Junior year has proven to be a year full of music for me! After coming back from my summer abroad in Madrid, I went to Hard Summer Music Festival. Just last night I went to a Porter Robinson concert at the Shrine (across the street from USC and 5 minute walk from my sorority house). For New Year’s, I’m going to Snow Globe in South Lake Tahoe and in April, I’m going to Coachella in Indio, CA! Ever since going abroad, I’m always down to try new things and experience as much as possible before college is over and music festivals seem to play a big part in that this year. In honor of my festie-filled year, I’m going to recount some of my favorite concerts:
#HSMF
Hard Summer Music Festival in Fontana, CA
Hard Summer was so much fun! I had never been to a music festival before this so I was so excited, and since I had been experiencing some post-abroad cabin fever living at home for a few weeks, it was awesome to get out of town and feel adventurous again. The ticket was a gift from my best friend from home, who loved all of the artists performing, but honestly, I truly had never heard of most of them (except Ice Cube lol) before I watched them perform live. It was over 2 days and I had a lot of fun! People were wearing crazy outfits and I even threw on some purple lipstick (as seen in my Instagram @briajamison). My favorite set was probably Dillon Francis!
Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw in Lake Tahoe
A few summers ago, I saw Tim McGraw at Lake Tahoe with my best friend and her family. I LOVE outdoor concert venues and that mixed with Tim McGraw’s amazing performance made this one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. After the opening artist was finished, he made his entrance by walking through the crowd to eventually hop on stage. HE WAS SO CLOSE I COULD ALMOST TOUCH HIM. The rest of the concert was killer – he knows how to put on a good show. It was especially nice because the sunset behind the stage during it! I have to admit though I was a little disappointed when there was a surprise appearance by Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, or Taylor Swift to do any of their songs with him.
Shania Twain
Shania Twain in LA
Shania Twain was my absolute favorite artist when I was a kid. My mom and I would blast her music in the car on the way to school and remember being so sad when she stopped singing because I had always really wanted to see her live. Alas, she made a comeback and did a full tour last year! She happened to be in LA the week I moved into my apartment my sophomore year, so my mom and I bought ourselves tickets and after she moved me in, we got ready and ubered to the Staples center. It was an AWESOME concert, not only because she’s an amazing performer but also because it was really cool to have floor seats and be able to see her with my mom. It felt like a once in a lifetime type experience that we’ll always be able to share.
Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional and Third Eye Blind in Irvine, CA
MY FAVORITE BAND OF ALL TIME!! Talk about emotional attachments, Dashboard Confessional was the soundtrack to my angsty junior high years. My best friend and I ALWAYS planned on seeing them live but then they broke up and I figured we would never get the chance to. BUT THEN THEY GOT BACK TO TOGETHER AND IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!! Sry but I was so excited when I found out that they got back together + they were doing a tour + they were coming to Irvine which was 45 minutes away from my apartment in North Hollywood that summer! It was a Sunday and my friend I drove over in the rain (weird that it was raining in the summer, idk). When we got there it was pouring and we found out they weren’t letting any umbrellas in the venue, so we were holding bags over our heads waiting to be let in. After about an hour of waiting, they announced that the venue was flooded and they were going to have to reschedule for a week later… Fast forward to a week later and we were once again driving over to Irvine for the concert. This time there wasn’t a cloud in sight and we got to see 2 of my favorite artists!
Porter Robinson
Living in southern California means I have access to some of the best concert venues in the world and artists are always coming here to perform! Next stop: Snow Globe. I’ll be sure to let you all know my thoughts!
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