Junior Logan Kembel cheers alongside hundreds of fans as one band after another walks onto the stage at the Bamboozle concert June 9 at the Uptown Theater. The music pulses loudly through the crowded theater and the crowd continually sparkles with camera flashes. Kembel sings every word at the top of her lungs and dances in the aisles without a care in the world.
Many STA girls had similar experiences this summer as Kansas City hosted hundreds of concerts, each varying in genre, venue, price and popularity.
According to Kembel, summer is most appealing for concerts, especially to teenagers.
‘During the summer you have more time to just chill instead of worrying about your homework and getting up in the morning,” Kembel said.
Varieties of Venues
The venue is one of the most important considerations when attending a concert, according to Kembel. Kansas City offers a wide variety of venues that should cater to almost anyone’s needs.
‘I like the Uptown Theater because it allows you to be closer to the performer,” Kembel said. “At Sprint Center, there might be a bigger, more popular star but I don’t feel like I’m in the same room with them.’Â
Junior Erin Sellers attended the Ben Folds concert, which was held outdoors at the City Market. Although she didn’t have to worry about homework, studying or alarm clocks, the muggy weather subtracted from the overall appeal of the show.
“It was cool at first [to be outdoors],” Sellers said. “The concert was really great, but it was so hot that by the end of the show it was hard to enjoy the songs because my feet hurt so bad and I was so thirsty.”
Show Me the Money
According to junior Mary LeRoy, the bigger the star, the more money you should be willing to pay, no matter the venue.
‘I think paying 100 dollars for someone like [Lady Gaga] is reasonable because she is becoming such an icon,” LeRoy said. “Some people just paid to say they went.”
However, Sellers disagrees. She feels the performer should not be the only consideration when deciding how much money you are willing to spend.
“I’m not going to spend an arm and a leg just to see the Sprint Center,” Sellers said. “I just don’t think its worth it.”
For sophomore Gabi Lukens who attended the Justin Bieber concert this summer, the performer is the only reason she goes to concerts.
“If I pay that much money, I want to like who I’m listening to,” Lukens said.
For sophomore Gabi Lukens who attended the Justin Bieber concert this summer, the performer is the only reason she goes to concerts.
“If I pay that much money, I want to like who I’m listening to,” Lukens said.
Picking Performers
Sellers believes that almost every live show is better than a recorded track, even if the performer makes a few mistakes.
‘[Live performances] are not as constrained to a time limit,” Sellers said. “It’s just like a big sing along, and even if the they do make a mistake, it shows they are only human and makes it more personable.”
However, LeRoy simply likes going to concerts for the fun she has.
“You can have fun at [concerts] even if you don’t know who the performer is,” LeRoy said. “You can just relax with your friends for a few hours and listen to good music.”
But despite venues, prices, or performances, Kembel says she always has a good time at concerts.
“Having fun all depends on how you make it,” Kembel said. “Even if you paid too much for [bad] seats and the singer has a cold, you can almost make it better with your outlook. No matter what the concert, if you want to have fun, you can.“
