*History Segment History Segment*:
Eisley was really the first indie band I ever heard. A friend introduced me to them so I went to their website and watched the music video for "I Wasn't Prepared" (which is still my fave song by theirs today). I had never heard anything like it. I immediately fell in love and I began to learn about music that just wasn't on the radio or stuff my parents had shown me. A lot of that stuff is good but I soon found out that there is more wonderful music out there that doesn't get heard by a lot of people. Because of Eisley, I then discovered a band called Copeland. I also fell in love with this band, and like Eisley, their music had such a great effect on me. Their albums kept getting better and better until they broke up. I was devastated. No more new music and certainly no chance of ever seeing them live. Then in 2014, they got back together, made a new album called Ixora, and a few months ago, decided to go on tour with Eisley. I think it's safe to say that when I found out these two incredible bands were going on tour together I crapped my pants. I bought tickets the day they went on sale in September and in December, my sister and I went to see them.
The first band that played was a small Canadian band called We Are The City that I had never heard of before. I am so glad they were able to join Copeland and Eisley on their tour because they were such an enjoyable band. They had such a great energy and were just cool, funny guys. I purchased their newest album after the show. Some of the songs they played from this album that I really liked were "Heavy as a Brick," "Keep on Dancing," and "Kiss Me, Honey."
Next was Eisley and I was stoked but a little skeptical. Immediately I realized that only two of the actual band members were playing. The others on stage was a sister of a band member and three other replacements. But they all sounded wonderful, just like the records, and were all great performers. It was actually kind of cool because the only original band members playing were Sherri and Garron, the only two members I had met when I first saw them so many years ago. When I first saw in Eisley in 2006, they had only one album to really work with. Now they had four albums to create a diverse set. They played a lot of songs from their newest album Currents, including "Shelter" and "Blue Fish." They also played songs from all of their albums. My favorite songs they played were from their first, and my personally favorite, album Room Noises: "Brightly Wound" and "I Wasn't Prepared" (my favorite song by them). I feel so lucky that I got to hear that song live twice. It's so magical and beautiful.
Finally, Copeland played and the world just seemed to become a better place. The stage was decorated so nicely and the band had a cellist, a violinist, and a violist play with them. Aaron Marsh, the lead singer, played this cute white piano for most of the show. I had been hoping for a long time that Copeland would play my favorite song, "Should You Return," but I wasn't sure how popular of a song it was for them and so I tried not to get my hopes up. But when he started singing it, I literally teared up. That song means so much to me, I still remember the first time I heard it. To hear it live was something else. It was just like when Neutral Milk Hotel played my favorite song of theirs, Two-Headed Boy Pt. II. My eyes got a bit glassy, I can't help it. Copeland played a wonderfully long set and performed a wide variety of songs from all of their albums. Some of my favorites that played were "Chin Up," "Love Affair," "Disjointed," "When You Thought You'd Never Stand Out," and "Brightest." Aaron Marsh, who in my opinion is one of the greatest vocalists in music today, was so kind and cool. And what's really weird as well is that I recognized the bassist playing with them as being in another band called New Heights that made a YouTube video with David So.
When the concert was over, I decided to go and buy merch, which I usually don't do. I got a shirt with the tour dates on it, We Are the City's newest album, and the Eisley album Currents on vinyl. Completely satisfied with the concert experience, my sister and I walked out to find Aaron Marsh meeting with people and taking pictures. I never thought I would get to meet him and I got so terribly nervous but I decided to go and talk to him. He was so nice, and there was so much more I wish I could have told him when I met him, like how his music has not only inspired me as a musician but has helped me with my anxiety and has just been some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard, but I was far too nervous. I'm still excited I just got to shake his hand and get a picture with him.
This concert was the by far the best concert I have ever gone to. I have never had such an all-around good concert experience as this one. As my anxiety had developed, it's been harder for me to do things like go to concerts. I really have decided that I can't do any big venues or go see any artists that play music that would generate something like a mosh pit, so that cuts out a lot of bands to go see live. Musicians that play more peaceful music is better for me. There are incredible bands that perform in smaller venues and you can have a more calm, intimate experience with these bands. You have more of a chance to be able to get a good view of the performance and meet the artists. This concert was perfect for me and I feel so incredibly lucky that I have been able to see two of my most favorite bands live and learn about another great group.
And if you haven't listened to any of these artists yet, go do that right now.
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