As someone who has been to almost fifty concerts, I know concerts like the back of my hand. There are certain aspects that guarantee the concert will be etched into my memory. You’ll see what I mean through my favorite concerts of this year so far, and the not-so-favorite.
These factors are ranked from most important to least important, in my opinion.
Visuals
For me, what matters the most in a concert besides the performance itself, are the visuals. There are several layers to visuals. It is the interludes between songs, it is the videos projected during song performances, and most importantly, the lights. A lot of artists ignore this aspect, not knowing it is what can determine whether a concert stays in someone’s memory. When I’m going to a concert, I want to see that it was well-thought out. If my jaw is on the floor for most of the moment, that means the combination of visuals made me feel.
Zara Larsson – Venus Tour
Zara understood the assignment by thinking of every aspect of her concert. From the outfits to the choreography to the stage design, everything was on point. However, what truly left me in awe were the visuals. There was an elevated stage, and a wide screen where new colorful visuals were shown. The one that I remember most was during the performance of “The Healing”. There was a moon that changed phases throughout the length of the song. It was such an intimate moment, with Zara sitting down and the light of the moon slowly brightening the venue. At the end, there was an eclipse. There were more significant instances, but this one lives in my mind rent free.
Voice performance
Obviously, the reason we’re at concerts in the first place is to hear live music. It is important for the artist to have rehearsed their set list. But what I’m thinking of here more is the emotion they manage to give their audience. If the vocals are clear but there’s no emotion, it’s more likely than not that I’ll leave the venue disappointed. You can tell which artists are living the words they’re singing, and which ones aren’t.
Reneé Rapp – Snow Hard Feelings Tour
Although I have some criticism towards this particular concert, Reneé’s voice is not one of them. It’s obvious that a Broadway star would have impeccable vocals. Regardless, it was still surprising to see the amount of talent that Reneé Rapp holds. The performance I was waiting for the most was “The Wedding Song”. I had even done a project with different colored hearts to hold up. However, the one that really drew me in was “Snow Angel”. Her voice is breathtaking, and the performance was an incredible ending to the show.
Atmosphere
This one doesn’t have much to do with the artist, more so with the fanbase. I have been to concerts I would’ve loved, were it not for the audience who was disrespectful, picking fights, or not participating much in the collective moment we’re sharing. Obviously, you’re allowed to act however you wish when going to a concert. But my best concerts were the ones where I could hear hundreds or thousands of voices singing around me, knowing this artist was what was connecting us. But please, be respectful of others. Don’t push to get to the front and be mindful of people around you. I know concerts are crowded, but leaving a bit of personal space will make the experience better for everyone.
Noah Kahan – We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour
The beginning of the concert was tumultuous. I had gotten into a fight with someone who pushed me to get barricade, but besides that person everyone else was lovely. Once the concert started, there was nothing that could’ve changed the atmosphere. It felt like such an intimate show, despite the size of the venue that had a capacity of 8400 people. Since Noah’s music is deeply personal to people, hearing all the voices sing these emotional songs made me emotional.
Each person has their own song that they connect with above everything. Mine is Come Over, but Growing Sideways has a certain effect on me. When I started crying during the song, a girl behind me that I didn’t know gave me a brief hug and asked me if I was okay. This gesture, along with the room full of people who sang their hearts out through the collective sadness, made the concert one I’ll keep in my heart for a long time.
Stage presence
Stage presence is the confidence that the artist has that they deserve to be there and that they’re going to give you one of the best concerts of your life. When someone’s uncomfortable on stage, the energy transpires to the audience who won’t feel as confident in singing or dancing, or expressing themselves. To add to the stage presence, there is the performance they offer. If they’re staying in one place for the whole concert, it’s more likely that the crowd will lose interest, or they won’t remember the concert as noteworthy. Having choreographies or moments of movement that bring energy to the crowd makes the difference.
Dylan – Rebel Child Tour
There isn’t one unenjoyable moment when watching Dylan on stage. Even if you’re a casual listener and don’t know her entire discography, she will bring you in. She is a force to be reckoned with on stage, even when she sings her more acoustic songs such as “Blue”, her energy is palpable. When she started singing a cover of “Unholy” by Sam Smith, there were feelings that arose in my chest that have yet to be named. Most of the time, she plays the electric guitar, which brings a new layer of being a rockstar. Dylan is unforgettable.
Interaction with the audience
Artists who interact with their fans are more likely to be adored by the public, since it makes them seem more than a famous person on a screen – they get to the level of someone who cares about their audience, which in return makes us feel appreciated. Small acts such as reading signs and replying to them, touching hands with the front row fans, making eye contact as they sing to someone, those are fleeting moments that mean the world to someone. Taking time between songs to speak to the fans also makes them feel more connected.
