It's the show...

Lights, cool backgrounds, loud speakers and tons of people. That’s what the show looks like. But its not all of these extras that make it what is even though they all add to it. Its more than that, its environment, its energy and atmosphere that affects every person in the room even if they weren’t expecting it. Its what makes even the most reserved of people sing at the top of their lungs and it is what makes the stiffest of the rhythm less forget their age and status to dance like a kid again. It is the show.

Its taking any great artist from any genre and placing them on a stage in front of a crowd and letting them do what they do best. Its hearing all of the opening acts and occasionally hearing one that you actually like and rocking out to them without knowing any of their song lyrics. It’s waiting and watching while your favorite bands instruments are being soundchecked and watching their backgrounds being put up. It’s the moments of anticipation before the band takes the stage and the feeling you get when they first do. It’s the first words that they speak and the first chord that they play that sets every heart ablaze and every mosher to the floor to fling their limbs freely without inhibition.

While the music plays, it’s the connection between band and audience member. Its that brief moment where you decide that you don’t care who is next to you, you’re gonna have the time of your life. And you do! You jump around and sing and pump your fist and it’s almost as if it’s contagious and so the crowd around you begins to do the same. There in the crowd, you feel like you belong, like the next person over actually understands you and even though you don’t know them, they are your friend for that night.

As the moshpit goes crazy over heavy guitar riffs, screaming voices and cymbal crashes, it’s the crowd opening up to give them plenty of room. It’s the tougher protectors that stand in front of those that would rather not get hit by the pit and helping those that fall down in a spirit of camaraderie and then shoving them back in for more.

Its certain songs that everybody knows and in the blink of an eye, the entire crowd is moving, dancing, and singing and everybody forgets who they are or what they are going through or who is standing next to them and for a moment they feel free to be a kid again.

It’s the final song and the common feeling that we own that night and that event and if we want, we can make this band come out again. And so begin the chants for “one more song” Which starts off softly but becomes the cry of the community’s heart. It is the moment that the band walks back out for one more song recognizing clearly that it is these people that made them who they are.

And after the show, it’s the sweat and the fatigue. The cold air hitting your wet hair and the realization that you have gone deaf for a night due to the loud volumes. Your voice is shot due to the loud singing. And yet you regret nothing because that is exactly what you came for. It is the show.