great by-products.

obviously when you go to a concert (i'm talking the smaller, more intimate venues here...not your stadium shows) you are going to see music happening before your eyes. you go to see the artists who created the music play it for you, to see how it sounds without the tricksy magic of album production. it either enhances your experience from then on when you listen to the album or it makes you sad to realize they must have hired a really great engineer.

so yes, concerts are about the music. but there are some really great by-products of going to a show that really help round out the entire experience:

by-product #1: the game of "which band member is most attractive." shallow? absolutely! but so. much. fun. part of it's fun because you're critiquing which handsome fella is the most handsome and the other part that makes it fun is that i rarely agree with my friends on who is the most attractive. i think it's a strong testament to the statement that there is someone for everyone.

by-product #2: overpaying to get a drink ($3 for a diet coke? do you realize i could get a gallon of that at micky d's for a dollar?!) to keep yourself awake and happy and on your feet. at first glance this doesn't seem like a great by-product but it sorta is. see, if i have to buy a drink to stay awake it's probably because i was up early because i have a job and that job is affording me the opportunity to go to shows and buy overpriced beverages. while everyone complains about their jobs (guilty) we often forget to be thankful we have them (guilty). yay for being a contributing member of society and supporting those musicians/venues we love so much by going to shows.

by-product #3: overheard conversations between sets. sometimes hilarious, sometimes annoying, always entertaining. the last show i was at an overheard conversation resulted in hearing a brilliant idea from a houseful of boys. the gist, once a month one roommate picks a concert and all of them go. isn't that just one of the most precious things you have ever heard? then they never have to go to a concert alone (which actually isn't terrible it's just more fun when there are people to share the experience) and they are exposed to different artists and/or styles of music that wouldn't normally make their playlist. these were my guesses for which concerts each of the four roommates would have chosen:

• boy in checked shirt: clearly this show, green river ordinance, was his pick. he was WAY excited to be there. good on ya, dude, it WAS a killer show.
• boy with clear framed glasses: i guessed that he was into math-rock but i didn't really know who fell into that category. i asked my friend, she said la dispute.
• boy in college athletic team jacket: this one was hard, i was stuck between man-rock and hip-hop but then i saw he had terrible tennis shoes so opted for man-rock. i'm guessing his pick is hinder.
• boy in button down, vest, tie: michael buble. no question. 

 the next time you go to a concert, keep your phone in your pocket and take in the whole night, i promise it will be better than scrolling through your facebook feed again.

xo