My First Big Singer Concert
Arcade Fire, Ray LaMontagne, Dawes/Bahamas, and a first concert experience
“I fell in love with the girl at the rock show”
—Blink 182, The Rock Show
Do you remember your first big show? Who’d you see?
This week, our Bonus Track guest (Ben’s Daughter) gives a firsthand account of her first “big singer” concert a few weeks ago.
The rest of us (Kody, Ben, and Jonathan) join in on the fun to share a memorable song from an unforgettable live performance.
We hope this week’s edition encourages you to buy a ticket and go to the show!
Everything Now by Arcade Fire (Kody)
There used to be an amazing music festival in Louisville called Forecastle. It took place in the summer and I attended it a few times. One year, if my memory serves me correctly, I went solo. After rocking out with Dawes and singing along with Isbell, I stuck around for the headliner, Arcade Fire. I had no idea who they were (don’t @ me), but my BFF Matthew Rasmussen (swap writer 2X) insisted I see them. I’m glad I listened to him. They came out to the song "Everything Now." It was electric: the eruption of the crowd, the dancing, Régine Chassagne’s stage presence — pure music festival joy. You can watch it here:
In the words of James Corden in the movie Begin Again, “I DEFY YOU NOT TO DANCE TO THIS SONG.”
Trouble by Ray LaMontagne (Ben)
I saw Ray Lamontagne in Nashville - I think it was 2005. His voice sounded fresh on the music scene (at least the music I listen to) and there was growing excitement to enter the small venue he played. I remember the show more than any single song so I chose the title track, Trouble. The emotion of the song swells at points, then retreats. “Oh, ah-ah; oh-oh-oh; she good to me now”
All Your Favorite Bands - Dawes/Bahamas (Jonathan)
Dawes and Bahamas are two of my favorite bands, so when they did a tour together it was a given that I’d be there. It was two years ago at a small outside venue in Lexington on a perfect September Kentucky night. It was a unique tour because both Dawes and Bahamas were on stage the whole show just playing each other’s songs together. Hearing them play this title track off Dawes’ 2015 album hit a little differently that night. I don’t expect them to stay together forever, but one can hope. (By the way: Dawes's new album releases on October 11!)
Bonus Track: Kacey Musgraves Concert Experience by Abigail Dockery
I've been listening to Kacey M. since before I can remember. My dad would play her in the car and I really liked her music. She's a very smart, elaborate writer, and her songs, I think, are just easy to listen to. So once I got a phone I would listen to her all the time and I still do. My parents knowing that, for my 15th birthday got me tickets to her concert. I was beyond excited! And when we went, on September 12th, it was not a letdown.
I was expecting her to sing mostly new songs from her album "Deeper Well," but when she started singing songs from her older albums, I was thrilled. Kacey's new album I really enjoy, and I think because I'm into country music, her older songs like "Family is Family" or "Space Cowboy" are my favorite. Thanks to Mr. Kody's genius idea to record the songs of the artist at their concert, I can go back and listen to all the songs she sang, and in order. But not only did she sing 18 of her own songs, she sang "Kill Bill" by SZA and "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan, which was a delightful surprise!
Overall, for my first big singer concert, it was spectacular and the lights, stage, her outfit, and the experience were beyond expectations. (Thank you, mom & dad!!!)
9/12/24 Kacey Musgraves Setlist:
Cardinal
Butterfly
Sway
Too Good to be True
Golden Hour
Happy and Sad
Lonely Weekend
Lonely Millionaire
Follow Your Arrow
Family is Family
Architect
Kill Bill - SZA song - with Nickel Creek
Pink Pony Club - Chappell Roan song
Jade Green
Slow Burn
Space Cowboy
Justified
High Horse
Deeper Well
Rainbow
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Abigail Dockery leans country in her music taste. She listens to more music than her dad, Music Swap writer, Ben Dockery.
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Tell us about a meaningful concert you attended! We love to hear from you and we always reply.
May all your favorite (live) bands stay together!
-TheMusicSwap
Abigail, what a fantastic guest post! I have three daughters — ages 12, 10, and 7 — so I read your words with particular interest in what a young girl thinks and feels and has to say about music, about her first big show, and sharing in the joys of listening to music with her parents and family.
Thank you for your skillful and lovely writing. It was a pleasure to read! I hope you write again for The Music Swap.
— Jenni Goebel, friend of Mr. Kody
Ps, My favorite Kasey Musgraves song is Rainbow. It makes me cry.
Pps, I love this set list idea. My husband and I saw Ellie and Drew Holcomb with some friends in a very, very small setting. We made a playlist of their set list, and playing it takes. me. back! I need to do this for more shows!
Oh shit, she had Nickel Creek there? That's awesome!
Musgraves is peak Pop Country. Love every bit of this for ya'll!