The venue music goes silent as the lights dim. You’re gripping the barricade and the crowd starts screaming. You can feel the first few beats of the kick drum in your chest. This is it, the moment you’ve been waiting for. You arrived at the venue five hours before doors opened to get the perfect spot in the crowd. You endured the cold, the rain, and the nasty glares from locals who are vexed by the lack of parking and the hundreds of teenagers crowding the sidewalks. 10 hours on your feet, jumping and screaming until you’re absolutely exhausted. A night of pure ecstasy followed by weeks of post-concert depression (I promise it’s a real thing).

This is the reality any die-hard concert goer. To most people this may seem like the most bizarre thing on earth, accepting pain and exhaustion for a few hours of music. However, it is much more than that. As an avid concert goer, I can confidently say that this is for a lot more than just music. Concerts for a lot of people are a form of therapy, and bands understand that. This past weekend I found myself front and center at a sold out Pop Punk show. Anyone who knows anything about pop punk will tell you that it is fueled by emotion and has the liveliest and intense crowds.

Every single band that played that night made a point to tell the crowd how important they were. “Do whatever the f*** you want,” says Knuckle Puck front man Joe Taylor, “You have the right to make yourself happy. We’re all here for a reason. And they’re all very different reasons. This is a safe space for you guys. You should be able to go to a show and not care what people think.” The songs they write are because they know that this music means so much to us, and to be surrounded by hundreds of people who are going through the exact same things as you creates a sense of unity and love like nothing else I have ever experienced. They are a way for people to freely express themselves and not be judged by anyone.

The fans really appreciate the bands and the things they do. In the moment of the show, they are willing to do anything and everything for them. They give their all at these shows and completely drain themselves as a form of release. It is amazing how a live show can eliminate all your problems. Social anxiety goes away when you’re with people like you. Everyone supports one another and looks out for each other. It’s a completely safe space both physically and mentally. For me personally, there is no happier place than in a crowd healing my sore spots.

“For those who can’t [get better from their anxiety or depression] because of money or health care or whatever, this is for you. We write these songs for you.” – Jordan Black of Like Pacific.