It was a hazy summer evening when I received a text message from my friend asking me if I would like to go to a free concert the next day. Without even thinking or asking the name of the band, I replied that I would like to go.
This was a first for me. I never went to a rock concert before. My parents had always dragged me to classical music concerts and I dreaded it. My friend gave me the name of the band. They were called the White Rabbits. Originally, I thought they were called the White Rabbis, but it turns out my friend misspelled the name. I started researching them and I found out that they were an indie rock band. I don’t tend to listen to indie music, but I decided why not.
We arrived at the Music Hall of Williamsburg and this definitely was not the music hall I was expecting. Normally, there would be chairs so the audience can sit in…not here! Everyone was pushing to get as close as possible to the stage. The music itself was unexpectedly loud. When the first song was over, I thought my ears were going to bleed. After a while, my ears adapted to the noise. Finally, there was the occasional smell of a drug used for medicinal purposes in some states.
The band was amazing! They were very skilled and hey, it was a free concert so I can’t complain. This cultural encounter showed me there is a side of the NY music scene, which I barely scrapped the surface of and I hope to go to more free concerts in the future.
All the way in the front!
I can’t really imagine how loud a rock concert is since I never been to one before, especially when I think a “normal” concert by the pop music singers like Lady Gaga is already loud enough. Therefore, I’m glad that you actually included your feeling, so that now I know it is the “my ears were going to bleed” kind of loud!
That’s great that you agreed to go without knowing anything about the band. I don’t know if I would have been so brave. Lately, I have been trying to do more things that I normally wouldn’t do. I went and saw Shakespeare in the Park although I’m not really a huge Shakespeare fan. I also watched a showing of Faust right outside the Metropolitan Opera. Despite the fact that I only stayed for 45 minutes, I think it is important to try new things. Even if you don’t enjoy them, you would never know if you didn’t try.
Your post is lively. You recreate the mood of the concert!
Just like Luke said above, it’s cool how you went out to this indie concert and then ended up enjoying the music playing there despite no prior knowledge about it. I personally also enjoy listening to some indie music as well because my english teacher introduced it to me by blasting it in the classroom everyday before class started, but it was a nice change from what I normally listen to. I’m glad that you also included the link of a song of the band for me to listen to because I’m always up for finding new indie bands.
I think it was a great idea for you to go to the concert and experience a new genre a music. Although I’ve never listened to indie music, I have been to a rock concert before, so I can imagine what your ears must have felt like for the first few songs. Other than that, I also agree with Luke when he said how it is always important to experience something new every once in a while.