Ever notice how you feel when one of your favorite songs is playing? Doesn't it just feel almost electrifying? Every note resonates through you and you can't help but move with it. The words leave your lips effortlessly. You close your eyes and loose yourself in the music. I love when this happens. Especially at a concert. This summer I had the chance to see Slightly Stoopid in Boise Idaho. It was by the the most amazing concert I've seen yet. It was a trifecta for me, the company, the atmosphere and the lineup were amazing (definitely worth buying the second set of tickets after realizing we left the originals in the dresser half way to Boise).
First a bit of history on my music preferences-
I've always been so deeply moved by music and to meet some one else that reciprocates those feelings makes the connection come naturally. Music is often how I strike up conversations with people and in fact I've even noted myself as "Musically educated". It started fairly young with a love for Sublime. This was the first band I truly loved after my Backstreet Boys fetish (come on I was like 11! Cut me some slack). My first real choice of music. I had heard some Pink Floyd, Marilyn Manson, Nirvana, Guns and Roses (The song my dad sang to me when I was a baby), Grateful Dead, all mostly from my brother but nothing spoke to me like Bradley Nowell's lyrics. For some reason he related to my soul. I remember listening to his songs over and over again with Chels. I was moved and firmly planted into his circle forever. And from then on I loved music. I wanted to find more that made me feel something. That moved me! And I did. I dove into. I dove right into counter-cultural music of the 60's, the grunge of the 90's, the rock of the 70's but nothing came close to the reggae/roots movements!
Fast forward to Slightly Stoopid.
Q and I decided a good concert was just what we wanted to do to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It seemed to fit perfectly. In fact you could say music was a big part in bringing us together. And to me the chance to see Slightly Stoopid is probably the closest I'll get to Sublime. So off we scampered to the Botanical Gardens for a July evening concert. The weather was spectacular. Sunny, clear skies and nice and warm. We proceeded to grab a beer and make our way to the open field where the concert was (I love outdoor concerts!). We planted ourselves on a nice hill in the sun and sat back waiting for the concert to start. It was amazing. Just a sense of calm was in the air. Everyone was ready to have a great time and that is what we were going to do!
The concert opened up with Shwayze and Cisco, followed by a great reggae band Rebelution and then of course the main attraction, Slightly Stoopid! It was such a phenomenal concert. And being able to share it with my husband is even better. We got right down in the crowd and got lost in the experience. Being right there when they played "Collie Man" and hearing everyone sing along was just awesome. I can't explain the feeling of being connected to someone though music and this concert felt like all of us were connected for a brief period of time, leaving behind all judgements and distractions and collectively getting lost in the music. Literally lost. (Moving experience at a concert? Yep. Its true. Music has a profound way of doing this to me.) I left that concert having a renewed sense of why I choose the way I live my life.
Music is powerful. It tells stories, history. It is a common factor between all of us. My life has been changed and even molded by music. A song can change your perspective on the day or your perspective on life. Put music in a large area over very loud speakers with friends and people who all love the same songs and you get a powerful experience. If you've never experienced a concert you are missing out on an amazing time! When you let music into your life your view can shift. Mine has. I think its obvious physically that I view life a bit differently than most. I live with no regrets. I do what I want because life is short and you can't spend too much time waiting around. Life will not stop and wait. It keeps going and before we know it we're all dead. I don't want to waste the time I've got, I want to enjoy my life and my loves. I want to follow my dreams. Music is the match to my inner fire. My drive to live comes from the sharps and flats that flow together and mesh with my soul and make me who I am.
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