Harry’s House is the place to be – why Harry Styles is the future of live music

May 31, 2022 ~ nataliehannan ~ Leave a comment

Some say Harry Styles is a sign of the times, but Harry is the future and we’re all lucky to be witnessing it.

I’ve been fortunate enough to see Harry live multiple times – both with One Direction and as a solo-artist – but what impresses me the most are the ways in which Harry manages to stay authentic whilst pushing the boundaries of live music.

The British singer’s latest album ‘Harry’s House’ has skyrocketed to #1 in over 60 countries and the live performances of his new songs have gone viral on social media. Fans have been braving Ticketmaster queues to get a glimpse of Harry on stage, and those that were lucky enough to score tickets were treated to one of the most memorable experiences.

Harry Styles has been championing an innovative live music format which I believe, in the future, will become the norm for many other musicians. Upon the release of Harry’s two most recent albums – ‘Fine Line’ and ‘Harry’s House’ – the singer announced “One Night Only” shows in select locations (Los Angeles, New York, and London) with tickets costing approx. $25 and promising fans a performance of the new album from top to bottom. Every song on the album… performed live… for the first and realistically, the last time.

When artists tour, it’s common for setlists to be compiled of their most successful hits with a couple of album deep-cuts scattered in between. With Harry allowing fans to hear the new album in its entirety, the experience becomes more valuable than you can imagine. During the concert, Harry spoke of how much he adored this live music format and ability for him to perform his albums in “the way it was intended, from start to finish.”

‘Harry Styles: One Night Only’ in New York occurred on the release day of ‘Harry’s House’ and left the singer speechless, as fans in attendance already knew the words to the new songs, memorising them in under 24 hours. When in London a week later, fans sang the lyrics even louder, to Harry’s amazement. It was beautiful to witness the awe on Harry’s face, and joy evident amongst the crowd.

Harry thanking the crowd and blowing kisses at #OneNightOnlyNY! (via isaguedezo) pic.twitter.com/tKhDiF2SA2
— Harry Styles Updates. (@TheHarryNews) May 21, 2022

In the age of livestreams, an in-demand concert like Harry’s becomes prime opportunity for a global viewing party. Whilst many Harry Styles fans have often taken it upon themselves to livestream his shows themselves on Twitter or Instagram, Apple Music recently jumped on the bandwagon. For the first time, Harry’s ‘One Night Only’ in New York concert was livestreamed with an official broadcaster, available on the Apple Music platform live, and for additional screenings in the following days.

The demand of this livestream was notable, as fans livestreamed the Apple Music livestream for those who aren’t Apple Music subscribers. Fans used Twitter and Twitch to achieve this, ensuring that no Harry Styles fan missed out on the experience.

Harry Styles creates a safe space for fans to express themselves, whether they’re physically in attendance at a show or watching live from the comfort of their bed. Becoming famous for delivering a heartfelt speech each show, Harry always says, “feel free to be whoever you want to be” and advocates for the LGBTQI+ community, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement – waving flags supporting the causes on stage at every show. His song “Treat People with Kindness” is the motto, branded on merchandise and preached from the beginning of his solo career. The love and support that radiates from Harry shines brightly back at him from the crowd, with an undeniable understanding existing between the singer and his fanbase.

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With the future in mind, Harry Styles is also an advocate for charity, climate change and gun control.

In the bid to end gun violence, Harry recently pledged a $1 million donation from ticket sales for his upcoming, sold-out ‘Love on Tour 2022’ US tour to Everytown. The organisation works to achieve gun safety and the end of gun-related violence. Despite this action being prompted by the devastating mass-shootings occurring in America recently, Harry has always been passionate about the cause, displaying an “end gun violence” sticker on his guitar while performing in 2018.

End gun violence. pic.twitter.com/YNFHhmkhBG
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) May 27, 2022

Supporting charities and organisations isn’t new for Harry, who also raised $1.2 million on his 2018 tour, donating funds to local charities along every leg of his worldwide tour.

