Live Music Matters
After graduating from college and moving to Lancaster in 1989, one of the first things on my list was to check out the local music scene. I was pleasantly surprised at its vibrance. Having always been a music lover, I most enjoy the experience of live music. There were several downtown venues that hosted live music during the week—the Chameleon Club being one of them. The Chameleon hosted its blues acts on Mondays, and I was into the blues at the time, so it was a great fit. Once the ‘90s came, raising a family became my focus, so attending live shows got put on the back burner for a number of years.
It was not until 2012 or 2013 that I began to explore the music scene again. The Sunday afternoon sessions at Tellus360 were very enjoyable. I was impressed with the local musicians who would gather to play together in jam sessions. In conversations, I discovered that there was a musical resurgence happening. It felt like my timing had been just right, and from there I fell in love with live music all over again.
Live music not only brings people together and strengthens a community, but it also provides an opportunity to hear a musical artist in their rawest form. Recordings can sound great, but they can never catch the emotion, the spontaneous moments, or the aura or vibe of a live event. To hear an artist perform is one thing, but to witness them perform is another. The raw emotion and passion, the communication between musicians, the musical interplay, musicians pushing each other, amusing each other, throwing a knowing glance – these moments will never be experienced again. There is no substitute for BEING THERE LIVE. As fans, we relate to certain pieces of music and we adopt songs as themes for various parts of our lives. The radio can help us relive moments associated with those songs, but hearing them live can double the meaning and emotional impact they have upon you.
My father passed away in 2013, and circumstances were such that I identified his passing with the song, “When I Go Away,” recorded by Levon Helm and written by Larry Campbell. Coincidentally, in 2016, when my mother died, I saw Amy Helm (Levon Helm’s daughter) perform the next day. She stopped in the middle of her set and said that she wanted to do an old Ralph Stanley song that her dad taught her, and dedicated the song to “all of our loved ones that are no longer with us.” She proceeded to sing “Gloryland.” The song makes me cry to this day. It’s not the song itself, but the memory of the live show where I felt that Amy Helm was singing that song just for me, because my mother had passed the day before. You just cannot have that kind of experience with a recording.
Live music has become a large part of my life again, but unfortunately, COVID-19 put an end to live performances in 2020. However, there have been new and creative ways to enjoy live music popping up since the start of the pandemic. Many artists are hosting pay-per-view events online, and some free events on social media, as well. Some venues have opened with limited seating and appropriate social distancing. Another adaptation has been the drive-in concert. It’s like a drive-in movie, with open space left between cars so attendees can be property spaced out. I attended a show like this and really enjoyed it. The set-up definitely has its advantages, in that there is no feeling of being cramped or crowded, and if you are vertically challenged like me, no tall people are able to stand directly in front of you. You can set up chairs and have a tailgate party and relax and enjoy. This may be the best option until things can be safely re-opened. Granted, it’s not the same feeling as a standard live show or concert, but it’s as close as we can get right now.
I hope that 2021 brings an end to the current health crisis and ushers in the return of live music. Lancaster offers so many great restaurants, bars, and music venues that bring us together. It truly hurts to see them suffering. I look forward to once again having the opportunity to engage in the raw feelings and emotions, the sense of community and something shared, that live music brings to our lives.
By Luke Mosch
