One thing about me is that I love live music. Every year, I go to about fifteen concerts, and this year will be no different.
I started my journey in February when I saw Del Water Gap at The Wiltern in LA.
I was so nervous about going to this concert, though. Now, I’m no stranger to going to concerts on my own. Out of the 50+ concerts I’ve been to, I’ve probably gone to a quarter of them solo. It had been a long time since I’d done that, though, so I spent the days leading up to the show feeling pretty antsy.
I arrived at the venue two hours before the doors opened, hoping it would give me plenty of time to get a good spot. Luckily, the line wasn’t too long, and things were looking up. To kill time, I played New York Times games and waited for my girlfriend to get out of class so I could call. Thankfully, time flew by, and soon it was time to enter. I got a spot a row back from the very front and prepared myself to hear one of my favorite artists live once again.
Live music has a strong healing power.
I had spent such a long stretch of the day stressed out. Stressed about the drive to Los Angeles, stressed about going there by myself, and about whether the ticket in my account was even real. All my worries faded the second the lights dimmed, and Del Water Gap took the stage.
He opened with “Small Town Joan of Arc,” an upbeat song about a certain type of independent girl and being “hopelessly” in love with her. It was the perfect opening for that night’s setlist. Following that song was banger after banger, as Del Water Gap has a stacked discography. He played older classics like “Sorry I Am” and “Better Than I Know Myself,” with an even balance of new tunes like “Please Follow” and “New Personality.” He brought the vocals all night, showcasing them beautifully in “Eastside Girls.” “Coping on Unemployment” was my personal favorite—a song I’ve streamed a total of 106 times since it came out.
The people in front of me brought the energy throughout the whole night, enthusiastically dancing and clapping along to the beat.
Being surrounded by bodies of other people who love the artist as much as you do, dancing around and singing their hearts out, can take you out of any bad mood you went into the show with. The camaraderie at concerts is like no other, as the swelling cheers of the crowd lift your spirits. The bass bumping through the speakers syncs with your heart, and you’re teleported into another world where all that matters is the artist on stage, the people around you, and yourself. All outside worries, stress, and regrets melt away to the tune of good, live music.
Next time a concert comes around, and you have no one to go with, don’t let that keep you from going. Attending a concert alone has a soul-healing power unmatched by anything else. I’ve only ever regretted not seeing a favorite artist, never seeing them solo. Get those tickets you’ve been debating; it’s a truly unbeatable experience.
Featured image via Wolfgang on Pexels
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