Happy concert season!

The resurgence of live music after a year of silence

As told via journalistic narrative by Leah Keith

During the summer, I declared (out loud for extra effect), “Concerts are back!” That done, I started to buy concert tickets left and right. I didn’t care who I was seeing, I just wanted to see someone sing and dance on stage while I scream along with them. The pandemic deprived me of this enjoyment, but don’t worry, I’m making up for lost time.

Phoebe Bridgers in concert, photo credit to The Post

My first concert since the pandemic was the Phoebe Bridgers concerts back in September, and surprisingly, I had only been a fan of hers for a few weeks leading up to the concert. My older sister bought the tickets over the summer, and although I hadn’t listened to Phoebe that much, I agreed to go because I love concerts. Since then, Phoebe Bridgers has taken over my Spotify playlists, and I am forever grateful to my older sister for getting me those tickets. Without going to that concert, who knows how long it would have taken for me to become as big a fan of hers!

Although people can agree that seeing their favorite artist perform at a concert can be a life-changing experience, I want to explain why seeing an unfamiliar artist can be just as exhilarating. As I mentioned, I went on a concert ticket spending spree over the summer, buying tickets to whatever concert interested me. Since the Phoebe concert, I saw Role Model, Bleachers, and Soccer Mommy. I only knew a few songs from each artist respectively, but I binge-listened to the artists right before each concert. After the concerts, I continued to listen to and fall in love with the artists more and more. That’s the power of concerts. They can deepen your love for your favorite artists while also introducing you to new artists.

And for the love of Pete, watch the opener! It costs no extra time or effort. Plus, the main artist chose their opener for a reason, and openers often put on a great show. Getting to the venue early enough also helps you secure a closer position near the stage. There’s really no down-side.

Now, you might be worried about the cost. I mean, concerts are notoriously expensive. However, going to concerts does not need to break your bank. A majority of the concerts I go to cost around $25, and the more expensive ones cost closer to $50. An easy tip is to look for concerts at smaller venues, like First Avenue, Palace Theater, and Amsterdam Bar & Hall just in St Paul. These smaller venues are great because not only are they less expensive than Xcel or Target Center, but they also have a great view of the stage from anywhere in the room. If you want up-to-date information on these smaller venues, check out the links attached.

Although tickets to smaller venues cost less than tickets to bigger venues, concert tickets can still be hard to afford as a college student. Here are some tips for saving money for concerts.