Live Music VS Coronavirus

 How will the future of live music fare in a post covid world? 

Like many of you out there, I used to greatly enjoy frequenting local venues to enjoy a good old fashioned live performance. In fact, “enjoy” is a terrible word to use. Obsessed is probably a better one. Everyone needs something that keeps them moving, something to look forward to, something to get their adrenaline pumping. Live music, that’s what did it for me, that was the "something" I was searching for. Ever since that first concert I’ve been addicted. I was amazed at just how much better it sounded, feeling the music in your chest and that strange sense of comradery you had with complete strangers. My first concert was Black Sabbath at the O2 arena during the ‘13’ tour, and since then I have been lucky enough to see almost all of my musical heroes.

Needless to say, when coronavirus began its world wild domination, and the entire planet was effectively closed for the foreseeable future, concerts seemed to be a thing of the past. I was lucky enough to even catch a couple gigs just before the world simply stopped, but that feels like so long ago now. As I write this it’s been well over a year since I last saw a band in person, and I’m still in withdraw. 

Don't get me wrong I get it, and I am genuinely not complaining. People have died in the millions now, and millions more horribly effected by this virus. People have lost family members, others have lost their jobs, medical staff have had to work nearly twenty-hour shifts, and so much more. I try to not to complain about my situation because a lot of people have it worse. I’d rather go a while without music then get this damn virus. But I'm not here to rattle on about the virus, everybody knows the story and has their own opinion, I’m just here to discuss what the future holds for live music. 

            In the entire history of modern contemporary music, live music has never faced a greater competitor. Over the years different musical movements and genres have come and gone. Different political movements have tried to censor certain genres and artists to varying degrees of success. But through it all, despite changes in trends, movements and even politics, live music never stopped, it always powered through. At least, that was until everyone’s favourite year, 2020.  

            Obviously, we all know what happened so I won’t bore everyone with the details, but long story short, covid-19 was in, live music was out. Then we had artists figuring out how long this would last, should they postpone their tours, cancel them all together, rebook new ones later down the line? It was an absolute mess. Some bands were lucky enough to wrap up touring just before the pandemic hit, others were pulled out mid-tour, some of them didn’t even get a chance to book any gigs to begin with. 

            Unfortunately, this pandemic has brought out best in people, but also the worst, and musicians were no different. Many bands like Halestorm and Guns N’ Roses, used their brand to help the crews and venues that have kept them going all these years. They created crowd funding websites and donated merchandise profits to helping roadies, venues, and everyone else in the music world that was out of work. However, like almost everything today, the virus became political. Soon we had artists like Ted Nugent claiming that the virus wasn’t real, it was all a hoax, that the lockdown was a simply a power play. Then you Bands like Shinedown, trying to book an entire tour mid pandemic, with their reasoning being “We can’t live in fear forever’. And it wasn’t just Shinedown, there countless musicians who shared this ‘you can’t scare us mentality’. But I think Lzzy Hale said it best, “You can’t intimidate a virus”. 

           Venues across the world were in deep trouble. World famous theatres, clubs, and bars were all under threat of going under. And as such, many musicians came in to the rescue. Eric Clapton has been a large influence in protecting iconic venues such as the Eventim Apollo (Hammersmith). He even went as far to say that if something isn’t done, we may lose live music forever. Problem is, its not just the music business that’s being affected by the pandemic. Its easy to say that the music industry needs saving right now and that the public need to step in to help. But unfortunately, every industry needs public help right now. Hospitals, schools, libraries, gyms, bars, restaurants the list is virtually endless. This also leads into another big problem. With all these industries under threat, thousands, if not millions of people are under threat of losing their job. The economy has never been tighter and with thousands of businesses under pressure its hard to rally public support for music. Its like asking a homeless man for change. 

            This begs the question, will live music survive in a post pandemic world? Short answer, yes. Live music has already begun its gradual comeback. As of today, large concerts have already taken place, all over the globe. 2020 saw the birth of drive-in concerts, as well as socially distanced gigs thanks to artists such as Mads Langer and Metallica. Kiss sent 2020 went out with a bang, performing an entire concert on stage in Las Vegas on new years eve. This wasn’t a simple livestream of their rehearsal room either, they went all the way. Erecting a giant stage in the heart of Vegas, set with pyro, fake blood, fireworks, giant screens, everything you’d expect from a stadium performance. Well, minus the crowd that is.

