End of the Year Wrap-Up: Concerts

Over the past year I've had the opportunity to see many of my favourite artists and bands live. There were a lot of tears filled with special moments I wish I could relive forever.

Ariana Grande: March 5th, 2017

To start off my concert-going year I got to see Ariana Grande for the third time. An extremely talented performer that has an outstanding voice. The Dangerous Woman Tour was a beautiful extension of who Ariana is. The atmosphere was always safe and the show overall was a breath of fresh air.

This was also my first time seeing Little Mix, which were one of her opening acts on this tour. I’ve been a fan of them for five years and finally getting to see them was breathtaking. They all have such stunning voices . Getting to sing and dance to some of the songs I’ve seen them perform through a screen countless times was definitely a moment I’ll never forget.

Queen + Adam Lambert: July 18th, 2017

There’s something bittersweet about seeing one of your favourite bands of all-time. Members have come and gone for different reasons, breaks have been taken from one another, and lines have been drawn between the group, but regardless — even decades later — the music still lives on.

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to see Queen + Adam Lambert in Toronto. I’d only started listening to classic rock and older music within the past year and buying tickets had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. It’s one of the best ones I’ve ever made. 

Despite only two of the original members remaining —Brian May (lead guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums) — having the opportunity to appreciate one of the greatest live bands of all-time and experiencing the impact they’ve made on so many people’s lives is touching. Listening to stories of fans actually seeing Queen in the 1970s and ‘80s and witnessing that band bridge the gap between young and old regardless of what year it is proves that their music will last forever.

From the opening chord of “Hammer to Fall,” to the band walking off the stage during “God Saves the Queen,” it felt like it was 1986. Shivers really were sent down my spine. Every song they played made me feel something. There wasn't a moment that my eyes ever left the stage. They grabbed your attention and held it in the palm of their hands that exact second they walked onstage. 

The killer operatic harmonies are still there. Brian’s guitar wailing out guitar solos you’ve grown to love is an experience in themselves and Roger has never had the drums sounding so good. This is a band that has experienced loss and heartache of losing such an important member of their inner family when there wasn’t anything they could do.

But Freddie’s spirit was still felt despite it being over 25 years since his death. The band made sure to include the iconic frontman with clips. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when Freddie’s voice echoed throughout the arena to close “Love of My Life, and yet made sure it wasn’t overshadowing who Queen + Adam Lambert are now.

Coldplay: August 22nd, 2017

Seeing Coldplay live was a party. From the moment the music started playing there wasn’t a lull the whole night. Chris Martin is what front man’s everywhere should strive for. He was racing up and down the endless catwalk at the Roger Centre with an enthusiasm for the music and fans that most musicians lack. 

Coldplay adopted the “stadium standard” light show by giving fans light-up wristbands that went well with the CN Tower peaking through the open roof. Since Coldplay’s One Love Manchester performance from earlier this year I knew I needed to see them when they came to Toronto. They didn’t disappoint. The night was filled of so much love, colour and energy to last a lifetime.

Paul McCartney: September 23rd, 2017

If there’s anyone who can transport a crowd of almost 50,000 back in time, Paul McCartney certainly was the man to do so. After opening with a few crowd favourite Beatles and Wings songs like “A Hard Days Night” and “Jet,” the crowd was sufficiently warmed up and didn’t stop cheering the rest of the night. The musical genius dazzled the audience while playing bass, guitar, piano or ukulele for almost three hours straight. Only a five minute break between the main set and encore was needed for McCartney to refuel. Let me remind you this man is 75 years old.

Not a dry eye was seen throughout the audience during tributes to the late Beatles, John Lennon and George Harrison, and including the likes of George Martin and Jimi Hendrix. McCartney’s ensured their friendship be remembered by not only him, but the audience as well. He began by speaking highly of his friends and personalized his songs based on his varying relationships with each man. 

The excessive heat in the Carrier Dome almost became too much with the pyrotechnics show during “Live and Let Die.” Blazes of fire along with fireworks shot from the stage in every direction that only added to the high intensity banger. But the heat didn’t stop the excitement that generated throughout the night in the stadium.

