Out of class into the crowd

Out+of+class+into+the+crowd

Lea Blix and Aviva Futornick

Singing at the top of your lungs. Heart beating to the rhythm of the bass. Lights flashing in your eyes. Taking that perfect shot for all your friends to see.

Students spend hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours at concerts to get the chance to see their idols live. But even when having to juggle school, sports and jobs, nothing can damage the rush felt when the first drum beats and the first note is sung.

“You’re really close in one room with these random people and they are there for the same reason that you are,” said senior Zelly Rosa, an avid concert goer.  “You kind of forget what’s going on and just live in the moment.”

Freshman Kate Giorgi, who attended the Taylor Swift concert at Levi’s Stadium in August, describes the atmosphere as insane and one of the loudest she has been to.

Although she enjoyed the evening, she prefers smaller venues because you get the full experience of the show.

For concerts at arenas such as SAP Center in San Jose, prices range from $40-$200 for artists like The Weeknd, Justin Bieber and Ellie Goulding.

However, venues in Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View and The Fillmore in San Francisco prices often stay below $100.

The most Rosa has ever spent on a concert is $80, but that was only because it was sold out. Usually she spends $15 -$40 depending on who’s playing.

On the other hand, freshman Adam Johnston whose parents usually pay for him and drive him, has spent up to $350 on the Grateful Dead.

Both Giorgi and Rosa state their favorite band as twenty øne piløts, who are known for their rock genre using rap and pop hooks. Rosa saw them twice in October and is seeing them again in December and Giorgi once waited over nine hours for one of their concerts.

“Their shows are are really special, it’s not like any other concert I have been to,” Rosa said. “They really are a live band, they always have something new to offer, it’s not always the same experience.”

Many concert venues sell general admission tickets, where you are given a specific section of the venue and get to choose where to sit or stand within that section.

“You get the full experience, the thrill of it,” said Giorgi, who prefers to get general admission tickets.

Rosa agrees and also buys general admission tickets often.

“If you think of standing in a stupid little room, really squished together it doesn’t sound that pleasant, but when the music’s playing and you’re really into it you don’t really care,” Rosa said.

Concert lovers travel miles for the music, Rosa once went all the way to San Diego with her father for a Paramore concert and Kate went to LA for a Jonas Brothers concert .

“I keep going back because it makes you feel good, it’s like a new community,” Giorgi said. “Everyone is singing along to the same song and you know everyone is there because they like that band [or artist].”