by Matt Meade
Seeing your favorite band in concert is a life changing event, it changes you as a person and makes your life complete. I had this experience when I saw the Indie band Vampire Weekend, my favorite band. This concert would make my life.
My parents started driving and Williamsville turned to Lackawanna and that turned to Buffalo. We started the walk from Dug’s Dive to the Buffalo Outer Harbor where we would see are favorite band. We got there at around 6:00ish and made are way to the front of the crowd and waited for the band that would bless us with their intoxicating genius lyrics and reggae sound that makes the perfect dance music. The band Cults opened for them. I recognized some of their more popular songs and for the most part they were very good and a good start to one of the best nights I’ve ever had. After Cults performance, we waited a good 45ish minutes for vampire weekend but the wait was worth it. The band that I had been listening to since 7th grade and jamming to their popular songs like ‘A-Punk’ and ‘Oxford Comma.’ They opened with one of their new songs ‘Diane Young’ and my phone went straight to recording. The band that got me into the indie genre was now playing live in front of me and I could not contain myself, I started singing lyrics to random people and they made a microphone of their hands and I sang in it while my friend was mouthing the lyrics to all their songs. I also danced with a bunch of new friends that enjoyed the band as much as I do. After the opener they played an older song from their album ‘Contra’ called ‘White Sky’ and Ezra Koening, Front man/Singer, started doing his high vocals in part of the song. Its hard to find good live bands anymore but this band was superb live and was almost identical to their studio voices, but not sounding like they were lip-syncing. The smell of cheerios from the factories sank its way to the stage and the beautiful scenery of the lake and boats were seen and I looked out to the sky and at that moment I was the happiest person alive. The band continued playing some of their most popular songs and they played some of their songs that people may have not have known. Other than some annoying people in front of us, that we later moved away from, and the long wait; the concert was incredible and life changing and the next time they are in town or around here I highly suggest you go.
In addition to seeing my favorite band, I saw one of my other favorite bands, The Arctic Monkeys. They are a British Alternative Rock band that came to Art Park earlier in the summer. A few of my friends and I went together and started are journey to Lewiston. We got their at about 6ish and made are way to the lawn and waited for one of the radest bands out there at the moment. The band White Denim opened for them and even though I did not know of them, they had a great sound and captivating lyrics. After White Denim, there was a little wait and then the wonderful band came out in their suave leather jackets and their perfectly combed hair. Alex Turner, front man/singer, made his way to the mic and sang one of their most popular songs to date, ‘Do I Want To Know,’ from their newest and most popular album AM. They played some of their most popular songs old and new all being super cool to hear live. A rainbow soon casted its way over the people spectating the wonderful band. The band went on until 10ish and talked minimal, it was just performing their superb songs about love and life that are so relatable you have to like them. They ended with one of their older songs but still pretty popular. The song is called ‘505’ which starts slow but gets progressively more and more intense and suspenseful and leaves you speechless towards the end where the song just explodes into a conundrum of guitar and bass that leaves you on the edge of your seat and leaves you wanting more. As a whole it was an extremely enjoyable concert that left me wanting more and definitely was the highlight of my summer.
The final concert I attended this summer was the Lady Gaga ‘ArtRave’ concert on July 7th. Even though I’m not a huge fan of hers it was still a concert to remember. I love a lot of her more older songs from albums such as ‘The Fame’ and ‘The fame Monster’ and ‘Born This Way’ that made her popular. She opened with a new song from her new album ‘Art Pop’ called ‘G.U.Y’ that is an electronic groove with a lot of pop elements to it. After her introduction she talked a lot about her rise to fame and how she loves and supports her fans like they support her and said a lot of funny stuff but put on a serious façade when she mentioned a kid who committed suicide a few years ago, she dedicated a whole song for him and everyone in the stadium was dead silent and many were crying. After that serious moment she then continued to sing and perform with her energetic and eccentric personality that makes her such a great performer. At the end of the concert she ended with her song ‘Gypsy’ and went out with an elegant white gown and long blonde hair. After she left everyone was speechless and stunned at the performance she just saw. It was definitely a good night and everyone was dressed for the occasion. Tutus, Bikini bras and much more extravagant fashions were present on the road to the concert. After all it’s a lot to impress Gaga with her fashion.