Harry also aims to create tours that are sustainable, conscious of the impacts of climate change. Partnering with REVERB, ‘Love on Tour’ featured an “Action Village” that enabled fans to ‘join Harry in working toward a better future for our planet and communities around the world.’ Reusable bottles with free water refill stations were promoted to avoid single-use plastics – an effort in place for fans, crew, and Harry. The tour prioritised waste reduction, waste diversion and carbon elimination and REVERBS’s impact report details the positive impact this climate-focused tour had.

World tours that focus on climate change and sustainability will become more prevalent over the next five years, with artists such as Billie Eilish, Coldplay and Shawn Mendes already following in Harry’s footsteps. Live music has always been a place to raise awareness, and funds, for communities that suffer the consequence of climate disasters and devastating incidents. Benefit concerts, from Live Aid (1985) to FireFight (2020) prove that fundraising initiatives based around live-music events positively impact the world we live in. When broadcast globally awareness is spread, as is the opportunity for international viewers to donate and support communities that so desperately need help.

The spirit of these one-off events is honoured in Harry Styles’ tours and can be felt every time a fan buys a ticket to his shows. It can be felt every time Harry takes to the stage.

Harry Styles is the future. There is no doubt about it. Over the next five years, more artists will follow in his footsteps, creating tours that are safe spaces for fans, sustainable and focused on the future. Charity organisations promoting important causes will be highlighted more in the live music scene, encouraging donations and awareness that promotes further action. The live-music scene will also benefit from “One Night Only” style concerns that celebrate music for what it is, a magical art form that unites people all over the world. Having the opportunity to listen to your favourite album performed live, from beginning to end, will re-define what it means for an artist to release an album.

Harry Styles will be at the forefront of future live music changes and the world will be a better place for it.

@dualipa has always been the one 👑 it's been so special to see you blossom as the superstar you are 💫 from a room of a few hundred in Newtown Social Club, to a sold out arena last night in Sydney. I love you, your music, and can't wait to see you live again soon! 💖💖💖 #DuaLipa #FutureNostalgia #FutureNostalgiaTour #BeTheOne

Harry Styles is the future of live music and Harry's House is the place to be 💫

I'm constantly in awe of @bts.bighitofficial - their talent and ability to unite fans globally 🧡💫

Can't believe it's been 4 years since I last saw @harrystyles live in Sydney and captured these videos on my camera 😍

ARE YOU READY TO BE HAPPIER THAN EVER!? 😍🔥

ARE YOU READY FOR HARRYCHELLA ROUND 2!? 😍🔥

COUCHELLA - when you're not physically in the desert, so you enjoy Coachella via livestream from the comfort of your couch 🎉💃

BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul Livestream

May 4, 2022 ~ nataliehannan ~ Leave a comment

There’s no denying that BTS have captured the hearts of millions of ARMY around the world.

I’m happy to report that BTS gained another fan after I tuned in to their BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul livestream. The K-pop group features seven superstars – Jungkook, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, RM, Jin and V – who all were incredibly eager to return to the stage and create a euphoric atmosphere for ARMY.

In March, BTS performed at Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea over the course of three dates. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Seoul, the capacity was restricted to 15, 000 masked, and silent, fans per night. No screaming or singing was allowed. It sounds like a dull event; however, the stadium shows were in high demand and naturally, sold out. Multiple livestream times (to cater to international time-zones) and multiple viewings were available to fans online, as well as one-night-only screenings in over 3000 cinemas around the world.

Fortunately, I was able to watch the livestream rebroadcast the following week.
(Biggest thank you to my amazing friend, and Lovers of Live follower, Jackie!)

The online stream experience was flawless – no connection issues, no loss of quality. English subtitles were available for fans, and the pre-show entertainment consisted of BTS music videos, sponsorships and even segments dedicated to raising awareness for climate change. The chat feature within the livestream enabled fans to engage with each other before, during and after the livestream, making us all feel united despite the distance. Another feature, which I’ve never witnessed in a livestream, was the “clapping” feature – a button which could be clicked and signified that as a fan, you were clapping along with the show. This button had over 11 million clicks by the end of the 3-hour event, only adding to the excitement of the experience.

