FEATURE:
Live Support
PHOTO CREDIT: Laura Stanley/Pexels
Aside from the Main Act, Why Gigs Offer So Much More
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I have been to a few gigs recently…
IN THIS PHOTO: The Anchoress/PHOTO CREDIT: Lily Warring
and three very different brilliant venues. Perhaps the biggest gig I went to is when The Anchoress played Union Chapel, London on 6th October. It was the final night of her autumn tour. She played songs from her 2021 album, The Art of Losing. A few from the new covers album (or ‘album 2.5’ as she said on stage), Versions. I don’t get to many gigs because of budgeting and being quite busy, but when I do I usually go to those in small venues (not in arenas). I usually find that there is a lot to love beyond the main act. You get more of an experience. This all enforces the importance of preserving venues and assuring that we do not lose the incredible variety that we have in this country. In the case of The Anchoress gig, there was a great support artist, Leoni Jane Kennedy. She was also part of The Anchoress’s band. Also brought in for one song was Eaves Wilder. In a fantastic set, not only did I get to see the splendour of The Anchoress. I also got to see so much more. In a historic venue, it was a real experience. It was a great social experience too. Meeting and interacting with fans of hers I had never met. Sharing great stories and musical tastes. I tend to find that louder gigs at larger venues tends to offer fewer social opportunities. The sheer noise and scale of the spaces means it is quite intimidating and lacks something.
That said, you still get a new dynamic when you see mainstream artists on big tours. In addition to the set itself and any support acts, there are visuals and bespoke sets. A real visual and audio experience. What I also think is great about gigs is that they can be a vital outlet for those who might not otherwise be sociable or go out. High ticket prices and travel considerations can mean it is a limited activity - though it something many people look forward to. When it comes to live music, many assume that it is all about that artist and the music they play. I find that there is so much more to going to a gig. Even queuing to get into the venue can provide a lot of connections and conversations. The merchandise stands allow you the chance to support the artist and, in some cases, meet them personally. Less common with huge acts, it is always quite humbling that many acts stay behind after a gig to sign stuff and staff the merchandise table. I do like that gigs offer the chance for people to back and discover a support act. I have seen Iraina Mancini a few times this year and those who have supported her. It is always exciting watching the support artist play and hearing music that you might not have already considered. In addition to the unique and personal benefits and rewards of live music, whether that is discovering new bonds with fans and artists, in addition to the joys of going to a new venue and somewhere that provides real character. It is a chance for fans to hear an artist talk about their songs and personal experiences in a very direct and moving way. You get the music in its most primal and direct way too. There is not the filter of streaming and devices. Music as the great and communal communicator!
PHOTO CREDIT: Vishnu R Nair/Pexels
There are psychological and physical benefits with live music. Some of which I have experienced recently. At such a stressful time, I have found going to gigs has been a great release and rewarding break. I am going to bring in a couple of features to finish that discuss why live music is so important – and why we really need to support it. A real life support, In 2021, The Conversation wrote about the magic behind live music:
“For months, fans were relegated to watching their favorite singers and musicians over Zoom or via webcasts. Now, live shows – from festivals like Lollapalooza to Broadway musicals – are officially back.
The songs that beamed into living rooms during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic may have featured an artist’s hits. But there’s just something magical about seeing music surrounded by other people. Some fans reported being so moved by their first live shows in nearly two years that they wept with joy.
As a music theorist, I’ve spent my career trying to figure out just what that “magic” is. And part of understanding this requires thinking about music as more than simply sounds washing over a listener.
Music as more than communication
Music is often thought of as a twin sister to language. Whereas words tend to convey ideas and knowledge, music transmits emotions.
According to this view, performers broadcast their messages – the music – to their audience. Listeners decode the messages on the basis of their own listening habits, and that’s how they interpret the emotions the performers hope to communicate.
But if all music did was communicate emotions, watching an online concert should’ve been no different than going to a live show. After all, in both cases, listeners heard the same melodies, the same harmonies and the same rhythms.
So what couldn’t be experienced through a computer screen?
The short answer is that music does far more than communicate. When witnessed in person, with other people, it can create powerful physical and emotional bonds”.
