I have to agree with you there. Being a musician myself, really getting into the song and using that emotional recall really brings everything out. However it comes at a heavy price. It can be emotionally destructive if you let it, and it can take a toll on you physically. There are some songs I just won’t play anymore because they put me in a place I don’t want to be.

There are so many bands that I love so much more today than I did before I saw them live and there are others that I listen to less often after seeing them live. (I don’t want this to turn into a “my band is better than yours” thread, I I’ll leave the specifics out of it.)

I’ll just add that I think the choice of *venue* can make a huge difference in the overall synergy (regardless of size). For example, lousy acoustics, the inability to even see the band, or even a bad smell in the air can end up killing a show in spite of the band or the audience. Of course, while those factors are less likely to make you end up not liking a band, they could prevent you from making that connection and turning a good show great.

And don’t sweat writing about concerts on a travel blog, I have traveled great distances to see the right show!