New York City offers an almost endless number of opportunities to experience live music and entertainment. You might pass local musicians serenading you at the train station, or on the street, during your daily commute. You might hear someone playing a familiar tune on a public piano at an outdoor park. Perhaps you scored sought-after tickets to an arena concert or theater performance. There’s something electric about sharing space and time with a room full of complete strangers who are equally as passionate about the music as you are.
As an avid music listener, I try to see a handful of concerts every year. I have been to a variety of venues and I have noticed how each space curates a unique atmosphere and type of show. A challenge at hand is choosing between hundreds of live events happening in the city every night. Madison Square Garden (MSG) and Joe’s Pub are two venues that have stood out to me.
Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater is an intimate space where one can enjoy a meal or have a drink over a live performance. The room is filled with tables and chairs surrounding an elevated stage in the corner. It holds a seated capacity of nearly 180 people. I saw Em Beihold play a solo acoustic set of her original songs on an elegant grand piano. I remember hearing the rumble of a train pass beneath the room throughout the show. I had a lovely time eating my veggie burger and fries while hearing her play hits like “Numb Little Bug.” While simple and small, Joe’s Pub fosters deeply powerful and personal performances in a relaxed setting.
In contrast, MSG is an arena that hosts some of today’s top artists for high energy and larger scale productions. With about 19,500 seats, MSG can accommodate impressive set pieces and additional stages. Last year during the GUTS tour, Olivia Rodrigo sang “Logical” and “Enough For You” from a hanging crescent moon set piece that moved across the arena. Two years ago, boygenius surprised the audience by performing four unreleased songs from their extended play, “The Rest,” on a B-stage near the back of the arena. MSG promotes a wide range of popular artists in a vibrant and loud atmosphere. I always have a blast singing and dancing along to my favorite artists with my friends there.
Concerts provide a rare opportunity to give your full undivided attention to a piece of music. For this reason, I recommend arriving early to see the opening acts perform. They often make a similar type of music as the headlining artist. For instance, I was introduced to Katie Gavin’s solo album when she opened for Lucy Dacus at Radio City Music Hall. The songs had more of a folk and singer-songwriter sound than MUNA, the band she is a part of. I was impressed by Gavin’s ability to play a variety of instruments, including piano, guitar, violin and a shruti box. Concerts are a great way to discover new artists you might enjoy listening to.
Live performances carry an authenticity and unpredictability that cannot be replicated by listening to a sound recording through headphones. That being said, rising concert ticket costs can be a common barrier to entry. You can find free or discounted shows at various places, such as Bryant Park, Central Park, Hudson Yards, Lincoln Center, Times Square and Carnegie Hall. I have seen a notable lineup of artists, including Conan Gray, during the annual Global Citizen Festival on the Great Lawn at Central Park. You can earn free admission by taking action towards important global issues. Fordham features student performers and popular artists through Spring Weekend at Rose Hill and Winterfest at Lincoln Center. Over the years, I have enjoyed seeing artists like Ashe, Ricky Montgomery and Role Model on campus.
New York City provides so many different events to experience music and art in a live environment. I’m looking forward to seeing The Favors at SummerStage this week and Ingrid Michaelson at the Irving Plaza in December. Music creates a special sense of connection and community among those who listen together.
