As a music lovah, nothing thrills me more than standing in a giant stadium filled with thousands of people, lights, that electric sizzle in the air, and my favorite performer(s) standing on a stage before me. Ever since the ‘rents released their sheltering hold on me during those later high school years (oh, it was tight), I’ve been going to concerts. There’ve been memorable ones, weird ones, times when I’ve been trapped in a mosh pit and driven to the front of the stage, thunder, lightning, and so much in-between. Here are a few that I reminisce about to this day (in no order of importance), as well as some artists I’d push an old lady over to see live (what? I’m owed a push!).
1. Dave Matthews Band, 2000
This was my first time seeing the guys. Having been a mild fan, I nevertheless accepted the invitation to join an old friend to the show at RFK Stadium in DC. During the show, a crack of lightning streaked the sky, followed by a boom, then the heavens opened. It.poured. And Dave and the guys never stopped playing. We were drenched, cold, likely developing pneumonia–and yet as they played, we didn’t stop dancing. It was exhilarating. Needless to say, I became a lifelong fan during that wet evening.
2. Bush, 1999
The only thing you have to know about this particular rockin’ show was that, after years of loving him from afar, I got to 1) meet Gavin Rossdale after the show and 2) hug him. He smelled like soap and dreams come true. Goodness. (Note: we were told before the meet and greet that we couldn’t hug Gavin or the rest of the band. You see how that worked out, huh?)
3. Stevie Wonder, 2010
Ok. There are artists I love. And then there are artists that I feel emotionally connected to. And then there are artists that I have no true, lucid words in describing how they make me feel. That’s Stevie. I have no words. Through sheer amazement and a wonderful friend, I was able to score two free tickets to see Stevie Wonderful. Even sweeter was the fact that I surprised my little brother with that second ticket, he being as much of a fan of Stevie as I am. So…I wept the entire show. I couldn’t believe that the man was before me. I couldn’t believe that that voice, his instrument, was filling my senses. The woman next to me merely patted my hand and said, “I know, sweetie. I know.” It was un-be-liev-able.
4. HFStivals, 1994-1998
These daylong festivals were among the first concerts I attended. Some of the best and prolific modern rock bands in the 90s thrilled us and inspired those evil powerful mosh pits I mentioned earlier. From No Doubt to Everclear to Wyclef Jean to Rage Against the Machine to Jewel (who walked off the stage when a Frisbee struck her in the, uh, chestal area) to tons of others, those sweaty, crazy shows are still pretty memorable. Memorable and completely nothing I would do again. Whew. I’m happily an old lady now. Give me a nice seat during a show.
5. John Mayer, 2004
It was five girls crammed into my former, ratchet SUV headed to one of the most entertaining shows I’ve been to. We screamed and swooned and laughed and called for him to play out favorite tracks. Maroon 5 opened for him. What a show. Having fallen for Mayer’s incredible songwriting abilities after the release of his first album, to see him play and riff was awesome. Cooler, though, was being around my company of girls and good friends.
Those are a few of the shows that I still tell people about, sometimes against their will. Following are some of the artists I’m slightly frothing at the mouth to see:
- Adele
- Emeli Sande
- Lionel Richie (yes, you read that right)
- Sam Smith
- Paul McCartney
- Bruce Springsteeeeeen
- Jason Mraz
- Johnnyswim
- Billy Joel
- Sara Bareilles
What memorable concerts do you think about from time to time? And who would you like to see? Tell me….
This Square Peg. 
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