It was a Friday evening. The Uptown Theatre in Kansas City was dimly lit as the crowd shuffled in. The unique mix of Greek and French architecture was prominent all over the red walls. As I crammed my way through the jumbled mess of people, I was in awe of the theater’s ambiance. Finally making my way to the front row, I had my moment of, “Now what?” It was 7 p.m. The concert did not start until 8 p.m. Great.
After waiting for what seemed like a week, the lights finally shut off and I was taken aback by the darkness mixed with the screaming and cheering. The opening act, Kathleen Edwards, took the stage and began her first song. The performance was solid, and she was very funny, but all of us knew (including her) that we were waiting for the main show, the group we had waited so long to see: Bon Iver.
The musicians — fronted by the greatness of all things great, Justin Vernon — have entranced audiences all over the country. Their subtle, yet beautifully complicated songs have created a pseudo-underground following over the years. Needless to say, I was extremely excited. I was finally getting the chance to see one of my favorite groups in concert.
Finally, Kathleen thanked us and left the stage. We had another bout of the waiting game, and the lights finally shut off again. This time, the cheers were borderline deafening. Every single person in that gorgeous theater could feel the energy. As Vernon and crew waltzed across the stage and began to play, I felt connected with them. This small, intimate venue allowed me to really feel the music. I was completely hypnotized. They played some of my favorite songs such as “Towers,” “Holocene” and the always popular “Skinny Love” as part of their encore. There was a lot of energy in the songs and the audience was getting into the music. I could tell that the stage staff was amused by the spectacle; I’m sure we all looked ridiculous. However, it truly was an unforgettable performance.
Once the show was over, I felt genuinely happy. For just a few hours, I could forget about all of my troubles and worries and just focus on the music, the absolute beauty that was being performed right before my eyes. I could just empty my mind and allow myself to feel calm and free, even if it was for an evening. It was just what I needed to rejuvenate from the trials and exhaustion that is college life. Sometimes I wonder if I could ever repay touring musicians for doing that, because it definitely feels like a favor.
There really is something to be said about how music can make a person feel. Music can take us all to places of peace, it can say things we could never think of saying and it can give us a sense of unification. Concerts in general can do that to many people, especially when seeing your favorite band; there really is no feeling that can equate to that.
So here’s to you, Bon Iver and every other favorite band of any music-lover. You put on a hell of a show, and for that, we thank you.