The Rush of Live Music

(Yes, I have seen Rush live!)

Imagine this: you put 18 strangers in a cozy room, Christmas lights twinkling in the background. Add some live music. What do you get? Magic. Pure magic.

I’m not big on crowds anymore, and breathing in what others have to offer doesn’t appeal to me. But give me space in a cozy room setting?

Just before Christmas my husband and I went to a concert featuring prairie songstress Mary Simon. And I’m talking about the Canadian musician, not Mary Simon the Canadian Governor General. Mary performed for a small but very appreciative group. The concert was part of the Home Routes tour. The concept of Home Routes is to offer an intimate setting for Canadian folk musicians to perform for small groups, a sharing of space, love of music, and personal stories. And it did.

It was a wonderful evening. You know the kind. It’s the kind where you leave with a warm buzz enveloping your soul (and there was no alcohol, just tea), but a warm buzz nonetheless. It is the kind of feeling that all is right with the world, if only for a while. It is the kind of feeling that makes you feel content and in harmony with the universe. It’s the kind of feeling we all need every now and then.

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from.” Wise words from Billy Joel.

But when music is live, that healing is even more evident. For us older folk, there are many advantages of attending a live music performance. And remember, it doesn’t matter what type of music or stage is involved. Music is music. Live music can evoke nostalgia and trigger memories. This action can provide a sense of identity and belonging and reduce feelings of depression or loneliness.

Live music can also stimulate brain activity, helping to maintain cognitive health. It can even heighten cognitive function in those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. I remember visiting my mom in the nursing home she lived in. She had dementia. Early onset. She didn’t know me at all, and our visits consisted of me talking away and her staring at me or off into space. But if I started to hum or sing, her eyes immediately focused on me, and she would smile. She would be present. I don’t know. Maybe she wanted me to stop making such a wretched noise. Maybe there was something else. Whatever it was, it gave us both moments of joy.

Movement is another benefit of live music. Even if you’re just dancing in your chair, you’re still moving. Then there is the benefit of social interaction. When everyone is clapping or tapping their toes to the beat, there is a sense of community. It’s nice being around like-minded people, even if outside of the performance you would be opposites. Live music is good for memory and recall. The other day, my 30-year-old daughter asked my husband and I if we had hit music or top hit lists when we were young. That opened the floodgates, and we went off in so many directions. We explained the intricacies of recording our favourite song by holding a microphone up to the radio—and hoping the dog wouldn’t start barking. And how many cassette tapes were fixed with a pencil and maybe a bit of clear tape? And let’s not forget the dance moves. And the concerts! Whooeee! My husband and I had completely different upbringings. Different countries, different languages, different cultures. But musical memories and songs were something that we both identified with.

Live music is a rush, whether you are a performer or part of the audience. I remember the rush of playing on stage (or football field) as part of a high school band. Piano recitals not so much. In fact, those were downright scary and enough to make me quit lessons. Actually, I quit because one recital was the same night as an Abraham’s Children concert in my town, and I chose to go to that. Go figure! Wow, that’s a memory dredged up from the past! And more recently, I loved performing as part of a Brazilian drum ensemble, too. I miss those days. So now I live vicariously through concerts.

If you are not already a regular concert/show/performance/gig/live music person, give it a try! There are many options, including living room concerts, backyard shows, clubs, churches, coffee houses, etc. You just have to look. And then listen.

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