Categories
Culture & Student Life

Concert Culture: The Good And The Bad

Concerts are literally some of the best experiences you can have  but sometimes, they’re not perfect. There’s a good side and a bad side to concert culture, and if you’re planning to go to your first show, you should probably know both.

The Good Stuff

First off, concerts are just a great experience, especially if you go with the right people. The second the lights go out and the artist steps on stage, it’s like the whole place explodes. You’re surrounded by people who love the same music you do, and even if some of the people around you cannot sing you still appreciate every minute of it. Everyone’s singing, dancing, screaming , it’s pure happiness.

Another awesome thing is the connection. Sometimes the artist will stop mid-show and just talk to the crowd, telling stories or saying how much they love their fans. It’s super personal and makes you feel like you’re seen, even if you’re in the nosebleeds with binoculars.

Plus, the memories you make at concerts are unmatched. Even if you lose your voice and your legs hurt the next day, you’ll always remember the night you screamed your heart out with a stadium full of people.

The Bad 

Concerts can also be rough.First of all, the crowds. If you don’t like being squished between sweaty strangers, you might have a bad time. People will shove you, step on you, and some won’t even say sorry. Especially in general admission (aka standing areas),it’s like survival of the fittest in there, especially for me standing at 5”3, I see people shorter then me around and I wonder how they are feeling.

Also, getting tickets is a whole nightmare. You think you’re gonna be fine, but then Ticketmaster decides to put you at 30,000 in the queue . And IF you somehow manage to get a ticket, it costs so much money. 

Finally, there’s always the risk of bad crowd behavior. Some people don’t know how to act, they push, they fight, they throw stuff on stage. It can turn what should be a fun night into a stressful one if people don’t respect each other.

Final Thoughts

Even with all the downsides, concerts are still SO worth it. Yeah, you might get shoved around and spend too much money, but the feeling of seeing your favorite artist live is just unbeatable. You’ll laugh, maybe cry, probably lose your voice, but most importantly, you’ll leave with memories you’ll never forget.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment

Artist Spotlight: The Frights at Ventura Music Hall

On February 23, 2024, the Ventura Music Hall hosted a musical phenomenon, The Frights. They’re a band that seamlessly blends some elements of surf rock, punk, and alternative sound. In combination this creates a feeling that is both nostalgic and refreshing in a modern way. What sets The Frights apart from other bands is not just the way they strum their guitars, but their commitment to staying authentic since the very beginning. In today’s day and age artists find popularity by using auto tune. The Frights on the other hand embrace the imperfection of their raw and unfiltered voices. This approach to sound is a great reminder that music is really just another art medium.

A very intriguing aspect of The Fright’s music journey is how they are able to achieve an inherently timeless sound that has found its way into the ears of the new generations through social media platforms. Most notably TikTok has become an unexpected ally in introducing the band’s surf rock sound to a wider audience. Songs like “You Are Going to Hate This” and “Tungs” have become one of their most popular performances and a great contributor to the new exposure was from rising social media platforms like TikTok.

Photo by Jorge Padilla

The band released their first EP “Dead Beach” and their first ever studio album “The Frights” in 2013 and have become a household staple in the surf rock community.  Although the band has seen some changes throughout the years, they still manage to maintain their raw unfiltered sound. The lead vocalist Mikey Carnevale has been with the band since the very beginning and is joined by Richard Dotson, Marc Finn, Jordan Clark, and Elias Avila.
For those who are not very familiar with The Frights, here are their
Top 5 most streamed songs, and for good reason.

5. Kids
4. Crust Bucket
3. Tongues
2. You Are Going to Hate This
1. Tungs

Missed the show? Have your own!

Live At The Observatory is a great album to listen to if you want to experience or relive the feeling of hearing The Frights live.

Photo by Jorge Padilla