I have attended my fair share of concerts. Over time, I have come to accept that they are not my scene; the stench, the body heat, the noise, and the drunken slobs are all too much. These concerts I attended were no match to the Summer Ends Music Festival, however. During my brief time there, I sat beside a girl experiencing a panic attack, watched as joints were passed from person to person in the crowd, and squeezed my way through the largest crowd of people I had ever experienced, picking up various body odors along the way. I was surprised to find positive comments about the festival on Twitter the next day, describing the concert as the “best night of my life.”
In spite of these positive experiences, which could only be attributed to alcohol or drugs, some serious conflicts took place.
As a result of dehydration and overzealous fans, medical attention was necessary throughout the day. At a high of 105 degrees with limited water supplies and a surplus of alcohol, it was no surprise that fans struggled to stay conscious, and sane. With 28,000 people in attendance on Saturday, space became an issue. According to NBC News, many fans were trapped and their “personal space was compromised” as the crowd pushed forward to the front railing at the stage. During this rush, scuffles broke out and people passed out from the added heat of the large mass of bodies. Security became involved and the next performance was postponed for about 40 minutes as the area was cleared.
This event resulted in over 10 people being sent to the hospital. In addition, approximately 300 people were treated by medics on the concert grounds.
Although the concert venue was teeming with police officers and security personnel, there have been no reports of drug busts. I suppose that lenience is more prevalent at a concert characterized by its reggae performances.
To some, the added danger was worth it. With chart topping artists such as G-Eazy, Big Sean, and J Cole performing, adolescents and adults alike flocked to Tempe from various regions of the state. Both Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise album and J Cole’s most popular album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, hit number one on Billboard’s Top 200 in 2014. You could feel the hype in the air. People were climbing trees and sitting atop shoulders trying to catch a glimpse of these iconic artists.
I, however, was not familiar with any of the artists’ music. I had never heard the name G-Eazy or J Cole in my life. To me, the nauseous feeling I experienced from inhaling second-hand smoke and the was not worth the 70 dollars I spent to attend.
After the concert on Saturday, concert promoters advised concert-goers to wear sunscreen, hydrate, and eat plenty of food throughout the day. Hopefully, this reduced the number of health hazards experienced on Sunday.
In summation, the concert was more concerning than it was amusing. Though I am biased in that I believe all concerts to be a waste of time, it is safe to say that many had a less-than-successful experience at Summer Ends. Hopefully, people will learn to contain their excitement, or drink less, in the future.
