Man, I missed live music

Hello bloggers, music-lovers, and friends!

I can't physically contain my excitement anymore so I am going to cut to the chase:

LIVE MUSIC IS ALIVE AND WELL.

OH, YEA. AND HARRY STYLES IS TOO...

Last Tuesday, October 12, at approximately 9:01 p.m., the lights went down in PNC Arena and my heart palpitated. A single voice came over the speakers as if we (everyone in the arena) were all students, listening to their principal give announcements over the intercom.

Next thing I knew, the crowd was a neon shade of orange and the ground was shaking. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for.

It isn't just that it's Harry Styles. I mean, that is a great deal of it. It is Harry Styles.

But the electricity in the room and the random people around me laughing, screaming, singing, and crying were the big indicators that live music was indeed back for all us. Strangers held each other, keeping one another intact from utter explosions of euphoria. And I felt like I wasn't even in the room anymore. Instead, I was watching everything play out from an outside perspective, trying to keep myself from floating to the ceiling of the arena.

Nothing felt real. And I was into it.

Those hours leading up to the concert felt like a fever dream. All I remember is waiting in the Wendy's drive thru a block away from the stadium, watching pink boas and cowboy hats dart. in and out of the fast food restaurant. Even the air at the Wendy's felt different. It didn't have its usual greasy, dirty, 15-year-olds-work-here feel. It felt light and anxious and excited and full of bubbles.

That's how much I'm reading into this. I'm sincerely sitting here trying to make a statement about the vibes at the Wendy's before the concert.

Let's move it along before I get caught up in how my Wendy's nuggets tasted better than usual or how my plastic straw sipped perfectly.

Have you ever been in a group of random people that you don't really know but you all have one mutual friend in common. Because you have this one person that you all feel comfortable around, you use them as a bonding experience, making fun of them, talking about how much you love them, etc.

That was the energy before the show.

Inside the arena, as fans bought Merch and stood in line for drinks, everyone was talking about that one friend: Harry.

People would turn around and say: "Did you see what he was wearing today?" or "did you see that he was playing golf earlier today?" or "he's such a narcissist playing his own music right now".

Everyone seemed eager to discuss the one thing we all had in common: Our absolute love for Harry. And that's just what we did

Another thing I missed about concerts was the sheer friendliness of those around you in an arena. Not to sound cheesy but everyone was genuinely treating each other with kindness. Folks told each other that they liked each other's outfits or their hair or their jewelry or their background on their lock screens. In this space I felt safe. Safe to be not just who I wanted but to feel loved and appreciated while doing so. That's something you can almost only feel at a concert. It's something only music radiates.

Let's skip to the really REALLY good part:

The show. The show. The show.

I had been anticipating greatness. Obviously.

But boy, how I had underestimated.

Harry sounded great. Perfect if you will. He was the character you'd hope he'd be with a touch of "wait, you're actually a real person" added to the mix. He made everyone in that crowd feel welcome and validated and wished us all the happiest of birthdays. He made us sob, made us manic, made us boogie. He told us he loved us, and thanked us for allowing him to do his godly work while we all sat there, mouths agape, staring at his perfect face.

I would do many, many things to get back to that night again. After making close to 20,000 new friends, I don't think I'll ever be the same. That sounds dramatic but it's true. School doesn't feel the same. Listening to him doesn't feel the same. Nothing does.

Craving a repeat of that night will remain in my mind until I get my fill again. Until me and my besties get to all be in that room again, crying, laughing, and jumping all over each other.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/f8e396_89ae1fd54fa04747be401cc60f17485c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

And I sincerely look forward to that.

A Note: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE treat each other the way you would treat the person next to you at a Harry Styles concert. Love one another and treat people well. If they're worth a crap, they'll treat you well too. You're welcome for the worldly advice. I have a great idol to memorize my sermons from.