooting national touring acts in the Birmingham, Alabama area as a contributor for Getty Images. I'm relatively new to the game, but I don't see me getting out of things any time soon. Live music photography keeps things fun for me, while wedding and portrait photography pays the bills.
I think I enjoy live music photography because, honestly, I can't tell what good music is. I'm completely tone deaf. However, I can tell when a band connects with the audience and has charisma, energy, and other important intangibles. That's what I always look for when I shoot a band. After all, you can't "hear" a photograph.
My main website (it's mostly my wedding, portrait, and travel photography work) can be found at http://www.dsmithimages.com. My live music photography work can be found by visiting http://dsmithgalleries.com/category/events-2/live-music/