These past ten days I went to three concerts: Phantom Planet, Rilo Kiley, and Jon Batiste. Over the years, somehow I met the leads of these bands in one setting or another. One may say “that’s so La,” but in reality the run-ins were in LA, Ojai, and Manhattan. Seeing them perform in large crowds fascinates me, whether it was the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, or the new Pacific Electric venue. I am in the midst of a crowd of people who wave their arms in the air and sway to the familiar music.
I am just a fan, a concert attendee, yet for a moment the person onstage was someone in front of me. We shared the same atmosphere and a brief interaction. These artists are living out their passions, performing for a crowd that sings the words back to them. They are the lucky few who get to live out the dreams that so many have, and yet they are everyday people. I only have a photo with one of these three artists, as I was not quick enough to take a selfie when we talked, or it wasn’t the right moment. It’s as if these days we need proof that these moments happened, and yet these times also reside in our bones, in our visceral memories.
Living in big cities throughout the world, I have been lucky enough to meet a large majority of people I have looked up to. They have been comprised of artists, authors, musicians, actors, comedians, djs, fashion designers, models, Michelin starred chefs, directors, tv show hosts, or store owners (yes the owner of the Shakespeare & Co Bookshop). I wouldn’t say I am star struck, but fascinated to meet the lucky talented people the world has chosen to celebrate and highlight their work. Oftentimes on television or social media, these individuals are framed as current mythological gods and goddesses. They are untouchable and out of this world. Yet in meeting them, it grounds the experience to my reality.
As childlike as this statement may seem, dreams can come true and these people are proof of it. Part of the reason I aspire to meet them is hopes that some of their greatness may rub off on me. Perhaps in some form of osmosis, I too will be great. Yet in the meantime, I am present for immersing myself in the poetic lyrics of these chosen few.
When my brother and I met Jon Batiste in a small VIP space of a popular Manhattan Italian restaurant, my brother complimented his artistry and said he too was also a musician. Batiste said “isn’t it wonderful what we get to do?” Batiste earlier that year had won Grammys for his recent album and had finished being the house band for the Late Night Talk show host Stephen Colbert. Batiste was at the top of his game and he replied with grace and humility. He was filled with gratitude, appreciation, and sharing in that moment with a fellow musician, being inclusive in his statement.
“With so many ways to communicate at our disposal, we must not forget that transformative power of a live music experience and genuine human exchange.” -Jon Batiste
