One thing about me that everyone should know is that I love live music. Concerts are my happy place and the only thing other than coffee that I will drop ungodly amounts of money on without a second thought. I really got into live music in 2020 as odd as that sounds, watching multiple live streamed concerts that some of my favorite artists did during lockdown. Before 2020, I had only been to one concert, but once I began watching these online concerts, I was hooked. I needed to experience live music in copious amounts. After that, I was officially a concert junkie.
My first concert ever was Panic! At The Disco in 2018. I had gotten into them the previous year, and they were the first musical artist that I truly loved and kept updated on all of their song and album releases. I was supposed to go see them last September, but they unfortunately got COVID and had to reschedule the show to a date that I had practice on and therefore was unable to attend. They recently announced their disbanding, making me even more upset that I couldn’t go. Fingers crossed they announce a last minute final show or something of that nature so that I can see them live one last time. If not, they were a great first concert and I’m so grateful I was able to see them at all.
Now, I love Harry Styles. While there’s much to be said about the different controversies surrounding his music, movies, and fashion, one thing cannot be denied: he puts on a great show. I’ve seen him five times and every time I’ve had the time of my life. The atmosphere is unlike anything else, the excitement radiating off of the 23,000 fans that fill the United Center is so intense that it engulfs you. I went to New York last May to see him play his new album in its entirety on the day it was released and it’s my favorite show of his that I’ve been to. I was in the nosebleeds, some of the farthest seats away from the stage, and I still had such a great time. I could talk for hours about how much I love seeing him live, but I’ll spare you the pain.
I also saw 5 Seconds Of Summer last July. They were amazing. It was my first time seeing them live and I was far from disappointed. Having (at the time) four very different albums, their setlist was really varied and so much fun. With songs from their pop-punk “boy band” prime time to their newer, edgier tracks, it was such an entertaining night. I go to most concerts with my younger sister, Lexi, and it’s really nice to be able to share an interest with her that lets us create amazing memories together. 5SOS is her favorite band of all time, so she was ecstatic to see them live, and I loved getting to see her that happy. As they released an album last year, I hope they announce a tour soon and that magic can be recreated. Whenever they tour next, Lexi and I are sure to be in the crowd.
The final artist I saw last year was Ashe. If you guys haven’t heard of her (Moral of the Story, Till Forever Falls Apart), I definitely recommend checking her music out! Being a smaller artist, I love the intimacy of her shows. I’ve seen her at the Turner Ballroom in Milwaukee and Metro in Chicago, and both venues allowed a real connection between the fans and the artist. It was really cool being able to be so close to her, especially compared to the other venues I’ve attended concerts at (Huntington Bank Pavilion, UBS Arena, Fiserv Forum, etc.). I hope to get into and see more smaller artists live for this reason. It was so different from any other show I have been to and something I’m really interested in experiencing again.
I’m always on the lookout for tour announcements and can’t wait to see some of my favorite artists live again. As of right now, I’m going to see Louis Tomlinson in June and possibly Lewis Capaldi in April. While I’m not the biggest fan of ticket prices (see one of my previous blogs about Ticketmaster), live music is something that I’m almost never willing to pass up. It’s one of my favorite ways to escape the stress and pressures in my everyday life. If you have any music recommendations, please let me know! I love finding new artists to listen to!
Great post Abbi!
Hi Abbi,
I’ve only been to two concerts in my life. I can hardly remember the first one, so at the second one, I was taken aback by the high energy within the the arena. I remember that, before even entering the arena, I could feel the noise of the crowd and started shaking from adrenaline. Before then, I had never really valued the concert experience, unwilling to spend money on tickets unless I was truly obsessed with an artist. But I definitely agree that there’s an amazing rush of energy you get from being around other excited fans. I hadn’t anticipated that kind of electric atmosphere before the concert, but now I’m dying to feel it again. Yet at the same time, I like how you included a smaller artist like Ashe in your list. The concert may not be the same setting as tens of thousands of fans each screaming the lyrics, but that more intimate feeling gives you a better chance to appreciate the singer and focus on the music. I love that you discovered your love for live music by watching videos online; even in recorded form, there’s still something so awe-inspiring about hearing the artist’s raw vocals. Great post — I definitely want to check out Ashe’s music!
Hey Abbi!!
I related so much to your comment about spending money on coffee. I genuinely use to spend an embarrassing amount of money on coffee-I had to start making it at home. I love that you enjoy live music so much!! I haven’t been to many concerts but the ones I have were so fun. I went to Lollapalooza and I loved some artists but it was definitely overwhelming. I also went to Windy City Smoke-out but I am not really a country fan so I really didn’t know the songs. Harry Styles would be so fun!!! My little sister went last year and absolutely loved it. I think that live music is honestly a great thing to spend money on-it creates such fun memories and experiences that you can cherish. If I got to see anyone in concert I think I would see SZA. I absolutely love her music and I feel like her energy is perfect for a concert. She has high energy songs and stuff that people can sing along with. All the concerts you have lined up sound amazing and I would love to hear more about them. Love this blog post:) Great work abbi!