Erica Voetsch
My first concert was Bryan Adams when I was about 11 years old. I had been dying for the longest time to go see NKOTB (New Kids on the Block, for the uninitiated), but I was also obsessed with "Everything I Do", and I think my mom decided she could handle a crowd of 20- and 30-somethings far better than a crowd of screaming pre-teens for two hours. To this day, I still remember how it felt being there in that crowd – and how awesome it was that Bryan disappeared at one point and popped up on a mini-stage about 4 rows behind us. That concert was an epic event in my life – honestly, I still remember dinner with my mom at Taco Bell before the show, accidentally throwing away my retainer and having to fish it out of Taco Bell's trash can, and exactly what I was wearing.
And that Bryan Adams concert describes basically the kind of music fan I was for the next 15+ years of my life…see, I only knew that one Bryan Adams song when we attended that first show – and up until just a few years ago, I was strictly a Top 40 listener, and cared only about an artist's "singles" and not their entire body of music, style, or even a full album. I liked what mainstream radio told me to like.
Now, actively seeking out new music has become an obsession. I'm that weirdo at the local public library taking home 10+ cd's a week. We found a great venue in Indianapolis (Radio Radio) that showcases Indie and up-and-coming artists and hit that place up as often as we can. I read Paste Magazine, and generally shun Rolling Stone for being too mainstream. I can go to concerts showcasing artists I've never heard of and still have a fantastic experience. 80% of America probably hasn't even heard of my 5 favorite artists – and in some ways I'm glad, because there is still the opportunity to experience them live in intimate venues and have truly personal experiences. But I still love going to huge amphitheaters and festivals and experiencing the music of International Superstars with tens of thousands of people with similar interests.
So you may be asking yourself what my qualifications are for reviewing live shows, albums, or interviewing artists. I don't have a good answer other than a passion for music that has grown exponentially and surprised even me over the past couple of years. That and I guess the fact that I can spell and put words together into at least semi-coherent phrases. I can't play guitar, though I've tried teaching myself and am dying to learn. I did play the flute for 4 years…but that smidgen of musical ability is completely non-existent now.
I just love music. It speaks to so many different people in ways that nothing else can.
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