I love music. And I love watching my favourite bands playing live. The weird thing is though, that I didn’t even realise that other people didn’t love music as much as I do until fairly recently. And weirder still, I didn’t realise how much the live experience means to me and has enhanced my love of music and of the musicians who create it!
Recently I was discussing this with another music-lover over coffee. What my friend had to say was interesting. She described in great detail, the memory she has of one of the very first concerts she went to – the way her idol first appeared on stage, just in shadow and the first beats of the drum that she heard. While she was telling me about it my hairs stood on end – my mirror neurons picked up the emotion in her voice, the nostalgia and the teenage-crushiness of her experience. Of course, I have experienced that feeling too, many times. Maybe that’s why it was so easy for me to identify with it.
Amy Winehouse at The Shepherds Bush Empire 2007 (Sorry about the terrible photo)We also discussed the fact that we both have friends, with whom we have lots in common, who share our other interests, but not live music. I have had people say to me ‘It’s so expensive to go to concerts. And besides, you can just listen to the music on the iPod!’ Well to me, that sounds like someone saying I can eat a three course meal, but I can only eat it blindfolded. It will still taste good, but if I could see the food, and eat it in a beautiful place, accompanied by a good friend, served by professionals… of course my experience would be even more memorable and exciting!
Lady Gaga at The O2 Arena, 2010
Not quite a Philip Treacy, but a bird hat I made to wear to Gaga
Child of the 80’s…
I remember becoming interested in pop music at a really young age – around 8. I bought my first ever LP record with my birthday money when I was 9 (‘Rio’ by Duran Duran you may not be surprised to hear)!
Duran Duran at The Shepherd’s Bush Empire, 2011
A rare live concert by Adam Ant, La Scala 2010
U2 ‘s Adam Clayton, Cardiff 2009
I still feel as excited when I am going to watch live music as I did when I was teenager. The anticipation is excrutiating, waiting for my favourite singer or band to come on stage. I feel excited just thinking about it 🙂
View of the stage at a Prince concert. The musician I have seen the most times!