After nearly every song McCartney spoke to the audience by telling them a story or doing a little dance to let them know he was as in the moment as they were. He seemed like he was “just Paul” and not Paul McCartney, one of the most successful musicians of all time. He has this aura about him that keeps you invested in what you’re watching.

Seeing McCartney live is the closest thing to the Beatles that you’re going to get (including an actual Beatle), performing songs that the Beatles never could have played live with the technology they had. He even finished his set off with a few songs from the Abbey Road medley (ending appropriately with “The End”). 

Harry Styles: October 4th, 2017

Most would crumble under the pressure trying to keep British rock alive in the digitalized era, but Harry Styles dove in head first. At Massey Hall we saw Styles come to life even with only 10 songs to his name, the bright 23-year-old has the stage presence and charm of a rocker twice his age. 

Watching him strut across the stage with a swagger to his step is a breath of fresh air. He has an aura that screams he’s an “old soul” trapped in the wrong decade. Wearing a custom made Gucci suit that was adorned with a metallic sheen and a floral pattern that suited the flared trouser, Styles feels like he could fit right in with rockstars from the 1960s and ‘70s.

The most touching moment had to be when Styles asked for everyone to hold hands and embrace one another. Looking around the room and seeing every single person joined together is such a simple gesture that unifies us for one night, regardless of being different. He's created a safe space for fans to be themselves with no restrictions.

After many chants of a repeat performance of “Kiwi,” he ended the night with his debut single “Sign of the Times.” This apocalyptic rock ballad constantly builds with tension that holds you until the very last moment that Styles walks off the stage (after a stream of thank you’s and blown kisses). It’s a moment that you want to freeze in time and wish you could relive over and over again. There’s something about singing such a powerful song at the top of your lungs in a room full of so much love that everyone should experience.

And that’s what the overall night was; an experience. There are so many words to describe what it’s like to see Harry Styles live on his first solo tour and yet there also isn’t enough. He commands a crowd with ease, parades around the stage with a daring look in his eye and makes each and every person attending feel like they’re home.

Niall Horan: November 1st, 2017

Going into this show I didn’t know what to expect. At first listen to Niall Horan’s new album Flicker I wasn’t exactly feeling it. The album was very one note besides the few stand out tracks like “On The Loose,” “Seeing Blind,” and “Paper Houses.” Since then, after a few more listens the album slowly gets better, but still has the same feeling of something special missing.

Onto the show, being upgraded to fourth row on the floor by one of my friends I knew the night was just starting. Horan played a very chilled out set where he wanted the fans to be able to hear him sing. To some it could come off as rude, but where Horan lacks in some areas regarding stage presence, he makes up in his musical abilities. Besides the final song on the setlist, “On My Own,” and the hit single “Slow Hands,” Horan could have been replaced by any singer-songwriter. 

The crowd was “allowed” to come alive during the One Direction tribute, “Fool’s Gold.” Singing at the top of their lungs to one of the songs that captivated their teen years with one of the members felt like a new chapter starting. The fans are what got them all to where they are now and an under appreciated song finally got its time to shine.

Liam Gallagher: November 23rd, 2017

Seeing The Liam Gallagher was one of my most anticipated concerts of the year. Near the latter half of 2017 I began to listen to Oasis and finally getting to see a real “Rock ’n’ Roll Star” in action had me buzzing. Fast forward a couple hours of waiting in the cold and I found myself barricade for the show. The room had an excited aura about it after the opening act left the stage.

That instantly changed when Liam walked onstage. Something wasn’t right from the very start and unfortunately it translated in his attitude. He had an edge about him that wasn’t of his recent nature. Of course there were moments after songs that he was gracious to the fans that made their way to see him. He performed Oasis staples like “Morning Glory” and “Slide Away,” along with songs from his new album As You Were, which came out in October. 

He only performed for 50 minutes and walked offstage before the most anticipated song of the night — “Live Forever” — in true ‘90s Liam Gallagher style. Times have changed though and it was disappointing to have my first experience seeing him live have to end in such a way.