I’ve been thinking about the question: do bands need to be doing more at concerts? In short, no. Their fans will love old music, new music, any live music! As a avid concert goer, I’ve found that the concerts that give “more” are the ones that are more memorable to me.
Granted, that’s a BIG ask. How could I, a fan of concerts, really be inclined to be giving advice to any artist/band? I suppose that’s why you’re here though.
The thing I think about is: Taylor Swift. Whether you love her or love to hate her, she’s truly thriving in her career. Taking back her own music and giving the “Taylor’s Version” stamp of approval with vault songs? That’s badass. Putting on a 3 hour concert full of different “eras” across the world…that’s something to be impressed with. It’s hard to deny how Taylor Swift is really becoming “the music industry,” in a sense.
Now, lets break it down…what is it about The Eras Tour that really stands out for 2023? Is it the about change of lyrics to “Karma” to get hype from fans across the world? Is it the fact that these tickets are nearly impossible to get hands on? I think it’s more than just that. The concert provides an experience.
Her interview with Time really proves her dedication. 3 hour runs on a treadmill to train her voice, learning choreography, really conditioning herself for this tour. Now, I didn’t get tickets to see The Eras Tour in person, but I slowly lived it through my TikTok for you page. What stood out to me were: the setlist gave fans a taste of music that was not performed live/ hasn’t been performed in a long time, the multiple outfit changes Taylor did throughout her show to really embody the “era” she was singing in, and the sense of community it created across the globe.
The concerts that truly stood out to me this year were: Paramore at Madison Square Garden, The Band CAMINO at Hammerstein Ballroom, and Taking Back Sunday at Mulcahy’s.
When I saw Paramore at Madison Square Garden in May, it truly brought warmth to my emo heart. Paramore has been one of my favorite bands since I was a kid. I’ve seen Paramore countless times and even set sail with them on all 3 Parahoy trips! Paramore took a break but came out with This Is Why in February 2023. Once I heard This Is Why I couldn’t help but…ahm…”Crave” to hear it live. Paramore’s show incorporated new music, old music, the classic “Misery Business” fan appearance (that night happened to be Lil Uzi Vert on stage.) What got me excited was hearing “All I Wanted” live for the very first time. It made the show that much more memorable.
When I saw The Band CAMINO at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City in September, I couldn’t help but be blown away. I’ve seen The Band CAMINO a few times prior, but this happened to be the best tour I’ve attended yet. I absolutely LOVE that The Band CAMINO gave fans not just their new music, old music, music in between, but created “an immersive experience” with lights. Granted, the show was called “Screaming In The Dark” in honor of The Dark released in August 2023, but the experience was incredible. The stage setup had screens that lit up with each song. Guitars were painted in glow in the dark paint. In addition, the band found a way to get songs to transition naturally into each other…which as a person who works in audio, I appreciated! I also love that The Band CAMINO took song requests by fans so the fans heard what they wanted. I also go to meet The Band CAMINO before the show and hear a mini acoustic set beforehand.
I just saw Taking Back Sunday at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh, NY last week. Taking Back Sunday released 152 a few weeks back. I was pumped to hear their new stuff live. It wasn’t just about Taking Back Sunday’s performance that made it memorable…but it was who they chose to have open for them. One of their openers was a comedian. No joke…a literal comedian. Was it a conventional choice? No. Did I enjoy it? Yeah!
My advice: give fans more. Give the opportunity to hear a song that has never been heard before. Give an outfit change to match your own “era.” Change the lyrics to your own music to really spice up the sound of the song. Give them an unconventional opener. The world is truly your oyster.
Rock on, stay humble, and be positive!
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