Why do people like concerts? (2015, blues, favorite song, classic)

[2x3x29x41]

Originally Posted by pikabike

Big screen?

I occasionally go to live concerts because there is a kind of synergy between the audience and the musicians. The sound is all-encompassing, and even though a top audio system sounds excellent and certainly “cleaner,” it lacks that extra ingredient only live performances can generate.

Nothing whatsoever to do with worshipping the performers. Puh-leeze. If the price is too high I just don’t go. Like any other expenditure, it depends how valuable seeing and hearing that concert is to me. You might not be willing to pay $300 to see anybody perform, but I would consider it worthwhile for some extraordinary artists, though so far I haven’t done so.

The OP seems to find it necessary to impugn the motives of those with different tastes than the OP. Apparently, he thinks that his preferences are 'right' and differing ones are 'wrong' - therefore, they must be rooted in some impugn-worthy motivation. It's pretty ridiculous. This thread seems to be less a query and more an excuse to denigrate.

Back to live music, I have occasionally found myself attending music that wouldn't normally interest me - and enjoying it. I have always supposed that this reflects the experience that myself and others have previously described here. A few years ago I saw Springsteen. I like a lot of his music, but as with all artists he has some songs that just don't appeal to me. I'll skip past them when listening to them. But live? Being able to feel the music, watching the joy of Bruce performing, seeing the guitarists getting into their craft, sharing the experience with thousands of others? Then, those songs are great.

[DaveinMtAiry]

Originally Posted by bursitis

Drinking beer and smoking weed (as with most experiences) makes it much more interesting.

Like driving?

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by Coney

While looking at pictures?

OP might like a Fleshtones concert, then.

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by pslresident444

People who don't mind being in the midst of thousands of strangers yelling and carrying on beyond normal emotional reaction. Most humans are just herd animals who go along and occasionally want a rush of adrenaline or if that is not available, cheap beer which is heavily advertized. (No matter what modern spelling rules might say, "advertized" is spelled with a "z," not an "s." The "s" is a MicroSoft word thing.

Don't run with the herd unless you have a deep desire for acceptance. It is not worth it. Go down your own path because if you don't, when you get old like me you will regret the periods of time you had to act like someone else and avoid being being who you are. You will probably, (chances are) not have the opportunity to do what you want in life without tons of money and good lineage and connections, so at least try to be yourself. Don't believe you can choose a job you like--that is an outright lie. Get one which is tolerable though, and that is usually though not always possible.

Concerts can be fun. I saw "Jesus Christ Superstar" in Central Park in 1973 I think, Tom Rush in a Provincetown tavern, Tom Jones (yeah, I know, but I was old then), and some other big attraction which I forgot in order to please a girl. It was too loud, and people acted like fools, and that is all I remember.

If you are the type to make loud obnoxious noises at football games, or one of those who are emotionally linked to a sports team, referring it it as "we," or "us," then you are probably somewhere in the middle of a massive herd. My recommendation is keep running with it but try to avoid the manure as you go along.

Not all concert audiences are loud, boisterous, obnoxious, violent, drunk, or “carrying on beyond normal emotional reaction.”

Neither are all sports event audiences, though I avoid pro sports games like the plague, because the most zealous fanatics DO remind me of enemies at war. But they aren’t all like that.

Your comment on emotional linking to the local pro sports team struck a chord with me. When we lived in the metro Denver area and someone asked me where I was originally from, he asked, “So do you root for the Patriots or the Broncos?” Similarly, when we lived in WA for a few years, several people jokingly (I hope) said, “Oh, no, a Broncos fan!” The real answer, which I told all of them, was always “No, I don’t follow ANY football at all, or any other pro ball sport.” The weirdest thing was how they could not even fathom that someone did not affiliate herself with a football team. One guy even said that he always switched favorites when he moved from one city to another and looked at me as if not watching any pro ballsport team, period, indicated some kind of personal flaw.

It’s a good thing that artist performances stand alone; fans attend to see their favorite performers, not to watch a fight against another group. If they consisted of one side competing against the other, there would be a lot more ugly scenes.

[BigCityDreamer]

I am a songwriter by hobby. I often stay up until two in the morning recording music in my basement. I have rock concerts playing in my head.

Some people enjoy playing video games, binge watching TV, watching sports, drinking at bars, etc. I don’t get those things.

Different strokes and all that, right?

[SkyDog77]

Because they’re awesome.

Attending live concerts increases life expectancy, improves well-being more than yoga, dog-walking, study finds

[luzianne]

It's fun. I particularly love outdoor venues in the summer. A nice summer night with the stars and moon overhead and thousands of people who love the same music I love. I usually don't even drink anything; I'm just there to enjoy live music under the stars. I LOVE Red Rocks Amphitheatre. I also enjoy Starlight Theater in Kansas City often as an outdoor concert venue. I saw the Rolling Stones at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. That was a great concert. I'd like to see a concert at the Hollywood Bowl sometime.

[In2itive_1]

Originally Posted by luzianne

It's fun. I particularly love outdoor venues in the summer. A nice summer night with the stars and moon overhead and thousands of people who love the same music I love. I usually don't even drink anything; I'm just there to enjoy live music under the stars. I LOVE Red Rocks Amphitheatre. I also enjoy Starlight Theater in Kansas City often as an outdoor concert venue. I saw the Rolling Stones at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. That was a great concert. I'd like to see a concert at the Hollywood Bowl sometime.

Just to mention, I saw Simon and Garfunkel in 2005 at the Hollywood Bowl, who had reunited at the time. I'll never forget it. It was as you describe, a clear, crisp summer night under the stars, Art commenting on the beautiful full moon, their oftentimes communicating with the audience. What a night, besides their beautiful voices and memorable songs.

I've seen a few artists there, including Hall and Oates, who are always great and the atmosphere there has been enjoyable, having enjoyed other outdoor venues besides. There is something about the crowd sharing the experience that adds to it.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by luzianne

It's fun. I particularly love outdoor venues in the summer. A nice summer night with the stars and moon overhead and thousands of people who love the same music I love. I usually don't even drink anything; I'm just there to enjoy live music under the stars. I LOVE Red Rocks Amphitheatre. I also enjoy Starlight Theater in Kansas City often as an outdoor concert venue. I saw the Rolling Stones at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. That was a great concert. I'd like to see a concert at the Hollywood Bowl sometime.

Red Rocks is the best!

[pslresident444]

? Kinda sorta a rebuff?