Another factor that made the BTS livestream so different to others I’d witnessed during the pandemic, was the FULL stage production. With the event being held in a stadium, there was no holding back. The 20+ song set featured multiple costume changes, fireworks, pyro, confetti, state of the art screens, mesmerising lighting effects, a full band, and a troupe of dancers accompanying BTS. BTS themselves were on their finest form sounding as smooth as ever and dancing as sharp as ever.

The cinematography of the livestream was actually insane. It managed to capture the scale of the stage and stadium (including crowd shots), yet the stream felt intimate as viewers were treated to close-ups and selfie-angles of their favourite BTS members. Watching the livestream on my laptop gave me goose bumps, so I can’t even imagine how impressive it would have been to witness live within the stadium, or on a large cinema screen. The production level was next-level and very reminiscent of a movie.

In this sense, the BTS livestream reminded me of concert tour DVDS – only instead of them being filmed, edited, and distributed months after the event, livestreams are immediate.

Over the past five years, livestreams have become far more inclusive and authentic, creating experiences for fans that feel reminiscent of the culture experienced and concerts and festivals.

They’re also a great business move. The BTS online livestream ticket cost approx. $65 AUD, the cinema ticket approx. $40 AUD. That’s not including the 45, 000 tickets sold to fans who attended the concert physically in Olympic Stadium, Seoul. Via cinema ticket sales alone, BTS’ one-night-only broadcast raked in over $32 million at the Global Box Office!

With BTS proving that livestreams being screened in cinema entices fans to experience live music this way, the future of streaming is looking brighter than ever.

Over the next five years, I would not be surprised to see more BTS events being held in the same manner. I also believe other artists will follow suite.

In cinemas, fans are somewhat restricted by the seating arrangements – like a seated concert. For this reason, I also believe it would be incredible if during the next five years, such livestream events are held in live music venues – allowing space for a dancefloor and a screen to be broadcasting the livestream in question. This would only enhance the experience for fans, as crowds would mirror that of a concert, the sound system would be just as impressive and the livestream would be even more memorable and electric.

Venues, such as Oxford Art Factory in Sydney, Australia, regularly hold “On-Repeat” or themed club nights that see DJs playing specific genres or artists to a club-crowd that is eager to dance and see videos of their favourite artists being played on the stage screen. This is what inspired my prediction for future livestreams. If club nights like these are successful (and I’ve been to many, they’re so much fun) then I believe that the future of livestreams will become even more like concerts. Fans will have access to their favourite artists and bands, even when they’re performing live on a stage on the other side of the world – and the best part? They’ll be able to experience the livestream set surrounded by other fans, unified, excited, and ready to dance through every song streamed.

Livestreams have been the main tool utilised to satisfy the quench for live music throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Many artists resorted to performing live from their home or an empty studio, feeling the absence of a crowd due to safety. BTS spoke of this experience on stage, repeatedly saying that they missed ARMY and were thankful to be performing to them in-person again, overcoming restrictions, because their absence made performances feel awkward and lonely. BTS said they felt like they’d returned home, and the meaning of this was not lost on viewers, as the experience felt historic.

It’s not only fans that are grateful for COVID-safe concerts, evidently artists are as well.

BTS proved to me they care about their fans, not just in terms of their music and performance value, but also their safety. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc across the world, and despite live music very much being back in action, there remains risk in contracting the virus at large scale events. All fans attending the outdoor, stadium concert in Seoul were required to wear masks, were repeatedly told not to scream, or sing, and instead, were given “clappers” to make as much noise as possible.

Although the livestream was dubbed with an audience screaming (much like the laugh tracks you hear in sitcoms), the sound of the clappers strangely felt just as thrilling as audience screams. It reminded you that BTS fans were in attendance and were excited. After experiencing the loss of live music, the absence of BTS on stage, the gratitude expressed and felt at concerts now is euphoric.

