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‘Tis the Season for Shows

Emily Langlois
November 6, 2015

Courtesy of Emily

It seems as if the day October ended, a big bug full of cheer crawled up everyone’s butt and the Extra Festive Version of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” starts playing at full blast. Tis the Season, of course. The catch, however, is that these holiday months mean something a little bit different for each person, and for me the most exciting thing about it is the peak of indoor venue concert touring.

For those lucky enough to have been to many shows in their lifetime, they know there’s nothing like the feeling of it: being surrounded by people with the same music taste as you, just as stoked to be there as you are, with flashing lights and a live performance filling your eyes, ears, and heart. It’s something you can’t quite explain, but once you’ve felt it you can’t escape the constant need to go back to it. As fun as summer festivals and sunset concerts can be, there’s a certain intimacy that comes with being in a smaller venue where you’re surrounded by nothing but the music and the people enjoying it. November is flooded with opportunities to experience it, and if you do it right it won’t even break the bank. Bigger name artists have increasing ticket prices–and they’re usually worth the cost–but often the best shows are the up-and-coming bands because their excitement just to be on tour makes it all the more fun. Knowing that you’re supporting the music makes listening to it meaningful.

Most important of all, there seems to be less and less opportunities to completely let loose these days. It’s incredibly easy to lose yourself in the whirlwind of life and losing yourself in music is the ultimate remedy. It doesn’t matter if it’s jumping, headbanging, moshing, or whatever crazy dance move you can think of, I almost guarantee there will be a smile on your face.

The DC concert season is, for lack of a better word, poppin’, and if you aren’t already aware of all the great shows happening at the many venues the city has to offer, there are plenty of ways to find out about them. My personal favorites are (surprisingly) Facebook events and the app Bandsintown, which scans your music library to suggest artists heading your way. I know it’s hard to find time for spontaneous concerts amongst all the other million things on a busy college student’s agenda, but the feeling of energy and motivation they will give you will not only help you get through it, but give you more things to be excited about.

Here’s a playlist of some songs I’ve either loved hearing live or absolutely need to hear live–in my biased opinion, some of the greatest to hear in a concert setting. I hope it gets you inspired to get out there and feel the joy of the season.

“Tis the Season for Shows” Playlist: