The Pulse of Live Music
Why We Should Tune In
Almost everyone listens to music in some form each day, however many don’t often listen to live music. A lot of the time we listen to music through our headphones while doing work or walking around. While you can listen to live versions of albums, which I would argue are almost always better, the best form of listening to music I think is live. This brings you into the same space as the artists with others who are also connecting with the music.
Music is often touted as a “great communicator” that can bridge gaps between different societal divides. This is often connected to our communal understanding of rhythm within a song even if we can’t understand the lyrics. We naturally associate certain emotions with certain notes, minor notes often convey sadness. Even with different styles, instruments and languages these innate parts of music are understood across the globe.
Most of the time when I go to Java, I don’t actually know any of the songs and sometimes the band isn’t from a genre of music I would generally listen to. However, I feel that often I enjoy the music at Java more than what I listen to normally. Feeling the vibration of the music through the floor, and the physical expression of the band greatly adds to the musical art form. Additionally, everyone dancing and moving with the music brings a new dimension to the music. It emphasizes the feeling conveyed by the artists.
From a more analytical perspective I think that live music just sounds better. If they are available, I’ll almost always choose to listen to the live recordings of songs on Spotify. The raw unfiltered sound feels more natural and expressive. The imperfections in pitch and tempo make music more relatable. When songs are mixed to emphasize certain instruments or change the tempo or pitch it inevitably gets rid of some of the human expression. The unintentional swing or emphasis of certain notes as a musician plays their song each time is part of the art of music.
Ultimately, I would encourage everyone to get out and experience music outside of their headphones more often. Go to Java or other local performances, even if you don’t generally listen to the type of music being played. Try learning an instrument and playing the songs you enjoy listening to. Closer interactions with the rawest form of music enhances your ability to connect and engage with music and the people around you.