In Wake of The Manchester Attack, Here’s Why I Will Not Stop Going To Concerts

I break the bank just to go to concerts. Even forfeit buying food if it means getting to have a good experience.

Concerts have always been a safe haven for me. Music has entirely saved my life from all my miseries. The feeling of the crowd singing along, the emotion on the artist’s face, and the loud boom of the stereos scare my problems away. A shot of adrenaline would be an exaggeration as to how my body feels.

Oddly enough, the night of my very first concert I went to was the same night of the 2015 Paris attacks at the Eagles of Death Metal show. I was on the other side of the globe, in Philadelphia to be exact, standing in a huge room with hundreds of people waiting for James Bay to perform as everyone around me began checking their phone. The news broke of the attack right before the show was to go on, and needless to say, we all began to silently panic because of the sudden irony.

I saw the fear beginning to grow on people’s faces around me. I couldn’t blame them. What if it happens here? People were hesitant to stay for the show. Even I began to question whether I should go.

But that’s when I decided that I couldn’t live in fear of an attack. I can’t control another person’s actions. I can’t stop living just because of “what ifs”.

The attack didn’t frighten me from going to more shows. I’ve actually been to approximately eight shows, including two music festivals, most of which I have gone to alone, something my parents aren’t fond of.

I know going alone to a concert as a woman sounds dangerous, but I never felt as though I was in any type of danger. Security and police always did their best to uphold their jobs and ensure the safety of others. More so, I have met countlessly sweet people at concerts who could never hurt a fly.

I understand people will place their judgement on the fault of security. How does one prevent this from happening again? How many security measures should be in place?

We all know about the evil presented in this world. It’s showcased on the news everyday. Shootings here, attacks there. It’s nauseating and numbing. As if we’re used to it anymore.

But it brings me back to my point: it’s not that we choose to ignore the dark shadow of something terrible happening, it’s just we cannot let it hinder us. We cannot let this define the way we live our lives. Especially stopping us from doing something we love or that brings us true happiness.

No one should have to endure this type of hurt. Music brings people together. It’s a culture. I will not let the fear of other people’s wiring threaten my ability to enjoy the finer things in life.