The year without concerts

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a lot from us this year. From football games, sorority events, to even simple things we take for granted like seeing our family. We’ve lost a lot. I can’t complain, seeing as COVID has taken everything from some people, but I must admit, COVID did take away the happiest place on earth. Yes, Disney World, but that’s not my happy place. My happy place is concerts.

I went to my first concert when I was 10 years old. Kenny Chesney at Rupp Arena with my parents. We were in the nosebleeds and I don’t remember a lot, but when he played my favorite song, it became my first memory. Since then, I’ve been to 20+ concerts over the years. Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and my favorites, One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS). I was lucky enough to see One Direction twice and I’ve been to about seven or eight 5SOS shows now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m the type of girl that can go to multiple shows of the same tour and never get bored. I made some of my best friends at a 5SOS concert five years ago and we still talk every day. Last year, on tour, I met even more girls that I now consider my best friends. We may be spread out across the country, but these girls and these shows mean more to me than I can put into words. We thrive off of waking up at 5 a.m. to line up for general admission or even camping overnight just to get as close to our favorite band as possible. We travel across the country in our small cars and stay in sketchy hotels just to hear our favorite songs for nights on end. We get to experiment with our fashion and makeup, eat cheap food, and jump in a sweaty pit until we can’t breathe, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Music is my escape from life and it makes me happier than I can explain. Last year, I went to three 5SOS shows, and although my mental health was the lowest it had been, those nights got me through the whole year. This year, I had tickets to Harry Styles in one of my favorite cities and multiple tickets for 5SOS shows, but sadly (and understandably) they were all postponed. I won’t lie, this year has SUCKED without live music, but thankfully, all my favorite artists have been doing their best to keep us entertained, and I know its all for a good reason. Plus, just think of how much better concerts will be next year now that our favorite artists are all rested up and miss us just as much as we miss them!

If you love concerts as much as I do, know that I’m here, I feel your pain and know that you will hear your favorite artist live again! In the meantime, discover new music, memorize the words to every song on an album, or do what I do and plan out your outfits a year in advance! See ya soon concerts.