I was 9 years old when I went to my very first concert. It was the very cliche 2004 choice of Hilary Duff, and I wholeheartedly cried for an hour at the thought that I would see her perform live. I had been begging and begging to go to a concert for years at that point, and finally my mom caved.
It was one of the most exciting things in my life at the time. I remember the day we went so vividly; driving to the arena, waiting in line, buying the tour T-shirt (which I still have in my top drawer—no shame). From that first step into the arena I knew I would be hooked. 12 years and dozens of shows later, here I am still addicted.
Although my music taste has definitely changed a bit from my nine year old self, I’m still just as wrapped up in the music world as I was then. Music is something I feel holds such great importance, and I can’t imagine why people wouldn’t take it seriously. It continues to amaze me how each song can make you feel a different way just by a different combination of words and sounds. One song can bring you back to an entire phase of your life or bring you back to memories of a person, a special place, a summer that meant a lot to you, or something that you accomplished. Music can create feelings that tear you apart, but also create feelings that put you right back together. The lyrics by an artist you don’t even know can describe everything you’re feeling but have no idea how to put into words. They can make you feel the sense of comfort you’ve been searching for but haven’t been able to find anywhere else. Music is an escape in so many ways, and for some, it is the only thing that makes sense.
It may just be me, but I confide every part of myself into music. I literally have playlists for whatever emotion I’m feeling that day, with songs that either make me feel better or have lyrics that validate my thoughts. It’s amazing to me how a three minute song can do that. It is poetry. It’s poetry that you can listen to over and over again. I really don’t think there’s anything better. Concerts bring the music that means so much to you to life. You get to see the people who created something so meaningful to you in person. You listen and watch a performance, and suddenly everything you were thinking about before that moment is gone. People will continue to disappoint you, but your favorite songs never will.
I will never forget that feeling I got the very first time I saw the lights go out and the artist come out to start the show. It is one of the most underrated feelings in the world. That moment still continues to be one of my most favorite parts of a concert. The calm before the storm to the moment when the lights go out. The second that first beat of the song is played and you hear the uproar of screams from the crowd is indescribably priceless.
With my show track record ranging from punk bands, to boy bands, to indie musicians and so on, it’s easy to say I’ve experienced my fair share of unique crowds. With each crowd being different, it’s still so easy to feel that sense of home in each one. Whether I’m front row at a small club venue in New York or nosebleeds in MetLife Stadium, I still get the same feeling and feel the same amount of love for each show. It’s a place where nothing else but the music matters, and in that comes comfort, relief, and love.
Dave Grohl once said, “That’s one of the great things about music. You can sing a song to 85,000 people and they’ll sing it back for 85,000 different reasons.”
How insane is that? That quote has stuck with me through every single show I’ve been to. Every person in that room has their own story but, somehow, we’ve all been brought to the same place. We may all be here for different reasons but we share one common interest: the artist and their music. Some are here because this band has been their favorite for years, some are here to listen to a band they barely know, and some may be here because this band saved their life. You may be screaming the lyrics back for a different reason than the person next to you, but you’re doing it together. That is what I find so amazing about music. Music comes from a person’s self-expression and brings together millions of people. Concerts allow people from all different walks of life, all dealing with different issues, to the same place spending a few hours doing something they love. For a few hours, nothing else matters but the music that’s being played, the people you are with, and how you feel. To me, that is why music is so important.
Eventually the wristbands get cut off and the tickets are put away, but every single show still resonates with me every time I hear the music. For those artists I’ve seen live, their music no longer just has a personal meaning I’ve put to it, but it now has a memory. Every time I hear a song live that means a lot to me, it is like the emotion I place in that song has been brought to life and I’m no longer feeling it alone anymore. I’m in a room with thousands of people whose hearts are beating out loud to one shared song for thousands of different reasons.
The money I’ve spent on tickets, the hours I've spent waiting in general admission lines, the bruises I’ve gotten from being in the pit, and the money I’ve spent on merchandise will always be worth it to me. I’ve made some of the most amazing memories from going to shows and I’ve formed some of my most valuable friendships over music. Posters may come off of my wall, some bands may break up, and some artists may take a break from making music for a while, but all of my favorite songs and artists will be a part of me and everything I do for the rest of my life.
So to all my fellow music lovers and concert goers, your passion for these artists, for the lyrics, and for going to a ridiculous number of shows per year is completely and 100 percent percent valid. Behind every favorite song is a reason or a feeling that makes it a classic. Behind every concert is a story as to what got you there.
