Concerts are, in my opinion, one of (if not the) best natural highs a person can experience. You get to sing some of your favorite songs with the people who wrote them, who play them, who sing them, in the same room with a bunch of other people who are there for the same reason as you. If you’ve ever been to a concert of anyone you are remotely excited about, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The moment you walk into the arena is one of the best moments and finding your seats are even better. The excitement, the anticipation, and if you’re really excited, the near tears. The squealing with your friends. The jumping. The never ending smiling with the ache in your cheeks. There’s a bubbly feeling you get in your chest that is unlike any other and that alone is reason enough for me to love concerts.
So, I don’t know about you, but I LOVE music. I also happen to like many different bands. But, right now (and for the past year almost) my favorite band is 5 Seconds of Summer. Last night my very best friend and I got the chance to see them! In other word, be prepared for a bunch of pictures y’all. We had gotten VIP tickets (thankfully my best friend Abby is smart and gutsy) so we got there around 4 and we heard them sound checking which was so cool! We waited in like for about 2 and a half hours (even though we didn’t need to, we just didn’t have anything else to day) and literally 30 minutes before the gates were supposed to open, it started pouring rain. Thankfully there was an awning that we had been standing under but everybody rushed to the awning when it started raining. THANKFULLY I was in the middle and there was a dad behind us who had an umbrella and used it as a shield (I thanked him haha). They wouldn’t allow cameras with detachable lenses (according to a sign outside but I definitely saw some in there) however its probably a good thing I couldn’t because I accidentally left the battery charging at home (oops). That also meant that I could relax and enjoy the show more without worrying about getting good pictures with my camera! I got some good ones with my phone though!
We knew we were gonna be kind of close to the stage but we had absolutely no idea how close we actually were (and neither did half the girls sitting around us). We were literally right to the left of the catwalk. 
We sat in our seats for awhile just talking with the other girls seated around us. We also saw these guys put on harnesses and climb up these rope ladders on both sides of the stage. We were all like “What the heck are they doing?!” We though something might be wrong with the lights but no. After two guys went up on both sides, they pulled up the ladders and they had chairs up there! They operated those lights sitting up there all night!
We started to get antsy so we got up and went to buy merchandise (also because we were afraid they were going to run out of sizes and stuff like that). We also met up with our friends, two of whom rode with us on the way there. We were also really thirsty and hungry so we went and found food (which was free popcorn). Hey Violet was the opener but we weren’t really that big on seeing them perform, it wasn’t a big deal. But we went back to our seats anyway, except it was super loud (duh I know) and my ears were already ringing! And last year, at the One Direction concert, One Direction sounded like chipmunks when they talked and we figured it was because the opener (which just so happened to be 5SOS) was so loud. So Abby and I went and found tables just outside the entrance and were gonna wait until their set ended. Except I saw lightning and it started pouring again. The poor people in the lawn got completely drenched and soaked.
FINALLY it was show time. So here come the pictures!! Enjoy!
They were all in such a good mood! Another one of the best parts of a concerts is the moment they walk out and the crowd is so hyped up for the first song, and you realize that they’re actually real and right in front of you!
I am definitely an Ashton girl (insert heart eyes emoji) but his face was blocked by one of his cymbals so I relied on the big screen to see him! But I SO love the other boys, oh my goodness. Luke loved our side of the stage, he kept looking at our row because we were all dancing and jumping while the row in front of us wasn’t really. He kept coming to our side, it was GREAT!
During their song Rejects, they take a fan on stage to rock out on the guitar or bass for a second and the girl that they picked was RIGHT BESIDE US! Abby even thought they picked her for a second. (I told ya they liked our side) But the girl was so nice and she did pretty good!
As you can see, Calum started the show with a flannel on. However, it had been stormy and it’s still summer in the south. It was hot, humid, and unbelievably muggy. I was sweating so much, it was disgusting. So he left the stage to change shirts, which ended up being inside out. So later, he left the stage AGAIN to make it right. It was pretty funny!
They closed the show with their cover of What I Like About You (which is lowkey my jam) and our whole section started rocking out and just dancing and have the BEST time and Luke came over and sang to us and danced with us while playing the guitar and it was just amazing! The boys did a TREMENDOUS job.
This was the final bow (which they had to do twice because Ashton was late on the first one because he was acting goofy and then Michael accidentally hit him in the face) AND THIS IS THE BEST PART. So after the final bow, they usually toss out their guitar picks and drumsticks. Apparently they did that (I didn’t see it) BUT then Luke and Ashton started high fiving people! Luke hit Abby’s hand and she was so happy and I was happy for her and trying to take pictures but then… Ashton ran over to our side and I literally trampled over the girl beside us (who also went on stage) but I could only think about getting to him! AND HE TOUCHED MY HAND!!!!! I know, I know, it’s a little bit crazy how fangirly it was but who cares?!?! He’s my favorite and he touched my hand!!!! Which then I proceeded into a small state of shock, with shaking hands, quivering lips, and tears streaming down my face. I got real emotional. (And every time I’ve talked about it since then I’ve at least teared up, if not let a few tears slip by). Then I fiercely apologized to the girl I basically ran over but she was so cool about it (thank goodness) and she didn’t even care cause she understood!!
We got together with our friends and went to go get a drink at McDonald’s while fangirling over what we had all just experienced. Abby and I didn’t go to sleep until about 1:00 AM but that’s expected. I was so tired. I also proceeded to have a long recurring dream about the concert and afterwards, which was very awesome.
So see?! Concerts bring people together, where you understand someone running you over to get to their fave, dancing and singing with your best friends and strangers, right in front of the wonderful people who bring you the music! I’m so thankful I got to have this experience and I wouldn’t have had it without my best friend. There is also NO ONE in the entire world I would have rather been there with.
