Self Portrait Challenge: Music as environment

I'm pretty obsessed by going to concerts. Most years, the bulk of my vacation time goes toward concert going.
I'm into all sorts of music.  Each summer,  I'll be off somewhere in it's pursuit. There have been long weekends spent lolling on the the lawn at the Saratoga (NY) Jazz Festival where I had the honor of seeing Ray Charles and Tito Puente play before they passed along with Dave Brubreck, Chaka Khan and loads more great performers. Cyndemouse and I have crisscrossed the country to attend festivals. In 2001 we went to Seattle for the WOMAD Festival. We spent the weekend cramped in a wet tent ant night and learning Zulu dances by day, eating African food, being seduced by Arabic music. The next year we went back to Seattle for Bumbershoot where we got to meet John Wesley Harding, saw Wilco, this amazing new band at the time, The Gossip, Blonde Redhead, Ray Davies and many more. I also met my friend, Brent, in the crowd there and we've been friends ever since. The year 2003 was all about Pearl Jam. We travelled to see them in New Orleans, Montreal and California besides shows here at home. We woefully missed out on tickets to see them in Amsterdam this month. We went to CMJ's festival at the Rock and Roll museum in Cleveland in 2005. With infected tonsils, I roamed the city's small clubs to see bands like the Futureheads, Spoon and The Pixies. This September, we're going to Austin City Limits. It'll be Sweets' first big music festival with us.

Living within an hour and a half drive between New York City and Philadelphia makes for some pretty amazing concert going experiences. Every July there's the Siren Festival at Coney Island. Autumn's main excitement is the CMJ Festival. A few years ago Little Steven put on this amazing day long concert at Randall's Island. J-Po and I toughed it out in the first row all day, helping weak kids over the barricade, to ultimately be within feet of Iggy Pop's blasting raw power.

I love festivals but I love small club experiences even better. Today's photo was taken during the Lavender Diamond performance at the Bowery Ballroom. It's my favorite club in New York.  Small enough to feel intimate but big enough to not feel like a firetrap. (I was in a club that caught fire once, so I'm paranoid and always scope out the exits.)

To me, the whole point of going to a concert is to have an experience with the artist. I want to be able to see. I need room to dance. I want to sing. I want to feel something. To understand the artist and the music more completely. And damn it, I want to be in the front row.

For more photos of people in their environments, check in with Self Portrait Challenge.

For more photos taken from the first row, check out my rockumentary Flickr set.

Comments

[Lisa]

"To me, the whole point of going to a concert is to have an experience with the artist. I want to be able to see. I need room to dance. I want to sing. I want to feel something. To understand the artist and the music more completely. And damn it, I want to be in the front row."

I can so relate. Oh how I miss being able go concert hopping.

[kristen]

This is my very favorite SP this week - really great shot. There's nothing better than seeing live music. I'm lame for letting motherhood get in the way of that.

[Rachel]

Thanks, Kristen.I'm trying to cram in as many concerts as possible in the next year or so. i'm deathly afraid once we have a baby my rockin' days will be over.

[kristen]

The only reason my rockin' days are over is because I'm too chicken to go see live music alone and all of my friends have children and have become middle-aged and like their parents and don't go see music anymore. My husband loves to go but the sitter thing has been the biggest deterrent. That's changing this summer though - at least until August we've got a good one and intend to use her!!

[miriam]

Heavy sigh! I so wish I was able to go concert hopping again like that! Your photo to go w/ this post is so perfect...I love the singer's dress!

[LeS]

This shot is fantastic.
Music is my religion so I can completely relate to your post although you have traveled further than I to experience it :)

[J-Po]

Hey,

Don't Be afraid to go it alone, just be open to meeting new people or at least trying to. Also, don't let your schedule take over what you find joy in. i let my crappy job take over wayyyy too often, and end up regretting not asking for a day on the weekend off to go see a band i really want to see. Lots of ways to make sure you're not having the fun you want, obligations to children aren't the only kill-joys.

[Elin]

That's where I always stand when I'm at the Bowery! Cool shot.

[婚紗攝影]

I'm lame for letting motherhood get in the way of that.