Recently, I had the honor of being given a VIP ticket to see Mayday Parade, supported by Knuckle Puck and the British band, Milestones. This was Mayday Parade's 10th Anniversary tour celebrating ten years since the release of their album A Lesson In Romantics. The show was held at a small, intimate venue, Newport Music Hall, on Ohio State's campus. I got to meet the band, take pictures, and get my vinyl records signed.

I've been to a lot of concerts. I get in line hours, sometimes even a whole day, before the show to get as close as possible to the stage. As someone who is 5'3", it's the only way I'll be able to see anything. If the band playing is anywhere on the alternative spectrum (metal, punk, pop punk, hardcore, etc.), there's probably going to be a pit. This is definitely not for everyone, as there is a lot of shoving, jumping, and tightly packed crowds. At more hardcore shows there will probably be a lot of moshing, which can mean fights and injuries. If you're going purely for the musical aspect of the experience, you might want to find a spot closer to the back or get seat tickets if the venue has them. It can be hard to focus on and enjoy the music when strangers are crowded up against you and you're trying to keep your balance.

It's all part of the concert experience. It's great if you want to feel really involved in the show. How excited would you be if the band that you've been listening to for years was right in front of you? I got kicked in the face twice by crowd surfers, and when I left the pit (if only to protect the vinyl from breaking) my hair was beyond tangled. I was a mess, but it was still an amazing show. There's something about live music that's so indescribably special. You might have temporary hearing loss afterward but you feel the music like it's part of you. The bass is so loud that it shakes your body. It's a completely different sensation from simply listening to the music from a CD. There's so much energy surrounding you.

“Music can change the world because it can change people.”
― Bono , U2

People have said it's crazy to wait hours, even days for a show just to get a good spot. I have found that even waiting in line is part of the experience. I'll never forget the time I waited in line for 14 hours for a Twenty One Pilots Hometown Show at the Schottenstein Center in 2015. I went by myself, not knowing anyone there, and got in line around 5 a.m. I'm extremely shy, and I had no idea what to expect. I started talking to the people in line around me since we'd be there for a while. A few of us happened to bring our ukuleles, a Twenty One Pilots thing, and we started playing together. We joined a few other kids from various parts of the line and started jamming. Pretty soon it turned into a huge group sing-along. People from huge fan accounts on twitter took videos of us and sent them to the band, who then retweeted them. I made so many friends from all over the country that day. Most of the time you'll find that a lot of the people who go to the same show as you are like-minded and feel like family. When we got into the show, the band said that they had heard us singing their songs out there and it made them tear up a little bit out of happiness.

The biggest thing, though, is that concerts are the best kind of therapy. They're good for your soul. You can forget about everything that's holding you down and just be there in that moment with the music. Nothing can match screaming lyrics to songs you've loved for so long with the people who wrote them and a few hundred, maybe even a few thousand, other people who love them, too. It's the best way to break out of your shell. No one cares if you dance crazy or are overly excited.

It's been said that music can actually change brainwaves and promote healing. I believe it. As a guitarist in a band, I've seen it from both sides. It's more than just music.