It’s different when its live …
There is something cathartic about live music … the senses are awakened in a way not easily replicated, your ears pick up an authenticity in the sound of the performance, albeit sometimes intermingled with the out of tune warbling of those beside you in the crowd. Your eyes feast on the stage, big screens and other concert goers, watching the wild thrashing in the mosh pit or those being dragged off by medics for perhaps overdoing it in some way. Your nose picks up wafts of body odour … merging with perfume and pot … diverting your attention momentarily until the music or vocals swoop around you like a comforter and brings you back to a special moment in time.
I’ve been to countless concerts, music festivals and winery tours but over the past couple of years have found myself attending these events with my children which, is an entirely new and refreshing experience.
The first concert for my daughter was several years ago when she was about 9 … we saw Katy Perry which was a spectacle of a show, a prime example of today’s ‘pop’ acts where the stage show itself was choreographed to the point where you wondered if perhaps you had somehow time travelled to another planet. Watching harassed mums and dads escort their tweens to allocated seats in the venue is hilarious … the mutual understanding and quick raise of the eyebrows in acknowledgment of the “things we do for our kids” followed by stifled yawns toward the end of the gig … kids falling asleep on shoulders or being carried out at the end … it’s a big deal for a tween. And the parent. For different reasons!
Ed Sheeran was the next outing for the female (now a teenager) and male (now a tween) child species of my home … and we moved from a large inside arena, to a large outdoor stadium. Quite the shift in “experience” for my daughter …. No major production, bells and whistles … just a man with his guitar and looping machine on stage …. All by himself but producing unbelievable sound and an electrifying atmosphere with an audience in the palm of his hands. Bloody magic. Watching my son’s reaction as the opening chords of “Castle on the Hill” play was priceless … the widening of his eyes in recognition of a song he knew so well … the utter joy lighting up his face followed immediately by the uncontrollable urge to get up out of his seat and sing at the top of his lungs. A memory I will cherish forever and always.
Def Leppard was next for the boy child, playing the legendary Hysteria album in full – the 30 year anniversary tour. It’s pretty obvious the poor boy has been raised by a parent who ‘grew up’ in the 80’s … he’s fully embraced the ‘old school’ music mama listens to and proudly runs with it. The reality of an ‘opening band’ is still fairly new and takes a bit of getting his head around … Scorpions led the charge and we whistled along with “Wind of change” while Jackson pondered how the old dudes were still rocking after so many years and mum was astounded they were still alive after all the drug taking of days gone past!
This summer they have been lucky enough to experience a different sort of outdoor concert with local NZ favourites Fat Freddy’s Drop and Salmonella Dub playing an evening gig at The Domain in Tauranga followed a few weeks later by the summer concert series in Taupo headlining Toni Childs, Roger Hodgson from Super Tramp, and Aussie legends James Reyne and Mark Seymour. One word … EPIC!
These concerts opened their eyes to picnic blankets on the ground, stinking hot sun with no shade, cover bands (good and bad!) getting the party started, witnessing people who perhaps had a wee bit too much to drink or haven’t kept themselves hydrated falling over, queues for toilets alongside a whole heap of joyous singing, dancing and huge smiles.
The common theme though … with all these concerts … is the music. The music and the atmosphere. Something you simply can’t replicate nor explain to someone who hasn’t experienced a live gig.
To see someone who’s voice or ‘sound’ you admire – especially when you are a kid can be pretty overwhelming and on occasion, life changing. You feel special … a connection not only with the band or singer, but with the audience who surround you … you’re all together for a short moment in time through the commonality of the artist(s) before you, soaking up the music and atmosphere, feeling it seep into your bones (and your ear drums!) … priceless.
I know without doubt that these experiences are helping craft meaningful childhood memories and my wish for my kids is that when they are adults, they can reflect on their upbringing as one of fun times and magical memories amidst the complexities of growing up. Introducing the concert experience at a young age is a significant part of that journey for them and I can’t wait for the next one!
Macca ~ February 8th, 2019
