The purple light, matching the color of my blog drafting notebook, flashes at me. Lightning. Synth-heavy music pounds my ears. Thunder. I’ve been to a few concerts, but this Sylvan Esso (https://www.sylvanesso.com/) show at Portland’s State Theater reminds me to attend more. Concerts are one of the best collective experiences to feel human, besides sex and stadium games.
Music is an ancient form of storytelling, allowing information to be “easier for the brain to understand,” says Kaitlynn, my girlfriend. While musical forms and techniques have altered over time, that simple concept remains true. Music connects people, allowing us to hear a story together. Initially performed in small groups around fires as an addition to regular life, it is now the primary purpose for gigantic gatherings.
Sylvan Esso
Hearing Sylvan Esso’s song “Die Young” was as foreign as Arabic. But Kaitlynn invited me, along with a few of her friends. The show was sold out, and State Theater’s capacity is 1,800 people (according to VisitPortland.com). I may have been the only stranger to the music. Still, I waved my arms and cheered just as much as the couple next to me.
Not even the incoherent lyrics prevented me from jamming out as hard as the couple next to me. I felt a part of something bigger, and the band held our attention for their entire two-hour set. 1,800 people shared the experience, but we all came from different perspectives and with varied personal histories. This common love bonded everyone immediately, creating an atmosphere that buzzed with energy. The blue, white, and purple lights created unreal visual sensations that made the musicians look like holograms.
Sylvan Esso, an electropop group, impressed me with their dislike of musicians ending a set only to come back out and play an encore. “So we’re just gonna play three more songs after this one!” Amelia Meath, the lead singer, declared from her stage. I was surprised by every song’s progression as they pivoted from soft to fierce. The shape of the theater seemed to merge the sounds, but that did little to dampen my excitement and pleasure.
People
The crowd watching was particularly engaging. We endeavored twice to journey into the heart of the dance floor, blocked by the sheer size of the crowd. Instead, we found seats on the left of the theater. This limited our dancing, but it didn’t stop us or the couples that surrounded us. One woman behind me swayed constantly, altering her movements to match the intensity of the music.
Another Kaitlynn-ism: we wouldn’t exist as we are today without music, an integral part of culture. Like other cultural components, music accepts all sorts of people into its warm embrace. Music allows us to learn, but more importantly, to feel connected. It’s a collective human experience permeated by individual perspectives.
What’s been your favorite concert to attend? Why?
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Love these two!