Can change the world. Ok, so a little cliché and not to mention a little old school punk rock, but I honestly believe that this has some truth to it. Ok maybe not change the entire world, but I went to a concert last night that changed my little world and I think that’s pretty darn good.

It had been awhile since I had gone to a show. So long I am too embarrassed to admit it. So long I had almost forgotten why I love them so much. You listen to music through your ipod or your computer or by whatever means and you decide you like it. But then you go and see them in person and (hopefully) gain a true understanding of that artist and their music. You gain respect. That is- if the show was done right. Younger bands usually don’t get this right- right away- as they are still developing who they are and their sound. But it can be accomplished, and I have first handedly experienced it.

A good concert leaves a fan feeling satisfied. They came to the show because they needed a release, they needed validation of the music, or simply because they are a fan (sometimes all of the above). It’s the artist’s job to deliver confidence, energy and just plain darn good music. In return the artist looks to the audience for feedback and a different kind of energy to feed of off. When the two parties come to an understanding- magic happens. This is where fans are turned into fanatics and the artist has done their job by creating loyalty in their listeners. One bad show can turn off a huge fan base.

Many other elements can contribute to a good show. You don’t need to be a huge band with fancy stages, and lighting. Smaller and lesser known bands have the same opportunity, if taken correct care. In fact smaller bands have an advantage as they usually play in more intimate settings. A well crafted play list with the right arrangement of slow and fast songs can help set the tone for the crowd. Having confidence in your music and letting the music speak for itself. Also, respecting your audience. Let them know you appreciate them for listening. Respect them by putting your all into a show. In return they will respect you even more.

One of the biggest factors between a good show and a great show would be letting yourself as an artist share the emotions you felt when you wrote the song, come out to your audience. Just like when looking at a painting, you hope to see the emotion behind the painting you see. If there is no feeling, no emotion, then it is just noise. This is one of the biggest things I have noticed as I have transitioned from a teenager going to shows and as an adult going to shows. As a teenager I would show up to a concert with a wad of bills in hand- expecting to be up front, sweating my brains out and buying as many t-shirts as possible. Now I go to shows to experience and validate the music.

Mainly, I would say the important part is the take away. What are your fans taking away from this experience? Are they going to rush home and become friends with your band on myspace, or are they going to walk away having mixed feelings? The worst a band could ever hear is: They sound great on their CD’s but they just weren’t that good live. That in and of itself is the hardest thing for a fan to swallow. I still question myself when I turn on an artist’s music when I have seen them live and have been disappointed. So consequently, it’s important to learn that one bad show can also change the world, and not in a good way.

***I know that I have a travel blog- but this is what I felt like writing about***

Tags: Anberlin, artists, concerts, musicians, shows

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 9th, 2008 at 12:34 pm and is filed under My Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.