If you aren’t from Florida, you probably don’t know that the state is generally shunned by musicians, as it is perplexingly omitted from tour schedules across all genres. Growing up in Florida, I watched my favorite artists perform all over the world my whole life, tormented by my inability to see my idols in the flesh. So, when I moved to Los Angeles, the center of the music industry, I was determined to rectify this grave misfortune. I can confidently say that I have! I’m about to start my third year at UCLA, and I’ve attended 18 concerts since the fall quarter of my freshman year (and counting)! With each event, my concert fever only intensifies. However, it gets harder and harder to find companions to come along for the ride.
“Sorry, but I don’t know that artist” is the most common response I get from friends when turning me down on the next concert. I understand where they’re coming from. We’re all broke college students, after all; if we’re going to spend money on a night out, it should be worth it. The disconnect for me, though, is that I think every concert is worth attending, even if you don’t know anything about the artist you’re watching.
In fact, some of the most impactful concerts I’ve attended were ones where I hardly knew the artist beforehand. Concerts have introduced me to some of my favorite musicians and songs and have hardly ever cost me more than a nice dinner or a new addition to my wardrobe. This past school year, I attended two such concerts.
May 17, 2024: Panchiko at The Novo
Wow! Panchiko was such a fun band to see live—and I went in knowing just one of their songs,”All They Wanted.” Their genre is very much indie and alternative rock, and I could not stop my head from banging or my jaw from dropping throughout the whole experience. The band’s visuals were just as riveting as the music, as the display behind them depicted a psychedelic edit of the performance footage in real time. For lack of a better descriptor, the music, performance and atmosphere crafted a genuinely “trippy”experience for everyone in the audience. Panchiko made a fan out of me on that night, 100%.
May 18, 2024: Lizzy McAlpine at The Greek Theater
Going into my second concert in a 48-hour period, I definitely knew Lizzy McAlpine better than I knew Panchiko. However, not really by that much. The only songs I’d come in with knowledge of were “Angelina,” “Ceilings,” “Doomsday” and “Firearm”—none of which were from the album she was touring. I had hurriedly listened to her latest album once or twice before attending the concert, but not much stood out about the record at first. Tuning into “Older” in-person was an entirely different experience. The emotion in McAlpine’s voice, body language and use of instruments stunned the whole crowd. Experiencing an emotional unity with thousands of other people at once and appreciating the sheer genius of an artist or group of artists—it’s truly an encounter unique to live performance.
Panchiko and Lizzy McAlpine are just the most recent additions to the list of artists I’ve fallen in love with after attending in-person demonstrations of their musical innovation. They join Peach Pit, Sammy Rae and the Friends, The Moss, MomJeans, Declan Mckenna and so many more. Watching an artist live is an incomparably superior introduction to their art.
It would be a lie to say that all 18 of the concerts I’ve attended in LA have had this incredible impact, but I have yet to ever regret going to these shows, and I think that says a lot about the intrinsic value of these experiences. Many of us find ourselves stuck in the Westwood bubble, our daily routines rarely extending beyond class, tanning at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, a quick workout at Wooden or B-Fit and, of course, the occasional trip to Trader Joe’s. It’s easy to bask in the comfort our little college town provides and forget all that the city has to offer. Even the concerts that don’t catapult me into a super fan at least get me off campus, dancing and appreciating such a large part of what draws people to LA from around the world.
If I attended one of these not-so-stellar concerts after spending a boatload of money, then maybe I would have an easier time being regretful. But LA’s music scene is overflowing with affordable, talented artists. To ensure that you’re bopping on a budget, I have a few suggestions.
First, make Ticketmaster your new favorite form of social media. You can just scroll through concerts in the area that are scheduled months in advance. Some of the best concerts I’ve attended were because a band’s name seemed familiar but I wasn’t really sure why. These bands tend to be lesser known and generally much cheaper than mainstream artists, but just as—if not more—spectacular and entertaining.
Second, once you find a band, date and venue that works for you, browse multiple ticket distribution sites. I compare AXS and Ticketmaster all the time, and I have recently been looking at SeatGeek and StubHub, though you have to be more careful to avoid scams on the latter two sites. Spending a few extra minutes to compare prices ensures that you’re getting the best tickets for the best prices.
My last tip is to take public transportation to concerts! If you don’t have a car, utilizing ridesharing apps can definitely make concerts more costly. However, now that UCLA tuition includes public transportation, this doesn’t need to be as much of a consideration. If you’re nervous about taking the bus or the metro at night, however, you could always try public transportation on the way there and split an Uber with your buddies on the way back!
So often people fear that they’ll be the outcast in a crowd if they don’t have every lyric memorized, but the truth is no one cares. And furthermore, most of the crowds I’ve been immersed in seemed to know just as few lyrics as I did. The reality of the matter is that it’s good for us to step outside of our comfort zones, and attending all different types of concerts is a great way to do that. Next time you need something to look forward to or are feeling stir-crazy within the bounds of Westwood, check and see if there’s a concert coming up! I just might see you there.
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Featured Image Photographed by Diane Picchiottino on Unsplash