This format for a concert is noteworthy, as it proved that despite COVID-19 still being a concern, there are ways for live music events to go ahead in a COVID-safe manner. It’s almost reassuring in a way, knowing that if the next five years are turbulent due to the pandemic, live music can still exist in some form.

All you need are masks, clappers, and a crowd as passionate as BTS fans…oh and don’t forget the livestreams!

Couchella Continues – I’m ready for day two, are you?

April 17, 2022 ~ nataliehannan ~ Leave a comment

How’s everyone feeling? Feet sore? Head pounding?

Despite my engagement with Coachella being from sunny, Australia and not the Californian desert, I have to admit that “Couchella” wasn’t all that accurately describing the experience yesterday. As always, we found ourselves dancing non-stop, especially to Louis the Child, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Harry Styles’ (AND SHANIA TWAIN!) Coachella sets.

And yet that’s the joy of livestreams, you can enjoy them on your laptop in bed, on your phone as go about your day, or like myself, you can broadcast the stream on a giant screen and make the event a party like no other!

Coachella 2022 sure is making up for the two years the world went without the iconic, Palm Springs music festival.
Day 1 saw enormous crowds flocking to stages to see the likes of Harry Styles (AND SHANIA TWAIN!) performing to hundreds of thousands in the desert…. and don’t even get me started on how many international fans would’ve been tuning in via livestream.

Now would probably be a good time for me to profess my undying love and gratitude for Coachella and YouTube, for making high quality livestreams available for everyone to enjoy the festival as if they were front row.

So, who’s ready for Day 2!?
I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be happier than ever by the time the sun sets…

We’re gearing up for more good times as Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Flume, Disclosure, Wallows, Conan Gray, BROCKHAMPTON, Koffee, girl in red, Rina Sawayama, Caroline Polachek and more take to the stage (and livestreams).

I wish I was able to catch Holly Humberstone and Arlo Parks’ sets, but Coachella unfortunately isn’t airing them.

Coachella is streaming performances live across 3 YouTube channels, giving you the choice of 3 stages to float between. Below I’ll embed the 3 YouTube channels you need to be all over, as well as the set times Coachella has released for Saturdays sets.

Remember, be sure to convert set times into your local time zone, otherwise you could find yourself missing your favourite act! The livestream channel descriptions have updated set times (PT time) when experiencing delays.
Yesterday, there was an approx. half hour delay.

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Spacey Jane bring Sunlight to The Enmore Theatre

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021 ~ nataliehannan ~ 1 Comment

The sun is finally rising after the live music blackout we experienced in 2020 due to COVID-19 and Spacey Jane have been at the forefront of the live music scene’s revival.

Off the back of releasing their debut album ‘Sunlight’ (which was released during the pandemic and still managed to score #2 on the ARIA charts), Spacey Jane embarked on a national tour of Australia, with 2021 dates in high demand across every state.

The Perth band managed to sell out a six-show run at The Enmore Theatre in Newtown – Sydney, Australia – with more fans being welcomed through the doors of the iconic venue as COVID restrictions continue to ease.

Fortunately, I scored tickets to the final night of their historic Enmore run, and it was a euphoric experience from beginning to end!

Spacey Jane are one of the most captivating bands I’ve seen perform live. The liveliness of Caleb Harper, Ashton Le Cornu, Peppa Lane and Kieran Lama is downright infectious. After opening the show with ‘Skin’ the band soared through their setlist and didn’t leave any corner of the stage untouched – jumping and high kicking their way through the 80-minute set.

‘Good Grief’ and ‘Weightless’ were standouts, garnering huge reactions from the audience before the energy levels increased tenfold as the Perth band teased an unreleased song, due to be released next month, before playing ‘Straightfaced’, ‘Head Cold’, and ‘Booster Seat’ back-to-back towards the conclusion of the set.

