Art Lived Intimately

While most of Ontario was snowed in these past few weeks, like many, I found myself consuming more movies, music, and TV shows from the comfort of my couch, wrapped in blankets and sweatpants. This is by no means a complaint or a disregard for those things—there is a special place in my heart for experiencing beauty from the coziness of my own home.

But despite the snowstorm and the call of my comfy couch, my husband and I ventured out for an early Valentine’s date and enjoyed dinner and a show. We’ve always had different tastes in music—mine typically aligns with mainstream artists that everyone and their uncle has heard of, meaning tickets are ridiculously expensive and usually in Toronto. My husband, on the other hand, enjoys music that might be more obscure to the general public, often performed at smaller venues with significantly cheaper covers, and, fortunately, outside of Toronto. Over the span of our decade-plus relationship, we’ve attended many concerts geared more toward his tastes than mine (due to affordability).

That said, it has been a wonderful journey of discovering new music. I still don’t always understand what I’m listening to at these concerts, but the live experience is out of this world. I’ve been to a handful of stadium shows—seeing Celine Dion, Adele, and Pink—but always felt somewhat removed from the experience. I was stuck in the nosebleeds, trying to zoom in with my phone camera just to get a glimpse of the artist I paid so much to see.

But on this snowy winter night in Guelph, the experience was entirely different. I recognized the owners of a shop I love in town. I sipped craft beer that would never be available at a large venue. I looked out a window (what venue even has a window?!) during a particularly melancholy song and truly felt the lyrics. Without needing a camera, I could clearly see how the music was created—looping pedals and various instruments, all meticulously timed by a single singer/musician.

This small venue, with a maximum $40 cover, gave me more than any stadium show ever has. I felt cozy and comfortable, sharing this experience with my community. When the concert ended, I wasn’t overwhelmed by crowds trying to get to my car. And best of all, I had only a five-minute drive home.

That beautiful evening made me realize that many people rarely get this kind of experience. Music today feels so commercialized and capitalistic that, for some, seeing artists like Taylor Swift or Beyoncé means choosing between a concert or a mortgage payment. It saddens me to think that people are forced—or believe they are forced—into this kind of consumption.
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So, my Culture Consumed encouragement for February: Go to a $20 show at your local music venue. Even if you don’t know the band or artist. Not only does it support local music, but it’s a stunning way to experience music at an intimate level—something you just can’t get from a stadium show. Stand as close or as far from the stage as you like. Drink a beer that isn’t licensed by a major corporation. And if you’re lucky enough to find a venue with a window, look outside while the music plays and simply enjoy.

Owen Pallett at Sonic Hall, Guelph