Growing up an hour and a half outside Boston made it my go-to destination for concerts. My friends and I automatically searched to see if our favorite bands were coming to a venue in Beantown because it was the closest place to our home in rural New Hampshire.
Living in Boston as a student at BU has changed my perspective on shows here. I still go to concerts, but I appreciate them SO much more. I never realized how much I owed to the city that time and time again showed me incredible shows.
My first revelation after moving here was that I was given the greatest gift by going to an urban college—I didn’t have to drive to shows and most importantly pay for parking! It so easy to utilize the MBTA and take the train to concerts. Even better, BU has a ton of venues within walking distance: House of Blues, Paradise Rock Club, Brighton Music Hall.
The range of concerts Boston offers is really unique. I’ve seen rap artists like Lil Uzi Vert and Drake, boy bands like One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer, soul singers like Leon Bridges, and Indie bands like St. Lucia.
Every show is a new experience. Big venues like TD Garden and Fenway Park offer a very exciting, high-energy feeling. Smaller places like the Royale and Paradise Rock Club give fans a chance to have an intimate experience with their favorite artists.
Boston is so good at concerts that they handle security well too. I always feel safe at shows here and am very impressed with the staff that makes all of this possible for everyone to have a good time.
Concerts have a special place in my heart. When I saw One Direction (before they split and caused me the biggest heartbreak ever) I was a sophomore in high school. While I would still buy tickets to a 1D reunion show in a heartbeat, I think my taste in music has matured and evolved a lot since then. My concert experience changed with me as I grew up.
I’ve been to a lot of shows that are just screaming and freaking out over big artists, but I’ve also been to those where it’s chill and everyone is silently in agreement that we’re having a good time. At the same time, I’ve seen Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift at different times in the same stadium and the vibe was completely different. That’s what I love the most. Boston venues are so adaptable to the artists and to the fans that they create a new experience every time.
Check out the upcoming concerts in the Boston area and get your dancing shoes on because they will leave you exhausted, voiceless, but oh so satisfied.
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