The year was 2007. I had just turned 10, and was finally old enough to have my own computer (which was an old tower and a monitor). It was so exciting, especially since I had received my first Webkinz, and I could use the internet by myself now. I would spend my days after school playing Webkinz, going on the Pokémon website, and listening to my Hannah Montana CD. Somehow, I stumbled across this new website – it was called YouTube, and it allowed people to upload videos they had created. I became obsessed with the website, back when it wasn’t connected with Google and had simple layout designs. I would watch funny home videos people uploaded, and would watch cool animations. Finally, I decided I would try my luck at it, and created my own YouTube channel. Being 10, I didn’t have a camera, so I was stumped on what to make. My first few videos were of Pokémon drawings I made on MS Paint, paired with Hannah Montana music. I made stupid slideshows and met a lot of cool people through YouTube, back when YouTube had the group chat feature. One of the videos I remember watching was because one of my ‘friends’ was leaving YouTube, and the song he paired with his farewell statement changed my life. The song was Thnks Fr Th Mmrs by Fall Out Boy. I remember listening to this song and just thinking it was amazing. I began to fall down a rabbit hole that consisted of their first three albums.
During the years, I fell deeper and deeper in love with them. When they went on hiatus, I sobbed. When they suddenly released My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light 'Em Up), I was so excited. Fall Out Boy got me through some of my darkest times. Their music was always there for me, no matter what sort of mood I was in. Happy, sad, angry, prepping for a show, blasting music in my car, you name it. I bought and pre-ordered every album I could, and collected their music on CD (now I'm collecting it on vinyl). I loved their music, even if it did change throughout the years. It was still Patrick, Pete, Joe, and Andy, and I still adored it.
My senior year of high school, my mother bought tickets for Wintour Is Coming, Fall Out Boy's most recent tour with AWOLNATION and PVRIS. I sobbed when I realized my dream of seeing them in concert was coming true, and I counted down the days. On March 12th, 2016, I arrived in Chicago, IL, at the United Arts Center for the biggest concert I have been to to date. I wore my favorite Fall Out Boy shirt, had my best friend by my side, and quickly spent my money on new shirts. I danced and sung along as PVRIS and AWOLNATION got the crowd warmed up for Fall Out Boy, but I wasn't fully prepared for that curtain to drop, revealing four of my favorite people standing there, looking out at the crowd. I started crying, and didn't stop until after they played their encore. It was, hands down, the best night of my life.
The point of my little story is this - GO SEE YOUR FAVORITE BAND IN CONCERT. Seriously. It's amazing to be surrounded by people who love the same music you do, all singing at the top of their lungs with the lead singer. It's amazing to hear the raw talent your favorite band possesses behind all of the mixing and editing. You get to hear them talk to the crowd, you get to see them have fun with their bandmates, and especially have fun with the crowd. You get to feel excitement and emotion that you've never felt before, all because you got to see your favorite band live. So, save that money, road trip with your friends, and stay in that cheap hotel. The memories, photos, and videos you'll have of the first time you see your favorite band in concert will be much more worth anything else.
