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It was in middle school that I finally began paying more attention to music for myself. I remember falling in love with one particular boyband (No, it wasn't *NSYNC or the Backstreet Boys). We were in a bookstore, and my dad picked up the CD for me and handed it to me saying, "I think you'll like this." We bought it, I listened to it, and it clicked.

The songs were the perfect variety: spiritual, romantic, serious, and yet silly and playful. The band was Relient K, and from that moment on, I remember collecting their albums, and listening to them in bed on my little Walkman (never had an MP3, iPod came later) before I went to sleep at night.

Fast forward eight years, I'm in college, and I'm standing in the Philly venue--The Fillmore, a few row backs about to see the band of my childhood. It felt unreal, as unreal as the moment I saw the promotional video put out by Switchfoot, which had me giddy and desperately clawing at my computer for tickets, because, let's be real here, Switchfoot was a part of every good youth group kid's soundtrack to life. And let me tell you folks, I wasn't disappointed, both bands still got it.

Although I found myself unable to sing along as passionately to the new album Relient K put out (just because the nostalgia was lost on me, and I was not as familiar with it), I really enjoyed the new music; their sound certainly matured but it kept is charm, which is so hard to do. They threw in a few oldies but goodies, and I was T-H-R-I-L-L-E-D, especially during "High of 75," "Be My Escape," and "Sadie Hawkins Dance," just because those were the early albums I first collected and knew best.

They even included a really silly and adorable song, called "The Cup" (you can find it on the set list here) a Halloween dedicated to the Butterfinger Cup, which apparently is off of a special Halloween EP they will be releasing soon. This was the moment I truly remembered why I fell in love with Relient K in the first place. They took it all home with Deathbed, their most powerful and beautiful song, and what made it even better was Switchfoot's lead singer, Jon Foreman, joining in at the end.

Switchfoot's performance blew me away. Their energy, the evident camaraderie between band members, and the overall message to keep living life well with intention and purpose was given so naturally, and for me, I needed the encouragement. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing their new music as well, and I ended up putting the album on my Spotify. The songs I sang loudest to were "Meant to Live," "Gone," and "Stars." I would've said "Dare You To Move," too, but the lighting and the tempo was slowed, with just guitar, and it had me mesmerized, and I let the words and song wash over me, sinking into where I was at, with this month and this week being incredibly challenging.

It was a nice change in pace, and that is what I think Switchfoot managed wonderfully. One moment all of the band members were huddling around, singing "Hello Hurricane" unplugged, arms around each other and instruments down to the basics, and the next thing I knew Jon Foreman was crowd surfing or climbing the balcony to "Love Alone Is Worth the Fight" while the crowd joins in on the "Oh Ohh's." Then suddenly images are flashing on the screens of orphans and poverty during "Live It Well," and having been to a U2 concert, it reminded me of that same feel. It ended all with confetti and bubbles and to our surprise--sparkle confetti!

I left, confetti in my hair and sparkles pasted to my face, neck and shoulders, a smile on my face (and an air guitar rocking). I had relived my childhood in one night, and the songs and bands that had gotten me through my adolescence were someone coming back to inspire my today. Thank you to Switchfoot and Relient K for putting on an amazing concert, and for the Fillmore for hosting, it all made it an experience to remember.