A love letter to live music

After spending my first Valentine's day celebrating with my six favorite musicians, I decided it's finally time to write what I've been thinking for years…

I love Widespread Panic so much. Their music, live shows, and the community has changed my life completely. My first concert was when I was 19 years old at 10,000 Lakes Music Festival in 2009. I've seen them close to 150 times since then. It's a very common story… A lot of people who see 10+ shows a year discovered them at a young age and have been on the bus ever since.

Regardless of what's going on in my life… my age, the phase of life I'm in, my relationships, my career, my spiritual growth… their music has always and continues to (and will always) speak to me. The lyrics hit SO HARD through every chapter of life. And the takeaways from each show and the entire run help me decide the next path to walk down, really helping shape my life path.

Typically, that includes themes such as staying present, expressing gratitude, being glad, the importance of freedom, trusting / flowing / surrendering, believing in magic, and LOVE. Their first shows back in Atlantic City felt particularly focused on love. Which, duh! That was the holiday we were there to celebrate. And, I couldn't stop thinking about how much I love this band.

Here are my top favorite things about seeing live music (with a heavy emphasis on Panic):

Each moment is truly unique: Every show is completely different. Between the song choices, specific notes played by each band member, the people you're with, the dance moves you're inspired to bust out… the variables are ever-changing, making each show completely special. The stories that come out of each set are amazing because we each have such a unique experience even as we're attending the same show. It feels so special to me, to consistently put myself in a situation where the present moment is so unpredictable, yet so comfortable and exciting. This feature makes it very easy for me to stay present, adding to the spiritual connection I get seeing live music.
Expressing myself creatively through dance: I've been dancing since I was 2 years old, including at a competitive level through middle and high school. I LOVE dancing, but I especially love dancing during live music events where the music is very improvisational. The creativity I get to unleash is so magical. For me, it feels like the musicians are divinely inspired to play specific notes at specific times, which shoots out to the audience. My dance moves are directly impacted by the music I'm hearing. Thereby, my dance moves are also very much divinely inspired. It feels like a cosmic circle of energy…. Cosmos to musicians > musicians to dancers > dancers to cosmos. The energy created in this cycle is unmatched and one of the parts that keeps me coming back for more.
Building a community of loved ones: The friends I've met through seeing music, and the friends those friends have introduced me to who ALSO love seeing live music has built this incredible community that I am lucky to be a part of. I am consistently blown away by the amazing people I get to interact with at shows. But, I'm MORE blown away by how those bonds and friendships have spanned into everyday life over decades. I've been a nomadic Gypsy for almost 2.5 years, and 90% of the people I stay with I've met, or have been introduced to, through live music. These people so kindly open their doors for me (and Ruby), welcome me in, and show me a hell of a good time! When I'm unsure where I'll go next, sure enough a Panic or Phish friend comes to the rescue with a place to sleep, or a friend they know, or a suggestion on where to travel. I've been following a trail of breadcrumbs, and it's never led me astray. I am so grateful for the people that live music has brought into my life, for their hospitality, and for the constant love that surrounds and supports me.

I love live music, especially Widespread Panic. They've been through the tough moments, tricky transitions, celebrations, and my life's triumphs throughout my entire adult life. I could not be more grateful for the gift of live music, and look forward to seeing you at the next show!

A huge thank you to Roy (Rainmaker Photography) for all the pictures! Check out the full galleries from Atlantic City HERE.