“What is the most beautiful sound in the world?” I found myself sitting at RA training playing yet another icebreaker and this was the question I needed to answer in one word or short phrase. As we went around the circle, there were many answers of “waves crashing on a beach” or “children laughing” or “acoustic guitar,” all very beautiful sounds, but I found myself thinking along a different line. My response was “the sound of an excited crowd.” These excited crowds come in many forms, but as I said it aloud I had a particular crowd, more specifically a particular moment, in mind.

Put yourself at your favorite band’s live show. This show is not at some stadium or arena, but at Irving Plaza or Webster Hall or some venue like it (nothing with assigned seating — that ruins the fun).  The band finishes its set and leaves the stage. Even though the music has stopped, the crowd’s energy is still through the roof. One man turns to his friend to rave about the guitar solo in the last song. You can hear a girl several yards away from you screaming that the lead singer is her future husband. The couple in front of you took a break from making out to speculate on what the band will play for its encore. Nobody leaves. Everybody stays put with the understanding that the encore is coming.  In addition to these conversations, there are chants of “encore” and “one more song” as everyone waits with somewhat impatient excitement.

Then, one band member after another enters from offstage and the crowd goes absolutely wild, as if the band is coming back on stage is the most shocking, inexplicable, incomprehensible thing that could possibly be happening at this moment in time — on par with the second coming of Jesus Christ himself — goes absolutely wild.

This is the moment. The moment of screaming that comes from the combination of energy built up over the course of the hour-long set and the anticipation of what may be the band’s best songs of the night.  This 20 seconds of screaming when all you are thinking about is this band in front of you and the song that they are going to play, is the most beautiful sound in the world. The beer someone spilled down your jeans, the guy next to you waving his cigarette far too close to your face, the midterm you bombed on Friday, the fight you had with your mom, the paper you should probably be writing instead of being at this concert—all of these things go away with the deafening noise and the beautiful chaos of which you are currently a part.

This moment is one of the main reasons I love live music.  In fact, I have found that not just this moment, but concerts in their entirety serve as an escape from the monotony and stress of everyday life and provide a more uniquely relaxing and welcoming environment than almost any other life experience.

Things that normally bother me, like the couple with the PDA problem or the guy who has not yet mastered the art of holding a cup upright, are completely overshadowed by the fact that Ezra Koenig is singing “Walcott” to me.

Any thoughts of homework or drama with friends are entirely drowned out by Kim banging with all her might on the drums as Matt sings “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” as loud as he possibly can.

This all may seem dramatic and hyperbolic, and maybe, I am just crazy, but I really do think live music is the best way to free yourself from the craziness of the real world and enjoy a different kind of chaos.

Many people claim that they would go to concerts more often, but tickets have reached ridiculous prices.  This claim is not unfounded; concertgoers have witnessed a 400 percent increase in ticket prices over the last 30 years and I would be lying if I said that paying for the obscene number of concerts I attend has not put a sizable dent in my bank account.

That being said, ticket prices should not keep you from finding refuge in live music. If you cannot find an affordable concert, you truly are not looking hard enough. Every night there are bands, both popular and up-and-coming, playing shows all over the city in venues that range from a dive bar in the East Village to an arena in Brooklyn.  Finding a performance that fits your taste and your budget is not always easy, but is certainly always possible.

Grab a friend. Find a show. Take a break from reality. Get lost in the music. Enjoy the craziness of the crowd. And, most importantly, scream as loud as you possibly