“I’m letting go of everything that weighed me down.”
Everything I felt in that moment was perfectly encapsulated in those nine words. As soon as I put my headphones on, I was transported to another world — a world of understanding, a world where I could let go of everything.
The first time I came across David Kushner’s music, I was entranced. Everything from his voice to the lyrics had me hooked. At that moment, I decided that he would be one of my favorite artists.
On Nov. 13, I had the opportunity to see him live. My sister bought tickets in May as a surprise birthday gift, and the day had finally arrived. I came back from my marching band state trip that morning, but I wasn’t going to let the exhaustion stop me from enjoying the experience.
When I got to the venue, music boomed from inside. The concert took place at the South Side Ballroom, a standing venue that has seats only around the bar area. I had never been there before, therefore did not expect it to just be a pit, but that just made it all the better. The ambient lighting and closeness of everyone felt perfectly cozy.
One of the biggest things that stood out to me was how excited everyone was for every part of the concert, from the opener to the main attraction. Everyone was swaying back and forth, enjoying each other’s company.
Once Kushner came onto the stage, I was in awe.
He sounded exactly the same live as he does on my phone. If anything, he sounded even better. In a few of the songs, such as “Miserable Man” and “Mr. Forgettable,” he changed up his vocals. While it wasn’t exactly the same, it added a feeling of individuality and reminded me that I was there live.
Being able to listen to Kushner’s range in person was magical. Throughout the concert, I often found myself standing still and soaking it all in.
The stage lighting also felt just right. It wasn’t overly intense like a rock concert, but it also wasn’t super minimal. The lights changed for every song and were mainly red, purple, green or white. Those colors all suited the music, especially since the main color of Kushner’s new album, “Dichotomy,” is red.
Once the audience thought the concert was done, a series of chants started. “One more, one more, one more!”
Luckily for us, it wasn’t over. The stage lights turned green and a voiceover started to play. It set the mood of anticipation, and Kushner walked on stage for an encore. He sang two last songs before the night was officially over: “Miserable Man” and “Daylight,” two of his most popular songs.
The only part of the concert that I could complain about was the visibility. Since it was a standing venue, it was harder to see the stage as someone who isn’t that tall.
Once the concert was over, the only words I could say were, “I felt that in my bones.” I was once again transported to a different world; I was truly able to let go of everything. I was in a “Sweet Oblivion.”