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After chants of “ONE MORE SONG!” erupted amongst the fans, Spacey Jane returned to the stage to deliver, matching the electricity in the crowd with their own excitement to be on stage – or not on stage, since Caleb Harper and Ashton Le Cornu eagerly jumped into the front row to perform parts of the set!

Their encore consisted of ‘Thrills’ and ‘Good For You’, which concluded the show on a high and utilised every ounce of production value the stage had been equipped for.

The impressive production and lighting was complemented by the recent renovations the venue has received. During the COVID lockdowns of 2020 (and consequently, the live music blackout) the Enmore restored side-wing balconies as extra seating options for the audience. The refurbishment also included a makeover of the theatre’s roof – now featuring art deco designs and LED lighting that reportedly, can be synced with the stage production.

Whilst this didn’t act as part of the band’s production on Wednesday evening, the atmosphere in the Enmore was electric

If you’ve missed the energy of the crowd, a Spacey Jane gig is the place you need to be. The fans that filled the Enmore were lively, albeit a little rowdy – with vape smoke filling the air and a loudly, proudly sung chorus of ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’ by Abba acting as the perfect pre-gig warm up. Their eagerness to sing every word as Spacey Jane performed their debut album was enough to induce goose bumps.

Spacey Jane are leaving an array of warmth and light in their path as they finally experience the full level of appreciation that their fans have for them. It had been a long time coming, seeing Space Jane perform live at The Enmore Theatre. A long time coming for myself, and fans, but also for the band themselves. COVID-19 outbreaks and associated restrictions saw concert dates being postponed regularly, before more bad luck struck the group as lead vocalist Caleb Harper lost his voice, forcing more tour dates to be rescheduled upon doctor’s orders.

It had been a long time coming…and it was well worth the wait.

After COVID made the absence of live music the norm, walking into The Enmore Theatre felt like coming home. The iconic venue has seen the likes of The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan… and even Harry Styles (with Stevie Nicks in attendance!) take to the stage in front of a full house. The six-show run Spacey Jane booked at The Enmore is impressive, reminiscent of Gang of Youths’ roaring success with their own six-show run at the venue in 2018.

Caleb referred to this, revealing that when the band first arrived in Sydney from Perth, they roamed the streets of Newtown and saw the tour posters promoting Gang of Youths’ upcoming gigs at The Enmore. He said it was in that moment the band discovered the beauty of the venue and their desire to perform there in the future. And that they did!

There’s no doubt in my mind that Spacey Jane will return to The Enmore, or easily sell out even larger venues in Sydney during their next lap around the sun. After all, Spacey Jane encompass everything their debut album projects – sunlight. After a year without live music, without dancing…Spacey Jane brought the sun and chased away any dark clouds lingering post-COVID. They reminded everyone in that room, including myself, of all the dreams we are yet to achieve, all the fun still to be had.

I can’t wait to see them live again soon!

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Imagine Dragons – World IBD Day

May 18, 2021June 4, 2021 ~ nataliehannan ~ Leave a comment

There are special live music experiences that go beyond the music, the production, the venue. Some live music experiences feel like an accumulation of all your hopes and dreams, the journey you’ve travelled through life. You hold those moments close to your chest, and never want to lose the feeling that overcomes you during the set. It feels like magic.

Seeing Imagine Dragons live felt like magic.
It was the 19^th May, 2019.
It was World IBD Day 2019.

To be completely vulnerable, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2012.
Dan Reynolds – the lead singer of Imagine Dragons – is diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis.
World IBD Day celebrates the IBD warriors battling Crohn’s & Colitis, whilst aiming to raise much needed awareness for these invisible illnesses.

To celebrate World IBD Day 2021, I’m going to write about how seeing Imagine Dragons live on World IBD Day 2019 impacted me.

Imagine Dragons have always mastered the art of creating joyful music that empowers, inspires and makes you literally feel On Top of the World.

