Voice of Real Australia: Live music is back and better than ever - thankfully

I recently attended my first concert since the pandemic.

There was a lot to live up to - my last concert was Queen and Adam Lambert at the (then) ANZ Stadium at Homebush in Sydney.

It was a stunning, crazily packed, immersive experience - even if we did experience it from what felt like 17 kilometres in the air.

In regular, non-pandemic times I'd attend live music about six times a year.

In the roughly six months leading up to that Queen show, I saw Fleetwood Mac (with Neil Finn replacing Lindsey Buckingham in the line-up), James Morrison (guitar, not trumpet), Hans Zimmer (if you've never experienced the music of this legend live, I highly recommend it - there is nothing like hearing the sounds of The Lion King and Gladiator in the flesh) and Shawn Mendes.

So I was lucky that I had such a strong array of recent music experiences to sustain me through the pandemic years.

But it's not until you head back to a live show that you can really appreciate what you lost in that time.

My return show was Jon Stevens, performing the music of Noiseworks and INXS, at the Enmore Theatre.

Dragon, headed by Mark 'Show No Mercy' Williams, opened the show.

It was fantastic. Everyone was singing along in full voice.

Crowd members could barely be contained in their seats, standing and dancing for most of the show.

There was everything you expect to see at a show:

You know the one - they find their way close to the stage, are very performative in their dancing and singing, as if they need to prove they know all the words, and will look around frequently to try and force everyone else to match their level of enthusiasm. Their head is bobbing up and down constantly in all the photos and videos you try and take of the performer. They find a way to make the event all about them for the people in their immediate vicinity.

A more modern addition to the concert-going experience. These folks watch the act solely through their phone, spinning around regularly to - much like The Budgie - show everyone watching at home (is there anyone?) how much of a good time they're having, with their face in frame and the performers behind them. They will be very enthusiastic when called on to produce their torch light for the mellow songs.

This is the dude that just doesn't want to be there. They were roped into coming by their significant other/child/parent/friend. They don't know the songs, they don't care for the music, they wish it would end soon. They will have either one beer or a tightly clutched bottle of water.

They waited for the doors to open and made a beeline for the merchandise stand. They ask the attendant to show them all the shirts up close, before settling on two or three, and maybe a stubby holder. They will definitely get a program (if this show has a program). One shirt will be immediately worn, probably over the top of their existing clothes.

This one was a fan before anyone else (and they'll tell you about it loudly). They're recalling the time they saw said performer at [insert cult favourite low-key venue for up-and-comers] in [insert date three to five years before the performer got radio play]. They show great disdain for the people who have only liked them since [insert album that everyone likes].

Oh dear. They've imbibed a few bevvies before the show. They're having a great time in the opening act, but by the time the real deal rolls along, they're close to gone. They'll stand - wobbly - and probably extend an arm in appreciation of the music, eyes threatening to close. Someone will tap them on the shoulder and suggest they should sit down. They'll nod, 'yeah, of course mate'. Not 25 seconds later they're back on their unsteady feet. Their companion will embarrassingly escort them out while everyone in their nearby row is distracted from the performer and watches them go.

Half of these folks are painful, but it's really not a live show without them, is it?

And let's be realistic - we're probably one of these ourselves, aren't we?

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