For many teens, going to a concert is an unforgettable experience they only get once in their high school years. However, for sophomores Alexis Kieny and Ava Flynn, attending concerts with friends is a regular hobby. They often attend these performances together and enjoy using these times as a bonding experience.
“I go to concerts [twice] in a good month,” Flynn said. “Sometimes there’ll be a break where I don’t go for a while, [but] I always have one planned.”
Kieny and Flynn both have a similar music taste, which makes it all the more fun for them to attend concerts together.
“My favorite music genre is pop music, and I really like Taylor Swift,” Kieny said.
Kieny’s favorite concert was The Eras Tour, and for Flynn, seeing Dean Lewis was unmatched by any show she had been to before.
“He’s my favorite artist, and I know every single song he’s ever made,” Flynn said. “Afterward, we got to go outside and [talk] to him. We got to have a whole little private concert. I was on the barricade — it was my favorite concert ever. I’ll never get over it.”
While just streaming songs can be sufficient for some, Kieny believes seeing them performed in person makes the listening experience significantly more enjoyable.
“It’s really fun listening to music you listen to all the time and seeing the artists in person,” Kieny said.
Both Kieny and Flynn believe going to a concert is a worthwhile experience that brings them together through the memories they make with each other.
“It’s so fun to just have a group of people you have something in common with,” Flynn said. “You all love the same person, and you’re all singing their songs and having fun.”
Flynn also believes dressing up and coordinating outfits adds to the excitement of the event and helps strengthen their friendships even more.
“When we [went] to Zach Bryan, we had a group of [about] five girls that had the same dress and boots on,” Flynn said. “It was so cute and so fun.”
Attending concerts together also provides them with memories they get to share even after the show is over. Kieny thinks because of their similar music taste, their friend group is even closer after going to see one of their favorite musicians.
“It helps us connect with things we like,” Kieny said. “A lot of us like the same artists so we get to talk about it.”
Going to a concert doesn’t always have to be a huge ordeal. There are many smaller performances in the area that cost much less than seeing popular artists.
“You can really have fun with a cheap concert — you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars,” Flynn said. “You can spend $20, be on a barricade in a small concert and have just as much fun.”
Kieny and Flynn highly recommend seeing shows with friends to grow closer with them. Attending one allows for a connection between friends on a deeper level and provides them with lasting memories that neither will forget.
“It’s so fun to just be able to scream music and listen to that song later and be like, ‘Oh, I remember seeing that with this person,’” Flynn said. “It’s so fun to look back on those memories.”