The world they create for their live shows is nothing short of euphoric. With neon lighting, copious amounts of confetti and larger than life beach balls falling from the sky to pass around – you’re always feeling engaged and united with the band, and the crowd around you. Dan Reynolds’ happiness is contagious as he dances around the stage with an energy that never waivers.

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Fans scream the lyrics at the top of their lungs and try their best to interact with Reynolds as he jumps off stage and runs through the crowd – without security too. It’s an incredible atmosphere where you feel free to be your most authentic self.

The beauty of this though, is that it’s not without the acknowledgement of the darkness and struggles we experience in life.

Dan Reynolds dedicates moments of the show to speak about his struggles with mental health. I can honestly say, the speech he shared with the crowd at my show was the most vulnerable I have ever witnessed an artist be on stage. I cried. He reassured the audience that it’s OK not to be OK. He spoke candidly about therapy, of taking time to heal and better yourself. He spoke of the importance of health.

As someone who has experienced similar struggles, I felt seen. Being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease changed my life forever. The physical and mental pain, the isolation, the trauma…it was debilitating. Live music has always been a source of hope and light for me. To have overcome my struggles and be sitting in a crowd of thousands, witnessing Imagine Dragons ignite hope and light in the hearts of the crowd, on World IBD Day of all days…speechless.

To be sharing the momentous occasion with Dan Reynolds, it felt triumphant. I felt empowered and accepted. I felt understood. It’s rare that a performer on stage, who travels the world for their job and is put on a pedestal by many, can ground themselves and speak on a level that relates to all.

I’m so grateful for Imagine Dragons; for their inspiring lyrics, for the safe space they create for fans and most importantly, for their brave front man, Dan Reynolds – who is unafraid to be himself, unafraid to be vulnerable. Dan Reynolds is someone who uses his platform to reassure fans that we can do Whatever It Takes to overcome our challenges and that life is worth celebrating.

To learn more about Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis and see how you can show your support for World IBD Day 2021, please visit Crohn’s and Colitis Australia.

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Yours and Owls 2021

April 20, 2021April 21, 2021 ~ nataliehannan ~ 3 Comments

Music festivals are back baby!

Yours and Owls 2021 will go down in history, marking the return of music festivals on a scale that has not been seen in New South Wales, Australia since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The two-day event which took place over April 17^th and 18^th, celebrated its temporary home in Thomas Dalton Park, Wollongong, hosting approx. 14, 000 music lovers in a COVID-safe manner.

What does a COVID-safe festival look like? A little like this.

Yours and Owls 2021 was classified as a seated event, ensuring the social distancing guidelines as imposed by the NSW Government could be adhered to. To further protect attendees, the festival was divided into four zones, a capacity of approx. 3500 people in each, with state-of-the-art staging constructed in the centre.

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To ensure all attendees had prime views of the performances, two stages were utilised – the “Yours” stage and the “Owls” stage. Performances were staggered across both, alternating by the hour. It made me nostalgic for Big Day Out, which adhered to a similar setup, proving to be effective. What was unique about the Yours and Owls setup was the function of the stages. Each stage featured rotating mechanisms, ensuring every angle of the festival, and crowd, could be played to. This was necessary, given the layout of the zones.

Despite being classified as a seated event, attendees could roam their zones to enjoy the food vendors, bars, and local “Rad” stage.

Most importantly? Dancing was given the tick of approval from the NSW Government in the weeks leading up to the festival. This made the weekend incredibly fun…and chaotic. Unfortunately, (and somewhat understandably) being restricted to socially distanced rows of seats is not the ideal dancing layout for festivalgoers. Countless people packed into the aisles and front sections, creating mosh pits during performances and essentially, throwing all social distancing rules out the window.

These actions resulted in multiple sets being interrupted and effectively, cut short by as much as approx. 15 minutes, whilst organisers took to the stage telling everyone to return to the seats.

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Saturday was particularly frustrating in this regard, with every set of the evening being interrupted for this reason. The crowd would patiently wait for others to find a seat, only to witness hundreds of people run right back to the front and flood the aisles as soon as the performances resumed.

