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Why Live Music in Small Places Matters
Music is intimate. Seeing it should be, too.
There’s no huge stage. No major lighting design. The green room is probably weird. There’s most likely a smoke machine and a hand written set list taped to the floor.
You know if they’ll play your favorite song because you can see the set list. They’ll give it to you after the show.
A couple years ago, I remember everyone posting on social media about the U2 show at a huge arena in town. Now, I have nothing against U2 but I have a lot against arena shows. I come away from them cold. There’s no intimacy.
It’s loud and crowded. You can’t see the band, even projected on a big screen. If there is any nuance to the performance, you miss it. I don’t want to miss that. I want the good stuff.
Jason Isbell was playing at a few hundred person place the same night. I know where I would rather be.
There are moments you get to experience at a small concert that you will never get in an arena show. There’s a feeling of being part of something bigger, and much louder, than you. It’s art. It should be seen up close.
