Looking through my calendar for September, I see a lot of good scheduled shows coming up at local dives and taverns that I'm considering attending. Music is the thing that moves me throughout the week, and what better way to start the weekend than with a live show? I have been to many concerts in my lifetime, but there is a connection of togetherness that I feel when going to see local bands. There is no better feeling than the rhythm of the instruments during a set, and thinking of how many tireless hours the engineers and instrument players invested into preparing for the shows. I love hearing cover songs, and sometimes I will be blown away by a performance, that it has me feeling "Wow, that remake sounded better than the original artist!". Cover bands are how many of the greatest big name acts got their start, anyways. Having attended many small, intimate dive bar concerts since 2022, I have started to realize that there is so much more life to live music than just an A-list superstar who plays dress up for 2 hours.
Because of the burnout I was going through from the over-the-top arena shows I had attended all of my life, I was at a point in 2018 when I was seeking a change of scenery. I wanted to experience a type of live setting that was more music-based than packed with the screeches of millions of fans. I didn't want to see flashy graphics or crazy antics. I just wanted to hear pure music.
I started playing guitar seriously when I was around 17, which continued for three years until my academic studies took over my focus. One of the things I enjoyed most about strumming was the clear sound that the melody would make. It was only me and my guitar, in a separate space of focus. I started to wonder what shows looked like on a small scale where it was just the person and their instruments, and I knew I was missing out on so much. I wasn't yet of the age to be admitted into a bar, but I knew once I turned 21, I couldn't wait to have the experience of the small live show.
I celebrated my 21st birthday right before Coronavirus erupted, and when the world shut down, we were all distanced. Business began to boost again around the end of 2022, and one Friday night after work, a friend and I went to watch a cool cover band who mainly performed for charities and causes around my hometown. We were elated to learn that they were expanding their audience, so we planned a Friday night at this newly renovated dive and went to the scheduled performance. There was something I felt when the amplifier blasted, and it excited me to hear the music I was about to hear. Soon enough, the band opened their set with an electrifying cover of ACDC's iconic "You Shook Me All Night Long". Listening to live music is a different experience than listening to studio recordings of music in your free time.
The band played for a good hour and a half, with a surprising intermission that included photos with attendees. I always enjoy introducing myself when the bands feel comfortable, just as a way of showing my appreciation for their talents.
If there is one thing I love the most about live music, aside from seeing your favorite artist playing your favorite songs, it would have to be meeting new people. The connection that the music transcends among crowds is phenomenal. Meeting new people through music is one of my many hobbies, and I love escaping from my comfort zone and learning about others and their way of life through live music. This unique form of networking has helped me become a better communicator, and has given me opportunities to find others who share the same interests as myself.
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