People were not PEACH-y keen on this experience. If you know, you know.

With organisers announcing that the future of the festival could be in jeopardy if subject to more chaos, it was a relief to find that Sunday was far better controlled, and performances were not victim to such frustrating interruptions.

Performances from Cosmo’s Midnight, DMA’s, Lime Cordiale and Hayden James were standouts, with almost everyone in sight on their feet, or standing on their chairs, dancing, and singing their hearts out. Despite Winston Surfshirt and The Smith Street Band experiencing lengthy interruptions, their performances were also crowd favourites.

Tones and I naturally worked up a frenzy of dance monkeys as she performed her global smash hit of the same name and after teasing a surprise, treated the crowd to a beautiful firework display to close her set. What So Not and PNAU were the perfect closing acts for their respective nights, concluding the festival on a high.

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Despite the COVID-safe layout of Yours and Owls and the chaos that followed such restrictions, the festival experience was still exciting and euphoric.

It was simultaneously a sigh of relief, and a breath of fresh air. Personally, it marked my return to live music. Experiencing the absence of concerts and festivals for 14 months, due to COVID-19, felt soul crushing. It also made me experience intense waves of gratitude throughout the entire duration of Yours and Owls. I have a feeling, judging based on the reception of the crowd, I was not the only one. It was a magical weekend, and a much-needed reminder of the power of live music.

The Killers

October 29, 2020November 13, 2020 ~ nataliehannan ~ 1 Comment

In a perfect world, without the existence and threat of COVID-19, I would be seeing The Killers live in Sydney next month. I would be hearing their new album ‘Imploding The Mirage’ performed in all it’s glory, whilst being captivated by Brandon Flower’s showman-like stage presence and incredible suits. I’ve seen The Killers live more than once, and hopefully I will again soon. The absence of live music in 2020 has made the world feel grey. Today, it’s hitting me harder than usual, which means it’s the perfect time to reminisce and focus on the positives. Let’s focus on The Killers.

I first saw The Killers perform at Big Day Out in 2013. I was at the front of the mosh pit, in a huge stadium, continuously being hosed down by a kind security guard, because it was 46 DEGREES CELCIUS. How I survived a music festival in that heat, I will never know, but I’m relieved to be here to tell the tale. Ironically, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers were the BDO headliners and boy, did I look like a Red Hot Chilli Pepper by the end of the festival. That’s besides the point though.

Seeing The Killers at Big Day Out felt like an out of body experience. The moment Brandon Flowers walked out on stage, the weather changed. The wind picked up speed, cooling the crowd down and providing much needed relief. The sky became overcast as the sun set and before long, night had fallen, stars illuminated the sky and it started raining lightly.

It felt like music and the overall performance was in sync with the weather. That the music and performance was so powerful it could influence nature, along with the energy of the entire crowd who were screaming every lyric of Mr Brightside back at the band. It was worth spending the entire day feeling exhausted in 46 degree heat… and you know what? I’d do it again for The Killers, no doubt about it.

This moment is something I will cherish forever, because I believe it perfectly encapsulates the power of music, the passion us live music fans have. We will endure whatever the world throws at us to be in those electrifying environments. We feed off the energy of the crowd. We embrace the natural elements. When all of this accumulates together, it’s the perfect storm. It makes me grateful to be alive and, in that moment, I was thrilled to have The Killers providing the soundtrack to such a life changing experience.

