Today I was inspired by a discussion I had at work, where we all gathered and talked about our experiences at concerts. Once a month, we talk about a non-work topic, to connect as people and not just as co-workers. It’s always a lot of fun, and today there were lots of stories and tons of laughter.
And it got me thinking about all my concert experiences. I’ve been to many concerts, most of them the average experiences, where you go and sit somewhere, and listen to the band play. But some stand out a bit more in my mind. I shared some of these at work today, so I thought I’d also share them with you, dear readers.
One of my most interesting experiences was when I met Weird Al Yankovic. I first started listening to Weird Al when I found a cassette tape of “Weird Al in 3-D” when I lived in Texas. I think I was in 7th grade at the time. After listening to that cassette on replay for hours, I was hooked. Weird Al was my favorite musician. I had to listen to everything he did, and when I got the chance to finally see him perform in concert, I was floored.
I had to wait till I was a senior in college at UNH to finally see him. I was also interning at the Portsmouth Herald newspaper as a writer, and I’d just written a music review of Weird Al’s newest album. So I brought the review with me to the concert at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom.
Before the show, I had a chance to throw the review on the stage, where his manager saw it. He gave it to Al, and of course he wanted to meet me after the show!
I was so excited to meet him. And when the time came for me to get his autograph, I did. He autographed my review, and I also had his cd “Peter and the Wolf” which he signed as well. That one is a somewhat rare beast that I was able to find a physical copy of. He also hugged me, which was really sweet. He was a really nice guy, and I feel so blessed to have met him. It’s one of the highlights of my life.
I also had another great concert experience while I attended UNH. I was one of the Arts editors for the school newspaper, and I often took photographs of concert and other events. When Tori Amos came into town, I instantly wanted in on that. And I got it. But I only had three songs to take pictures of her, and I couldn’t use a flash.
Thanks to my knowledge from a photography class, I was able to get the perfect speed of film in my film camera (no digital cameras back then), and I instantly went back to develop the film after the show. I was on deadline, of course.
The whole experience was surreal. I was allowed to take pictures in the alley between the stage and the audience, where I was about three feet away from Tori. I saw everything she did, every movement, every fingerstroke on the piano. It was the most awesome experience. I snapped photos throughout the first three songs, taking photos of her and her band and loving every minute of it.
I still have the negatives and still plan on doing something amazing with the photos. The negatives came out great, but some of them have water marks on them, so there is a bit of cleanup I need to do with them. At the time I took them, most concerts didn’t allow for cameras, and after those three songs, I had to be escorted out, where someone took my camera so I could go back into the concert to enjoy the rest of the show. It was a great show, and I tried to meet her afterwords outside the Whittemore Center, but there was a ton of people and she wasn’t going to be there all night.
I’ve seen her several times in concert, and that one was probably one of my favorites, just because I got to be so close to her. The way she plays the piano is so sensual and so personal. You can tell she really feels her songs, and I believe I was able to capture that in my photos.
One of the last concerts I went to was when Nine Inch Nails came to Boston a few years ago. I’d never seen them, but always wanted to. I’d been a fan of Trent Reznor for years. I got floor tickets, so I was in the mosh pit, so to speak. But it was totally worth it. I was able to take photos with my phone, and also some video, and I swear during one song Trent was looking straight at me. I was about 5 feet from the stage and got the perfect photo.
The mosh pit almost squashed me at that concert, but it didn’t matter. Trent Reznor looked my way, and I was happy.
It was an amazing concert and I hope I get to see him perform again.
I’ve also seen the Indigo Girls many times and they always sound so great at their concerts. It’s like listening to their albums at home, but they’re right there in front of you. They harmonize like nobody I know.
There’s something so personal about watching people perform live. You get a chance to connect with the music on a much deeper level than just listening at home. You get to see the way they touch their instruments, the way they sing, how they move their body. All these things combine to create this performance that goes unnoticed if you’re only listening to their album at home.
I’ve also been able to watch people perform live that I know in real life. Performances in local bars, basements, personal performances that move me so much that no one will ever know just how much. I know so many talented musicians, and they all deserve to be recognized for their greatness.
I have a friend that was able to spontaneously drum along with classical music. True story. And he’s the best drummer I’ve ever heard. I hope he’s still drumming cause the world needs his music.
Music has a large significance in my life. And I treasure every time I get to hear music performed, by anyone. It’s amazing when it’s a celebrity, but it’s even more amazing when it’s a friend. Treasure your friends who have musical abilities. And give them the recognition they need to continue creating great music.
And continue to see music live. Sometimes the greatest performances are those that you weren’t looking for, and you just happened to fall into. Perhaps you heard the strumming of a guitar through the loud noise of a bar, or the beats of a drum found its way to your ears while walking at an outdoor event. Whatever it is, go seek out music wherever you can find it. You’ll thank me.