After the final bell of the spring semester has rung, the Dubs have one concern: what are they going to do with this sudden influx of free time? For some students, there is no superior summertime excursion than going to see live music. The sweet sound of a crowd screaming the words to their favorite songs is absolutely unmatched. With the southeast being a major hub of the music industry, many big names came through this summer. From song recommendations to ticket mishaps, the Warriors have the scoop.
One of the essential elements of a good concert is the perfect venue. On 12 August, junior Audrey Egan caught the Turnpike Troubadours at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the holy land of country music. The Troubadours are Oklahoma born with a sound that could appeal to fans of Flatland. Egan enjoys the feel of a smaller venue and being immersed in the action. Tickets were $150, and the show was said to be well worth it, as Egan rated it a superb nine out of 10. “When they played “Pay No Rent”- an amazing song please check it out – it felt like I was up there with them,” Egan said, wearing her new Turnpike t-shirt.
Carrying on the esteemed legacy of The Grateful Dead is Dead and Company, a band composed of original members, like Bob Weir, and a few newcomers. Standing in for the late legend of a frontman Jerry Garcia is John Mayer. While no mere man could even attempt to live up to Garcia, Mayer does a decent job of capturing his essence. Senior Natasha Havey was fortunate to experience this concert on what is rumored to be their last tour ever. After paying $80 to score a ticket for their 28 May concert, she then had a difficult time finding space on the crowded lawn of South Atlanta’s Lakewood Amphitheater. When asked if she acquired any attire, Havey said, “Yes! I didn’t get a t-shirt because I don’t really pull off the whole tie-dye look, but I got a super cool Dead and Co. hat. Overall, it was definitely a worthy investment.”
Chastain Park is a go-to summer destination for Atlanta summer-time concert-goers and that certainly held true for Anna Kate O’Kelly. The junior saw Dominic Fike at Chastain Park on 25 July. Fike first blew up after starring on HBO TV Show Euphoria, but diehard fans fell in love at their first listen of “Don’t Forget About Me, Demos.” O’Kelley, unfortunately, had an abysmal ticket experience as she suffered a transferring malfunction which resulted in her having to buy another ticket upon her arrival at the venue. But all’s well that ends well, as O’Kelly said, “I ended up in the pit! 11/10 concert.”
Even though the summer’s over, the music doesn’t have to stop. August concerts in the Atlanta area include Post Malone and Beyonce. Hopefully, the Dubs will be able to catch some more of their favorites before the school toil becomes too taxing.
