Face the music

I have a confession.

I didn’t spend Little 500 weekend in Bloomington.

Instead, I spent a total of 10 hours driving to Michigan and back to see a two-hour concert. And it was so worth it.

To me, Bob Dylan is a god among men. His career is now in its sixth decade, and during the past 50 years he has dabbled in pretty much every genre of American music.

Starting out as a hero of folk music and the 1960s counterculture, he also made a name for himself in blues, rock ‘n’ roll, Nashville-style country and even gospel.

He’s unstoppable, and it showed in his set. While his voice isn’t quite as strong as it once was, he remains a powerhouse of a performer, banging out keyboard riffs and going nuts on the harmonica until the whole arena was jumping.

It was a sight to see.

But the point of this column is not to blabber on about how great Dylan is and was, although I could do that for pages on end. I’m writing this column to exalt the wonderful experience that is a concert.

Live performances are without a doubt the best way to experience music. Whether it’s a small show at a club or a huge concert on a mainstream summer tour, watching a performer put it all out there can’t help but elevate appreciation for the music. No matter the size of the audience, there is a real connection, a nearly tangible give and take between the artist and the listener.

There’s also something to be said for the camaraderie among fans. You have probably never met the people standing next to you, but there is clearly a sense of unity as each listener experiences the show together. You can’t help but share in each others’ excitement.

Everyone is along for the same ride. It’s a communal enthusiasm that’s hard to describe but impossible to miss. Perhaps the only thing in common between Wednesday’s exravaganza featuring Macklemore, Talib Kweli and, and Dylan’s Satuday jam session was the intensity and zeal in the air. That and the clouds of pot smoke.

Those of you who frequent live shows and music festivals are familiar with the feeling I’m trying to articulate. To those of you who don’t, I highly recommend it.

So I leave everyone with this suggestion for the summer: Go to a concert. No matter where you are, who you’re with or what kind of show it is. Get lost in the music.

A good concert is an experience you’ll take with you. It’s a feeling that, in my experience, is impossible to replicate. And sometimes, it’s an experience that makes it worth missing Little 500.

­— sreddiga@indiana.edu