Why I go to gigs

Hello (:

This post has spawned from another that I never published last week. On Valentine's weekend, I was in Manchester with my sister, because we had a couple of gigs (You Me At Six and All Time Low and the Kerrang! Tour)  and instead of writing a pointless, gushy post about how great it was, I decided to write this instead.

Music has always been a pretty important part of my life. My dad has gone to gigs since he was a teenager, back in the dark ages, and four/five decades later, he's still at it. It's a mentality that has been passed along to both me and my sister.

For me, it all started in 2007. I was fifteen when I went to my first 'proper' rock gig. It was Fall Out Boy. I had discovered them a year or two before the gig, and they were (and still are) my absolute favourite band. I can't remember the whole show, but I have this vivid memory of the couple standing in front of us singing 'XO' to each other rather passionately. I also remember the main support band being Cobra Starship and that kicked off my love affair with them.

It's been drummed into me that you go and see whoever, whenever you can. Plenty of bands miss out Sheffield on tours, opting to hit up Leeds or Manchester instead. When I was younger, I relied heavily on my dad to take me to see bands, and if he didn't fancy it then we didn't go. He did go and see a lot of things he deemed 'crap' for me, like when we saw All Time Low in 2008. But as my sister's gotten older, her taste has become very similar to mine and since we've both had jobs we've been able to afford tickets and travel, if necessary.

 I go to so many gigs, because I feel at home there. It sounds so cheesy, but there's not another way to describe it. I feel like it's an escape for a while. Festivals are an even bigger escape. When me and my sister went to Download in 2013, I didn't take my phone and it didn't bother me at all. It was refreshing to just be there in that bubble. It's become a way of forgetting real life and escaping any problems I have at the time.

I probably shouldn't illustrate such a strong point with this particular band and gig in mind, but it's the main instance that sticks out. In 2008, after dire AS level results, and many arguments with my parents, me and my friend hot footed it onto the bus into town to the Academy. In the couple of hours we were there, I wasn't worrying about what exams I should re-sit, or whether I was gonna go to uni or not, I was just there with my friend and when I got home, I felt like I could start to sort things out instead of being annoyed or upset.

I feel like it's important to see your favourite band live as well. My dad has taken me to see Fall Out Boy twice, so he's passed that along. Me and my sister are going to see Foo Fighters in May. So by the end of 2015, I'll have seen both of my all time favourites. A couple of years ago, I even bought an ex boyfriend tickets to see his favourite band, whom I loathed, just because I thought it was important that he have that experience.

Most of my friends don't have the same music taste as me, and most of them don't really go to gigs, so they don't really get why I spend so much money on tickets. I think everyone has their thing that they'll willingly spend money on. Some of my friends at university went to anime conventions and spent loads of money on their cosplays and hotels and travel, and that was fine, I didn't understand it, but I didn't question it. Because going to gigs was and is my version of that, in a way. 

A lot has changed since that night in 2007. A lot of the bands I've seen have broken up or faded into obscurity. I've seen farewell tours, break out tours, incredible tours and a few disappointments. I've stepped into stadiums and tiny, tiny clubs and trampled across festival fields. My music taste has developed even more so, although I do appreciate a good dose of nostalgia from time to time. I might not jump up and down like a maniac and leave drenched in sweat anymore, and I might spend my money several drinks instead of t-shirts and have to wear ear plugs these days, but it doesn't mean I enjoy it any less. I love going to see bands, and I think when you hear your favourite song live, that excitement, that rush, makes all the shitty hours you had to work, all the waiting to be there, worth it.

Do you go to a lot of gigs? Have you managed to see your favourite bands yet?

Until next time!