Now THAT'S What I Call A Concert

Since freshman year has started, I've already immersed myself multiple times into the wonderful world of live music. I'm going to give a run through of the venues I've been to, as well as tips and tricks to make your concert experiences even better :)

Terminal 5

The Neighbourhood

LANY

They Might Be Giants

These three concerts were the first ones that I went to during first semester, and they were insanely energetic, at at times even a bit chaotic. Despite this, each band was amazing to see live. For the Neighbourhood, Mari and I were able to push our way to the front and actually help Jesse to crowd surf, which was unforgettable. This was also the concert that Mari pulled me up after the whole entire crowd fell over. For LANY, my friends and I were a bit farther back, but nonetheless the guys outdid themselves with huge graphic screens and a two part stage. I saw They Might Be Giants for a second time with my dad, sister, and cousins, which was a really fun family bonding time, and we also happened to be right up front for that show too. TMBG really get the crowd going with their dad jokes and wonky song lyrics.

PRO TIP: Terminal 5 usually has the longest lines, and the longest wait time to get in. I highly suggest bringing three important things: a portable charger, snacks, and a light jacket (depending on the weather)

The Bowery Ballroom

Conan Grey

This is definitely the most interesting venue in the city I've been to so far. Entering down the stairs, the line first leads into a small bar lounge, and then suddenly the doors open to upstairs, and there's a mad dash for the stairs. The actual pit of the stage area is medium sized, which is nice because Abbey and I were able to get pretty close on the side. The one thing that I was not a fan of at this venue was the age of the concert crowd (there was a twelve year old screaming behind us for a good part of the show). Other than that, Conan was so cute and explained all of his songs which was really neat.

PRO TIP: Check out the opening act(s) beforehand of the band you're going to see. Girl In Red opened up for Conan, and she was so cool - plus her music rocked, so now I have a new favorite artist!

Mercury Lounge

Tillie

Cherry Pools

These two talented artists co starred in the little venue, and Abbey and I were at the very very front of the stage; like touching-the-speakers kind of close. While this venue also first is a bar scene, the back room is much smaller and intimate, which is great if you're going to listen to an up-and-coming band like Cherry Pools and Tillie, who both just released their individual EPs. My favorite part was the aesthetic that both bands put into their outfits and backdrops. It really felt like we weren't in NY anymore!

PRO TIP: Make sure you know the area of the venue fairly well. Not only is this for safety reasons, but also for fun! Abbey and I were able to spend the day in East Village leading up to the concert, and we stopped in countless shops and restaurants to try out new things like butterfly pea tea.

Brooklyn Steel

Catfish and the Bottlemen

This show was FULL of headbanging, screaming the lyrics, and plenty of sweat. Catfish really pulled out 17 songs in a row, no breaks, and their back lighting featured their new, unreleased album's logo. Mari and I met up with our friend Clare and her friend Izzy, who snagged a spot on the side barricades near the front. This night was long, but in the best way possible. The energy that the band brought into the crowd was contagious, and there was not one instant where we weren't dancing to the beat.

PRO TIP: Map out your concert route a day or two beforehand to prevent getting stuck somewhere unfavorable. Fortunately, the 4 train was running when Mari and I needed to get downtown, but the whole rest of the week it wasn't. When we got on the L, it happened to be the last train leaving due to a blockage causing track sharing issues. Always have a backup plan in case of delays!

Until next time,

Anna xxx