A Note About Concerts

Mikayla Leskey | Arts and Entertainment

I’ve been to about 4 concerts by popular bands and/or musicians in my entire life and an uncountable amount of free concerts by cover or local bands at local parks or venues. As much as I cherish those memories of free concerts, and hoping to go back to those same venues one day, all those were when I was a kid, I wasn’t focused on the environment. The same goes for my first concert at 11 years old for Halsey.

I don’t remember the environment that much, but I do remember the energy of each one. Of everyone screaming lyrics together and swaying with the song. After Halsey, my next concert wouldn’t be until I was 19 years old, just last year, when my best friend and I went to see Twenty-One Pilots. My best friend is the one who’s obsessed with the band, and it’s not like I don’t listen to Twenty-One Pilots, they’re just not ones I obsess over.

I knew a few songs, but not enough to call myself a fan. Either way, I wouldn’t forget the awe of seeing hundreds of people in the same concert venue just to see two guys putting together an awesome show. Also the knowledge that we were only one stop among almost a hundred destinations. That so many people fell in love with this band for them to be able to put on this many shows.

Which leads to my next point, when did concerts start? Who had the bright idea of playing in front of a live audience? And why is it still so significant? I mean whenever Taylor Swift puts on a concert, people wait for hours to get a ticket, paying insane amounts of money, for not the best seats, to see her.

Well, the first paid for admission concerts actually started in 1672 with London violinist, John Banister. Banister started these in his home, quickly followed by other similar musicians. The first public concert though wasn’t until the 17th century when Anne Danican Philidor put on concerts when the Opéra was closed.

However the ‘modern concert’ that we all know and are used to didn’t come into appearance until the 1960s with The Beatles at Shea Stadium in New York. It’s the Rock n Roll genre to thank for giving us concerts. Allowing us a chance to see our favourite bands and artists live.

But why exactly did this ‘modern’ concert stick around? Why did so many people fall in love with the show The Beatles put on and none of the other artists? I mean, music has always been a part of human history, some might say it’s one of our first languages, which probably explains our love for it, but not necessarily the love for concerts.

These modern concerts were popularized by teenagers at the time, finding it to be something rebellious and cheap. Tickets usually only went for about $5.10 at the time, so who wouldn’t go to a concert? But now tickets are usually anywhere from 50 bucks to upwards of 450. That’s not even counting the resale value of tickets either.

Honestly, ticket pricing, although, most of the time, is a product of the music you’re listening to and the artist's performance, and of course, all the staff that work together to make the concerts possible. But it’s also furthering cultural divides. Lots of people can’t afford concert tickets. Sure, as I said earlier some are less than $50, but that’s not counting tax or parking, travel to the venue, or any other extracurriculars people like to embark on for concerts.

Concerts are, for the most part, are for the financially stable. Even with how pricey tickets are, stadiums are still selling out. So once again, I ask why? What’s with the obsession with live music?

I feel like it’s all I ever talk about, but as I mentioned earlier, I enjoy concerts to see the community that a random band or singular musician managed to pull together. I think that’s why most people enjoy going to live performances too, whether they know it or not. We, humans, need connection to live. Going to these live concerts is just one of the ways where we’re able to connect with each other.

I mean, during Taylor Swift’s concerts, fans were exchanging friendship bracelets. I've had friends go to concerts asking people to sign their shirts. Most of the time, you’re going with your friends or family to these concerts too. My third ever concert was with my brother. He bought me a ticket to go see Mt. Joy with him and his friends. Even with a four hour drive there and back, and some car troubles on the way, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

Live concerts are just another form of connection, something that makes us feel like we belong in a world where not everyone does feel like it. Yet, when you’re all screaming the same lyrics or swaying to the same song, you don’t feel alone. You and hundreds of others are all coming together to celebrate this artist and their music. Personally, I think that’s astounding. To know you have something in common with almost every single person in that stadium.