As the sound of tickets being scanned echoes throughout the halls of Madison Square Garden, eager fans file through merch lines and concession stands to find their seat. Beyond the balcony, past the floor seats, the empty stage waits for action. Summertime is peak concert season, with seemingly everyone posting on their social media a different concert each week. Throughout my summer, I attended four concerts, each varying in location, size, and my knowledge of the artist. Despite this, all were equally enjoyable, proving to me that no matter the what the concert is and where it is, the experience of listening to music with others can be gratifying and entertaining.
June began with two performances that were a part of the Princeton Festival by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra at Morven. The first featured Queen Nation, one of the leading Queen cover bands in the country. Since I have been listening to Queen on vinyl since I was young, I was curious to see how the band would compare to the original Queen. While some cover bands put their own spin on songs, this band is determined to replicate each note and voice inflection of Queen. For this performance, I had front row seats and was constantly being given necklaces, boas, guitar picks, and other memorabilia the band members had with them on stage. The interactiveness of the concert only added to the personality the members developed on stage. The four bandmates had wigs, costumes, and accessories that demonstrated their understanding of Queen’s 70s and 80s era. Most memorably, the lead singer Greg Finsley wore tank tops, shorts, and hats that looked like they came straight from Freddie Mercury’s closet. Songs like “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Bicycle Race,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” had the crowd out of their seats dancing, spilling into any free space available. At the end of the concert I was covered in pearl and gemstone necklaces from the bass player and lead singer, I had two guitar picks from the lead guitarist, and sore legs from jumping around with everyone to classic rock songs from my childhood.
The second performance at Morven featured the Bacon Brothers, a folk rock band with Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon and his Emmy-award-winning brother Michael Bacon. Arriving at the performance pavilion with my family friends, I had no clue what type of music I would be listening to for the next two to three hours. As a fan of Kevin Bacon, I was excited to see him perform in a completely different light, and only a few feet in front of me rather than on my television. Most songs were originals and were a fusion of folk, rock, country, and soul. My favorite songs were “Dark Chocolate Eyes” and “Old Bronco.” In between songs, the brothers would explain their song writing and producing process, with both of them bouncing off each other. While leaving the concert venue, I reflected on the fact that even though I didn’t recognize a single song, I enjoyed being exposed to a new band with music I don’t generally listen to with the people that I care about.
In contrast to the Bacon Brothers concert, the following concert was of Madison Beer, an artist I listen to religiously, and it was at Madison Square Garden, my seats being somewhat in the nosebleeds. On the train ride to Penn Station I was blasting her album Locket through my headphones, mouthing every lyric like it was the Pledge of Allegiance. This was my second time seeing Beer live, the first time at Radio City Music Hall in 2024. Throughout the concert, I was constantly dancing around, watching everyone around me do the same. Emotional ballads like “Reckless” and house-inspired “Make You Mine” had the crowd belting one minute and then jumping up and down in unison the next minute. Beer’s outfits, set pieces, and ad-libs only added to the experience. As the confetti cannons erupted with white confetti over the pit, one of my favorite artists had just performed all the songs I listened to on repeat for the past year, my voice was gone, my legs were sore from jumping, and my camera roll was full.
To finish off the summer, I got to see Bruno Mars at MetLife Stadium along with Raye, his opening act. Similarly to Madison Beer, I had listened to Mars throughout the summer and was prepared to sing my heart out. Despite the constant battle to get concert tickets, I scored floor seats 20 rows away from the stage. I had seen clips of his performances online and was excited to see his on-stage personality and his dance ability in real life. As expected, Mars and his band kept the audience engaged and on their feet for three hours plus an extensive encore. One of my favorite set pieces included a red Cadillac Allanté that Mars stood on to sing “That’s What I Like.” From up-beat romance songs to emotional breakup tracks, confetti canons, and flame jets, I was constantly surprised by the level at which Mars was performing. However, the most enjoyable aspect was experiencing this performance alongside my family. For some, it was their first concert, and I could see the amazement in their eyes. We sang and swayed together, we sang to each other, and we took photos that now are hung up in my room.
Throughout the summer, live music created lasting memories for my friends and family, exposed me to new styles, left me with new songs to add to my playlists and photos to hang up on my walls.