Summary

The website content presents a collection of poetry that encapsulates the raw, visceral experiences of attendees at rock concerts, as part of a study on the value of these events to consumers.

Abstract

The content delves into the emotional and physical intensity of rock concerts through a series of poems that convey the anticipation, exhilaration, and communal spirit felt by concertgoers. These poems are the result of a research project that explored why people find rock concerts so valuable, despite the availability of recorded performances. The research, conducted by a marketing student in New Zealand, utilized qualitative methods, including observation and in-depth interviews, to capture the essence of the live music experience. The poems, which are unedited and personal, offer a glimpse into the transformative and almost spiritual journey that fans undergo, from the anticipation of waiting for the band to the primal energy of the mosh pit, and the sense of identity and pride that comes with being a dedicated fan.

Opinions

The author believes that the rock concert experience is a unique and valuable phenomenon that warrants academic study, particularly from a consumer experience perspective.
The poetry suggests that the live experience transcends mere entertainment, offering a sense of community, shared passion, and personal growth.
There is an emphasis on the physicality and aggression of the mosh pit, which is presented as both challenging and exhilarating, contributing to a sense of survival and invincibility.
The author expresses a personal connection to the subject, having attended over a hundred rock concerts and receiving a scholarship for their research on the topic.
The content implies that being a "real fan" involves more than just listening to music; it includes a deep understanding and appreciation of the bands, their music, and the culture surrounding them.
The author acknowledges the subjective nature of the poetry, recognizing that their usual focus on objective writing might affect the quality of the emotional expression in the poems.
Despite any potential shortcomings in the poetry, the author hopes to convey the powerful and transformative nature of the rock concert experience to the reader.

Poetry, Music

Rock Concerts: The Lived Experience

A selection of poetry constructed by peoples’ experiences at rock concerts

The band Soundgarden playing live (Source: author)

Ever been in a moshpit?

If not, hopefully, you might feel like you understand the experience a bit better after reading this poetry.

It’s a bit like the start of that Eminem song — “…Mom’s spaghetti.”

Hairs prickle, warm breath

the sweet smell of sweat

blood pulses, pushing, punishing

in the pit’s aggressive whirlpool

dancing, vibrating, exploding, dying

pain, surviving

“I” am invincible

“I” survive.

I wrote my thesis about the rock concert experience in New Zealand. I even got a scholarship — which helped pay for a lot of concert tickets!

It was great! Best idea ever!

Everyone that I told kinda looked at me like it was some kind of scam…

No, it’s totally legit! I’m studying the consumption experience! Nobody has done it yet.

And they hadn’t. From a consumer’s experience (I was a marketing student), nobody had really looked at the experience of a rock concert and explained why it was so valuable to people.

People like me.

Since I was about 16, I tried to go to every rock concert I could.

I have now attended over a hundred.

Living in New Zealand, the big rock acts only came here ever so often, so it is a pretty big deal when they tour.

I and thousands of others would pay upwards of $50 (now can be much, much, more) to attend. When you can watch a DVD or YouTube footage for free.

WHY?

What is it about the rock concert experience which is so valuable.

That’s what I was finding out.

A couple of my professors were big on using qualitative research and that approach really interested me. So I used observation as well as in-depth interviews as my main source of data.

I decided to use poetry to help represent the findings, from the words of the participants.

This would help ‘evoke the lived experience’, to help feel participants’ experiences.

Anyway, without further ado, here are the poems.

They are unedited from back then — so they might not be great, but they are what they are!

‘Waiting’

Waiting

Waiting for your favourite band

Rain

Soaking into your socks

Anticipation

Adrenalin

Keeping you warm

Draft

Someone’s breath

Warm on your neck

Whiff

Smell of sweat

Waft of marijuana

Chants pulsing

“In X S”

Hairs

prickle on your neck

just hearing their name

Lights

Neon glow

(gasp) riff of a favourite song

Band appears

out of darkness

out of smoke

So stoked!

‘Being there’

There It is finally happening

Not in my wildest dreams

Excited and Overwhelmed

The music draws me in

Sends me to a different place

No inhibitions

Everyone is friends

I can’t help myself

My body vibrates

My head wants to explode

Playing right in front of me

I touch the guitar!

The lead singer looks at me and smiles

That little moment

It means so much

I’m singing

Jamming my air guitar

Moshing away to the beat of the drum

The music has completely taken over

I have to keep dancing

I have to keep raging

I am buzzing to the max

Out of body experience

I am one with the crowd

Tunnel vision

Massive smiles

Are all I see

‘Surviving’

Before we start, don’t have any illusions

The quiet personalities go to the back

You should leave your girlfriend at home

She won’t keep up

The ones that do get max respect

We treat them the same

Up near the front

you need to be prepared

Music drives aggression

Excitement fuels drive

I love it!

I’m in my zone — raging hard

This stampeding mosh pit

swirls into a whirlpool of aggression

People thrashing

Punishing themselves

Pushed, shoved

from all sides

Squeezed in so tight

you move with the crowd

Stray elbow

Shoulder in the back

Someone smashes my glasses

Then a helping hand

It is tough

It can feel like you’re dying

You don’t really feel pain — until the next day

When you struggle out of bed

notice the odd black eye, broken nose, dislocated shoulder

Body switching into survival mode

I block out the pain

I am invincible

I’m a soldier of the music

A soldier of the band

In a gladiator battle

In an army of metal fans

I survive.

‘Knowledge’

Rock Pure rock, alternative rock

Chillies, Nickelback, Offspring, Foo Fighters, Shihad

Metal Pure metal, heavy metal

Pantera, Slipknot, Slayer, Machinehead, Black Sabbath, Megadeth, Metallica

Being a fan is more than listening to music.

Real fans take it seriously

We’ll be like you know that band…

The guitar is like *weh weh weh*

And the drums are like *do do, do, do do*

And when they drop down into the lower D you’re like “Woohooo!”

You feel great

Because it’s like a sign of intelligence

It makes no sense to anybody else

I like to learn about my bands

It’s kinda like stalking

I’m genuinely interested

It’s a personal connection

I got a drumstick

I got respect

“Girl you deserve this” from moshing in the death pit

Real fans are genuine, Not just poseurs

It’s understanding

It’s knowledge

It’s pride

It’s identity.

Those are the poems!

Are they a bit shit?

I don’t know. I generally write about objective things rather than feelings!

Concerts are awesome anyway — hope this felt like you were almost there, experiencing one yourself.

I can’t wait until the next one!