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From 46 degree heat at Big Day Out, to the nosebleeds in Qudos Bank Arena. Seeing The Killers has always been a euphoric experience for me. The band released one of my favourite albums of 2020 and if COVID didn't exist, I'd be hearing it performed live next month. Instead, I'm looking back at the unforgettable times I've seen The Killers on stage and taking you along with me. Check out the latest blog post on loversoflive.com *all content is filmed and photographed by @nat_hannan please DM and credit if reposting. #thekillers #implodingthemirage #brandonflowers #ronnievannuccijr #tour #concert #festival #gig #bigdayout #livemusic #throwback #concertphotography #concertvideo #rockband #rockmusic #mrbrightside #whenyouwereyoung #somebodytoldme #vegas #sydney #showman #fan #crowd #loversoflive #BCM114

A post shared by Lovers of Live Music (@loversoflive) on Oct 28, 2020 at 11:41pm PDT

When I saw The Killers perform again, this time at Qudos Bank Arena in 2018, it felt like coming home. Despite being seated in the nosebleeds, being closer to the ceiling of that arena than I had been in years, I still felt connected to the band. I sang every lyric, danced through the entire setlist and naturally, couldn’t stop freaking out over Brandon Flower’s suit choices.

I love The Killers entire discography, and firmly believe that their 2020 album ‘Imploding The Mirage’ is one of their best. It soars and feels like the heart and soul of The Killers, which makes the wait to hear it live even more painful. This album, combined with their unforgettable encores that always include, ‘Mr Brightside‘, ‘Somebody Told Me‘ and ‘When You Were Young‘ makes me feel like my future experiences seeing The Killers live will be just as memorable as the rest. Whether it be at a festival or on an arena tour, I’ll be front row, most likely crying, and more thankful than ever for the power of live music.

The Energy of the Crowd

October 13, 2020November 13, 2020 ~ nataliehannan ~ 1 Comment

2020 has felt soul crushing, particularly when I reflect on the fact that I haven’t attended a live music event in 8 months. Sure, my bank account is probably pleased with this latest development; however, I’m not. I could probably cry at the thought of it, to be honest.

I’m happiest when I’m dancing at a concert or festival, it’s when I feel most alive. Whether I’m in a crowd of hundreds or thousands, the euphoria experienced within that environment stays with me for days, months and years after the event.

It’s what inspired Lovers of Live.
It’s why Lovers of Live is for fans missing the energy of the crowd – because I miss it more than ever.

I miss the energy of the crowd.
I miss the escapism.
I miss the dancing.
I miss feeling the electricity that only intensifies as the venue lights dim and the artist or band bursts onto the stage.
I miss the deafening screams, the sound of hundreds and thousands of fans singing every lyric to every song performed.
I miss the freedom of being one in the crowd – the freedom to be loud, to cry, to be your most authentic self and express yourself accordingly.
I miss the unity and sense of belonging that exists in crowds, despite being surrounded by strangers.
I miss the connections you form with strangers, the friends you quickly make, the memories that last a lifetime.
I miss the sea of lights that illuminate the crowd as everyone raises their smartphones in the air – always during the most emotional songs of the setlist.
I miss feeling like I’m part of something much bigger than I am – something universal and positive.

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There's magic found in the energy of the crowd. There's magic in music. You can see it in each of these videos and feel it at every concert and festival you attend. I miss the energy of the crowd. I know many of you do. Writing about what I miss most brought me comfort. Hopefully it brings you some too. Read my latest blog post on www.loversoflive.com #livemusic #concert #festival #gig #imaginedragons #harrystyles #shawnmendes #jamesbay #crowd #audience #gig #fan #fans #fandom #arena #loversoflive #letthemusicplay #live #love #music #supportact #dance #joy #concertvideo #livemusicvideo #memories #sydney #australia #blog #BCM114

A post shared by Lovers of Live Music (@loversoflive) on Oct 12, 2020 at 11:06pm PDT

And yes, I’m at the point where I even miss being covered in sweat – my own and that of strangers in the crowd. Remember when we didn’t have to worry about coming into contact with other humans’ sweat? What a time.

I miss the energy of the crowd. I know many of you do. That means we all understand and feel the power of the crowd, of live music. While we can’t currently experience live music in ways we have in the past, it’s important to hold onto the hope that one day we’ll return to those crowds. We’ll experience live music in all its glory again, dance for hours on end and appreciate it more than we ever have before.