Griff – Griff Tour
Small artists are known to be nicer to their fans since they have the chance to make a more personal connection in a lower capacity venue, but Griff goes above and beyond. During my concert date, she paid attention to everyone in the room, dedicated a song to a fan who wanted it on the setlist, held hands during “Vertigo”. She had a soft way of speaking to us in between songs about her creative process and the backstory of the music.
She also went into the crowd mid-show, doing a few acoustic songs on a small stage at the opposite side of the room. Most importantly, she held my hand during “Astronaut”, a song that accompanied me through a lot of heartache and grief. For a minute, Griff sat down in front of me and sang to me as she held my hand – which goes to show just how much she cares.
Band presence
Obviously, the main artist is who you’re there to see (if we’re speaking about a solo artist), but having a band that plays the instruments brings another dimension to the experience. I remember seeing Hozier in 2019, and remembering his band is showstopping. When I took my dad to see him, the band was what stood out to him too. I’ve explained it before as a love letter to music, there’s all the layers to make a show unforgettable.
Maisie – The Good Witch Tour
I’ve seen Maisie twice, but this year was The Good Witch tour. If you’re familiar with Maisie’s music, you know one of the songs on her latest album is named “The Band and I”. The connection she speaks of in the lyrics could be felt during the show. Everyone is spectacular with their instrument, and the energy among the band members makes the vibe in the room even more genuine.
Personal touch in concerts
When the artist shows proof of originality in performance by adding a special moment, such as confetti or fireworks or balloons, it involves the audience in the fun. Of course, it’s not necessary, but these moments bring happiness to everyone in the audience, which further advances the concert’s status as memorable.
Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well Tour
Kacey Musgraves’ latest album was a wonder to hear in concert. Kacey’s voice is sweet like honey, and her talking moments were hilarious. The stage design was quite simple, and the visuals were colorful and full of life. However, what stuck with me was the huge balloons that were released into the crowd during one song. The crowd got to play with them, sending them as far as the balcony where I was standing. Having this playful moment as Kacey’s voice lulled us in the background brought me such joy.
Stage design
Although it might only seem like a backdrop, it’s important to have some sort of stage design. It brings more dimension to the stage and to the universe the artist creates, plus you will quickly notice if it’s missing. A lot more resides on the artist who has to fill the space, and if they don’t, it’s engraved in people’s minds too.
Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS Tour
Olivia’s stage was peculiar, but what attracted my attention the most were the stars hanging from the ceiling. I pointed it out to my friend, but didn’t think much of it. When the moment in the show arrived where the stars lit up, I had a difficult time collecting my jaw from the floor. The surprise was when Olivia started singing from above the stage, on a crescent moon that moved slowly across the arena. The silver glimmering moon brought me such bliss. The idea allowed Olivia to be closer to us and talk to us too, which again made the concert feel more intimate.
Outfits
There are performers that feel more comfortable in casual clothes, and that’s fair enough – everyone should be able to wear whatever makes them feel best. However, when there are particular concert outfits, it leaves an image in mind. More than that, how many times have I spent watching performers in their concerts in awe because of how gorgeous they looked? The impression it leaves only makes the concert more memorable.
Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS Tour
Not only is she great at performing, stage design, visuals and everything in between, Olivia’s outfits are to be noted. She has around three outfit changes, each one memorable for their specific color, design or texture. Between the sparkly black outfit, the red leather outfit, and the white crop top outfit, Olivia made sure that she looked good in everything that she wore on stage. Hearing her sing “pretty isn’t pretty” while looking gorgeous was quite the experience.
Setlist for Concerts
For me, this isn’t as important, but nonetheless a point to consider. If you’re going to a tour specific to an album, it’s obvious that the setlist will mostly consist of those songs. However, when you’re going to a concert and the artist performs a song they haven’t sung in a while, or a song that brings you back to the origins, or they make slight changes in the setlist from town to town, it makes the show more special for the people who resonate with the songs and didn’t expect the addition.
PVRIS – Oil & Water Tour
When you have a career that has spanned more than a decade, and you’re doing a tour in between albums, no one’s sure what to expect from the setlist besides the newest songs which are obvious. PVRIS has mastered the art of choosing the best music from their (already unskippable) discography. Starting with my favorite song from their newest album, “I DON’T WANNA DO THIS ANYMORE” is a contradicting statement that warns us there’s a story unfolding. I didn’t know what to expect with each consecutive performance going from one album to another, and it made the experience all too great. In my opinion, this was an impeccable setlist for the tour that’s going to send us into the new era of PVRIS.
I hope you’ve enjoyed me talking about the ups and downs of concerts, and the features that stood out to me for each concert I’ve been to this year. Keep your eyes peeled for more concert posts, because the 2024 concert season is far from being over!
Photography: vontographie
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