            Now does this constitute as real live music? I mean its technically live music, just not in the way we really want. At the end of the day when someone says live music, drive-ins and livestreams aren’t exactly what comes to mind. When it comes to a truly great live performance, you need a real audience in front of you. The artist is only as good as the crowd. I’ve seen the energy that a real crowd can bring to a performance. A loud, passionate and energetic audience can force an artist to greatness. Think of all the best live albums you’ve ever heard, or some the greatest concerts you’ve seen in person. It takes two to tango. The buzz of an audience can bring artists to greatness, and vice versa.

           We may be in luck though, just look at New Zealand. From the beginning of the pandemic, New Zealand seem to be breezing through this worldwide disaster. Without going into details, New Zealand is a prime example of a country taking on the virus and winning. Travel restrictions still apply of course, but now New Zealand is like some kind of safe haven against covid-19, and as such live concerts have returned in all their glory. The 21st April 2021 saw band Six60 perform in Auckland’s Eden Park to a crowd of 50 000 people. 50 000! No social distancing, no face masks, no empty seats, and do you know what the best part is? This wasn’t even their first large concert post covid-19. The 16^th of January saw the very same band performing to 20 000 people at the Waitangi Sports Grounds. With New Zealand leading the way other countries around the world seem to be following suit. 

              Spanish band Love of Lesbian performed to 5000 people last March in Barcelona, with medical experts claiming the concert caused “No significant coronavirus outbreak”. And now the UK will be throwing its hat into mix. With a range of concerts and festivals announced for late 2021 and 2022. Many of these are relatively small and most larger gigs are booked for next year, except for one that is. Last February it was announced that one of the largest and most popular festivals in the country would go ahead on schedule with zero restrictions, this being the world-famous Reading and Leeds festival. This might be the biggest test of live music’s return, at least as far as the UK are concerned. It is rather optimistic as we are still technically in lockdown and will be at least until late June, only two months before the festival is due to go ahead. Whether it goes ahead or not is up for debate, but one thing that isn’t is the hunger people have for it.

            Within hours of tickets going on sale, thousands jumped on board to grab themselves a ticket. Now, is this good or bad for music? On one hand it would greatly help the industry if it goes ahead, but on the other it would be a prime location for a virus to spread. Think about it, concerts create the perfect environment for viruses to spread. Thousands of people coming from all over the country, mixing together, bodies pressed up to one another, sweating in the heat, it’s a coronavirus dream. 

               However, it does prove one very important thing, and it's what I believe to be the saviour of live music, the hunger. The hunger for a live performance, for the excitement, and if nothing else, normality. Millions of people around the world still crave a live experience, and they will eat it up the first chance they get. Yes, venues have closed, and many underground bands have faded away into obscurity, but that only seems to have fuelled the need to get back out there again. It’s the same for the artists as well. With many musicians stuck indoors, they’ve had nothing better to do than make music. 2021 seems to be the year everyone is releasing an album. In the rock and metal world we have new albums from AC/DC, Foo Fighters, Beartooth, The Pretty Reckless, Gojira, Greta Van Fleet, Myles Kennedy, this goes on and on. Everybody is gearing up for the world to reopen. 

            Yes the industry has suffered, yes people have lost their income, and some venues may go bust. But that's been happening to virtually everyindustry at the moment, it doesn't mean its the end. In ten years time do you really think the human race will have demolished all theatres, all cinemas, all bars and restaurants? Do you really believe when this is all said and done we will live in an entertainment free era? Of course not, music and everything else will eventually return. I hate comparing the pandemic to the war (God knows too many people are doing that), but that wasn't the end of the world as we knew it. As long as there is a craving it'll always exist. Right now, it's just a matter of  when, and from everything that's going on, hopefully the end won't be far from sight. Fingers crossed for 2022. 

            Besides, when it is all set and done, and we can finally start going back to large concerts and festivals, just imagine how electric that first chord will be. Thousands of fans, all waiting for that first note, after months and months. When that first band hits the stage in front of a full house it will be unreal. To me, that's worth the wait right there.