For years, I have avoided going to concerts. While everyone has raved about live music, I have politely smiled and commented that “concerts aren’t for me”. However, I never really knew if that was true, as I had never even gone to a concert before. (Ok, this is also not super true as I saw Big Time Rush when I was around 11, but I have very few memories of that). I assumed because of my panic disorder, as well as my anxiety in crowds, concerts were something I’d never get to enjoy. It took one special artist to get me out of my comfort zone.
When I heard indie singer/songwriter Eliza McLamb was coming to Boston, I didn’t even hesitate to buy tickets. McLamb’s music has utterly changed my life, and I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to see her in person. At 20, I knew it was finally time to start seeing some live music. I immediately bought two tickets, knowing it would be easy to convince my concert-loving best friend and fellow McLamb listener to join me. With everything bought, there was nothing more to do but wait.
I was able to stave off my anxiety for a few months, but on the day of the event, I was jittery with excitement. Heading into the venue, Cambridge’s famous Sinclair, I felt a wave of anxiety come over me. More than anything it was all the built-up excitement I had about the event washing over at once. My friend and I made it into the venue just fine and we were able to make it only a few feet away from the stage. We chatted with a few fellow fans in the crowd, and I felt so amazed at how many other people were as excited and passionate as me.
By the time the opener, Hanna Bryanne, came on, my anxiety was gone. I was pulled into her slow bass lines and magical curly hair. Even though I didn’t know any of the words, her music was absolutely stunning. Soon enough, Bryanne left the stage, and on came Eliza. In an all-black outfit with statement jewelry and her signature blond bob, I was left speechless at the sight of my icon so close to me. She launched right into the opener “Pulp” off her new album Salt Circle. For the next few hours or so, I felt like I fully blacked out with excitement. It was so surreal to watch the songs that I had been listening to nonstop for months be played right in front of me. McLamb was dynamic and charming on stage, cracking jokes as she tuned her guitar, and stomped around the stage to her new hits. I laughed, I cried, I screamed.
By the end of the show, I wanted to stay for another two hours. Leaving with the rest of the crowd, my friend and I were able to chat with Hanna Bryanne outside and pass a few words with McLamb and her band as they caught some of the cold air and a smoke after their set. Finally, back at the car, I proceeded to scream in excitement for five minutes before we even made it out of the parking lot.
I am so glad Eliza McLamb was my first concert experience. The crowd was so loving and excited, the opener was amazing and put me on to a whole new artist, and McLamb herself was so in tune with her listeners. I hope she makes it back to the east coast soon, and in the meantime, I’ll just have to fill my life with more concerts.