The pandemic and lockdown really changed how we experienced live music. With most venues closed and artists anchored, they turned to online gigs and trying to deliver something as close to ‘the real thing’ as they could. It was needed and essential – for their financial stability and a way to keep their music out there -, though it made it very clear that you could not replicate all the layers and nuances of a live gig online. It reinforced then and now why live music is so essential. Not only for venues and artists but for society as a whole. This multi-part experience I have talked about witnessing recently is one that thousands have at different gigs. Fly Paper also wrote about the vitality and vitalness of live music for their feature in 2021:
“As live events came to a screeching halt over the past year and half, the benefits of these events and interactions have become more and more apparent. In fact, research shows that regularly attending live music events provides much-needed social encounters, lowers stress hormones, contributes to positive mental feelings at even higher levels than activities like yoga or walking your dog and can even increase your life expectancy by up to nine years.
In this article, we’ll explore the social and physical benefits of seeing live music, and why it’s such an important part of many of our lives.
Social Benefits of Live Music
Live music is, by nature, a shared experience. When you enter a venue to see an artist, you automatically find yourself in a group of people you have something in common with. The lights and the noise of the world outside the venue dim and for that moment, all that matters is you and the people in this room, singing and dancing along to your favorite songs.
Think about the feeling you get when the band or DJ plays the first few notes of your favorite song at a show. The excitement and energy in the air are palpable for everyone in the room. Your sense of self starts to slip away, and for a few moments, you become one with the crowd. You feel energetic and almost giddy as you sing and dance with complete strangers. This contagious sense of euphoric connectedness is called “collective effervescence,” a term coined a century ago by the French sociologist Émile Durkheim.
PHOTO CREDIT: Laura Stanley/Pexels
These effervescent experiences fill a human need for belonging in a way that we tend to overlook. Historically, humans met this need for connectedness with groups of others through events like feasts or celebrations, many of which included live music or entertainment. There’s just something about being in a space where art is being created and enjoyed by others that allows one to connect with others on a different level.
Of course, live music is just one example of the ways humans meet this need, some others include protests, attending professional sports events, or interest-based conferences such as ComicCon or DragCon. From ancient customs such as pilgrimages and feasts to more modern methods such as concerts and pro sports, these collective effervescence events help people to lead happier, connected, and more personally meaningful lives by connecting with others.
PHOTO CREDIT: luizclas/Pexels
Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Live Music
Live music helps us to connect with others, but it also improves our physical and mental health in some pretty surprising ways. A scientific study by O2 and a behavioral science expert from Goldsmith’s University revealed that just 20 minutes at a concert resulted in a significant 21% increase in feelings of well-being. Since scholarly research directly links high levels of well-being with an increased lifespan, that means that attending gigs regularly has the potential to increase your life expectancy.
In the same study from O2, they found some key markers that were drastically improved included increases in feelings of self-worth (+25%), closeness to others (+25%), and mental stimulation (+75%). Accompanying research also showed a positive correlation between the frequency of concert attendance and well-being.
Those who attend live concerts more frequently were the most likely to score their happiness, contentment, productivity and self-esteem at the highest levels. This suggests that regularly attending live music events could be key to improving our well-being.
PHOTO CREDIT: cottonbro studio/Pexels
Another study by researchers Daisy Fancourt and Aaron Williamon from Imperial College London found that attending a concert lowers stress hormones like Cortisol. Cortisol is produced when the body is under physical or mental stress, and prolonged exposure to this hormone has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and impotency.
So, lowering these levels is pretty important. Interestingly, researchers found that it didn’t seem to matter how musical the participants were, or what their background was — the concert appeared to have a pretty similar effect on everyone. They all saw the same show, and regardless of age, experience or whether they were familiar with the content or not, nearly everyone saw decreases in their stress hormones.
Why We Need Live Music
From sold-out stadium tours to an acoustic artist at the farmer’s market, live music allows us to feel connected to others in a unique and beautiful way while lowering our stress hormones and making us feel good about ourselves.
The truth is, we need live music because it’s good for us. It’s good for our communities and relationships with others. It makes us happier, healthier, and more connected people. All of which makes our world a better place to be. So, the next time you’re feeling guilty about indulging in a show, remember you’re just doing your part to make the world a better place”.
If not an activity that I undertake as much as I’d like, the clear and long-lasting benefits of live music are multiple and deep. Away from the obvious satisfaction of watching the artist that you came to see, you also get the social interactions; the chance to explore a new area and discovery a venue you have not been to before. There are also those mental health and physical benefits. More and more, we hear that grassroot venues especially are under threat. Think of all the memories they hold and how many people they have housed through the years. Losing those is a tragedy. The importance of live music is not only about the music. The whole experience can be…
TRULY life-giving.