To The Person That Doesn't "Get" Concerts

I have been to more concerts than I can count on two hands. Just in these past few months, I have been to more (and spent money on more) than I would like to admit. My best friend and I have become known as the girls who are "always at concerts." Recently, a friend of mine asked me "Are you ever not at a concert?" Just earlier this week, my own mother told me "I hope you don't spend all your Christmas money on concerts."

I have been told multiple times "Why don't you just YouTube it? It is like the same thing." That is the equivalent of watching a movie trailer you enjoy but not actually watching the movie.

I guess you need to experience it to understand it. In my 19 years, Ihave felt nothing quite like it. When the lights go down and the crowd starts to roar- that is one of the most surreal things I have ever experienced. It is the ultimate high. Everyone in attendance is there for that specific artist. Thousands of people are there because they have a common interest.

On October 8th, my best friend (and permanent concert buddy), Caitlyn and I attended the Harry Styles show at the Roxy in Atlanta. It was his first solo tour since his departure from boyband, One Direction.

You would be hard-pressed to find someone who loves Styles' more than Caitlyn so being the amazing friend I am, I went with her to the venue at 5:30 AM. We waited outside in the cold and rain for about 14 hours just so we could get a good view. During these hours, you could start a conversation with literally anyone around you about Styles, stranger or not, and they would talk to you like they had known you for years.

Just because of one common interest, you can make a friend for life—which Caitlyn actually did, by the way.

Earlier this year, on August 8th and 10th, we also went to two John Mayer shows. One in Nashville and one in Atlanta. It was in support of his latest album "The Search For Everything." Caitlyn and my roles were sort of reversed with this one. I went to Styles for her and she went to Mayer for me.

I had been waiting for this Atlanta show since March. I don't think I have ever been so excited for anything in my entire life. It was an outdoor venue so Caitlyn sat in the lawn because I managed to score a single ticket in the front section.

At the end of this concert, I experienced a moment I will never forget. During Mayer's encore, he flawless played one of his most famous songs "Gravity". I was in awe the entire time with tears in my eyes. When Mayer bowed and got off the stage, the lights came on. A woman who was standing in front of me turned around and she was wiping away tears.

She said, "Well, cried during Gravity". Then there was boy standing next to me who also came alone, in his 20s. He turned to us also wiping his tears and said, "Me too."

I looked at them and with a crack in my voice I laughed and said, "Me too".

Three strangers. Different backgrounds. Different ages. Different stories.

Neither of us had ever spoken a word to each other in our entire lives but through the lyrics and effortless guitar playing of a man who we are also strangers too, somehow, someway it connected us all in that one moment.

Three strangers connected through a common interest.