When I was sixteen I discovered my love of live music. I went to see my favorite band All Time Low. My twenty-five-year-old sister was definitely less than thrilled that my mom made her accompany my best friend and me to the show. She was also probably less than thrilled that I made her take us to the venue hours before the concert even started. While we were waiting outside the venue for the doors to open, we were approached by six boys from South Dakota. They were a band called Paradise Fears who were following this tour trying to convince people to listen to their music and buy their ten dollar CD. Without much persuading, I bought two copies of the CD and promised to listen to it in the car on the way home. Little did I know that buying that CD would be one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Since the day I met Paradise Fears I have seen them play roughly twenty times. I even sang on stage with them once. They have gone from selling their albums outside of shows to touring the country playing their music. Paradise Fears has opened for All Time Low, Andy Grammer, The Summer Set, and countless other bands. They have headlined their own shows and played to sold out crowds. They have played in my backyard and a few friends’ basements but on January 4th, 2017, I got to see Paradise Fears play to a sold out crowd at Webster Hall in New York City.
The crowd was filled with many familiar faces. I stood with the same people I have been seeing Paradise Fears with since I was in high school. We all have our own relationships with the band and are proud to call them our friends. It is safe to say that most of the crowd was not from New York. Many of us made the two-hour journey or more because we knew how special this show would be. Their two-hour set consisted of fan favorites such as “Sanctuary” and “Lullaby.” They played some of the old songs that made me fall in love with their music five years ago and even covered “Ignition (Remix)” by R Kelly.
Even though I don't go to nearly as many concerts as I used to, when I see Paradise Fears I remember why I started loving live music. It is clear that they love performing just as much as the audience loves watching them. There is no denying that walking through the streets of the city was nerve-racking and arriving home at 3 am left me mostly dead for the next few days. It was still one of the best nights I have had in a long time. The band made a promise that if we continue to listen, every January they will play at Webster Hall. I made a promise that as long as they are playing music I will be there.
