Alexandra Hall attended a Ruby Waters concert in Detroit.
Alexandra Hall | Collegian

Despite major shifts in the way many listeners discover and stream their music, the live show reigns supreme as the lifeblood of the music industry. Despite popular belief, Hillsdale’s remote location, secluded from major cities, doesn’t inhibit passionate students from seeing their favorite artists perform their craft live. The concert experience plays a key role in the music appreciation sphere. 

Junior Alexandra Hall grew up attending concerts. Her work running a music blog and working for a music label gave her no shortage of reasons to buy tickets. 

“For about 8 years I’ve gone to at least one show a month,” Hall said. “Since coming to Hillsdale, that has gone down, so I average probably three shows a semester.”

According to Hall, Hillsdale isn’t the most convenient place to live for avid concertgoers.

“I think especially as a young woman, there are a few hurdles to navigate when trying to go out,” Hall said. “If students don’t have cars, the money for gas or tickets, or a group to go to these shows with, it’s a way different experience than showing up to a venue that’s 20 minutes away from your house.”

Despite the various logistical challenges that Hillsdale’s location creates in attending concerts, Hall makes enjoying live music a priority. 

“Because of what I do, a lot of people tell me that they’ve never been to shows or they want to go to more,” Hall said. “Music is so integral to many people’s lives, and experiencing these artists live is powerful, and by extension, important.”

Hillsdale’s distance from big cities has not inhibited freshman Rachel Downey from seeing her favorite artists.

“Living in Hillsdale has not stopped me from going to concerts, as I own a car and drive to Chicago or Detroit, which are popular locations for artists to go,” Downey said. 

Hall challenges the notion that one must purchase expensive tickets or compete with other fans to see live music.

“You don’t have to pay $800 or camp outside for three nights,” Hall said. “In fact, that sounds miserable. You can use social media, streaming platforms, blogs, etcetera to find tiny bands who would kill to have people care about their music. There is so much beauty in the concert-going experience, from historic venues to trashy bathrooms to strangers who share the same connection to the music that you do.”

Sophomore Abigail Fleming, who attends two to three concerts a year, believes fans expanded their music taste during the lockdowns, driving interest for new artists, particularly those who gained fame via social media during the pandemic. 

Fleming also noticed how the use of technology during live performances has had a negative effect on the concert experience, especially during Taylor Swift’s Eras tour that Fleming attended over spring break. 

“It’s great to take pictures and videos to commemorate the experience, but there’s definitely a balance between taking them to remember the experience versus being overly worried about getting the perfect photo or video,” Fleming said. “For the Taylor Swift concert, there were so many tiktoks of the performances that I saw before the show, which got me really excited to see it live, but also made me feel like I was getting the show ‘spoiled’ before I even saw it, since so much of it was filmed and put online, which also seems unfair to the artist.”

Evaluating the net benefits and costs of technology use at concerts isn’t necessarily black and white, according to Hall. Her website relies heavily on content captured at concerts, and looking back at these documented moments can prompt joy when she is going through a hard time. That being said, the use of technology at live shows has its own set of unintended consequences. 

“I think going to concerts has become nearly predatory in how disengaged the audience can be. TikTok has created a disheartening phenomenon. We no longer have ‘one hit wonders,’ we have ‘seven second wonders,’” Hall said.

Hall reflected on a Leon Bridges concert she attended last year where the majority of attendees only knew the songs that had gone viral on TikTok. 

“The crowd was almost silent for most of the show until he sang ‘River,’ and that is crazy to think about because he is an incredibly successful musician who sold out an arena,” Hall said. “It’s strange to notice how commodified music has become when so many fans are not even engaged with the actual content.”

Downey is an avid concert goer, already having 6 concerts lined up for this year alone. She enjoys attending shows at large arenas such as United Center and Madison Square Garden, as well as local venues. 

Downey grew up attending country concerts, but has since begun attending shows of bigger pop artists. Her favorite show to date has been Harry Styles. 

“His concerts make you feel welcome and accepted,” Downey said. “His performances are always one of a kind, and I have been to three in the past year.”

According to Fleming, Swift plays a good combination of new and old music, which is nostalgic for many of her older listeners.

“Since I’ve grown up listening to her, hearing songs that I’ve loved since I was so young played live feels so nostalgic,” Fleming said. “Her concerts are also fun in their entirety, as a lot of fans dress up, so it’s really easy to bond and talk to other attendees.”