Humans of NGU Harley Watkins and her many concerts
Jazmyne Boozer, Editor-in-Chief
Harley Watkins (second from right) sits with her friends (Hunter and Mason Freitas, Adam Kelly and Allen Ellis) at a Charlie put concert.
There’s nothing quite like a live concert experience. The lights, the atmosphere and the sound of the music…it makes for an almost a spiritual experience. Senior, Harley Watkins, would agree. With eight concerts seen in her college career and five more in the near horizon, Watkins has become an aficionado.
Watkins recalls her first concert ever. At the age of 12 she went and saw Alan Jackson, a country singer, with her father. It was here, that she was bitten by the music bug. “I just remember being so drawn to how happy everybody was,” Watkins recalls. “It kind of solidified the idea of music I had at the time.”
This idea was the connection she and others feel when seeing their favorite musician on stage. “There’s always been one or two people in the crowd that I’ve connected with,” Watkins says. One of her favorite things about concerts is that she always connects with those around her under the same umbrella of music. They may even go as far as to exchange social media handles. According to Watkins, music has a way about bringing people together from all walks of life.
One of her most memorable concerts came last year. On Nov. 5 Watkins saw her musical icon, Lauv. “I remember being so close to him…I got his pick from his guitar,” Watkins said. Watkins describes having an emotional connection to all his songs. She also describes being able to be so close to him on stage since he hosts general admission shows; which are her favorite.
When asked what shows she wants to see next, she spoke of a Dean Lewis concert happening in Atlanta. If not this show, Watkins hopes to see at least five more artists this year. Watkins also described a list on her laptop that sports musical acts she hopes to see in her lifetime.
You may ask, what’s so great about live production? Isn’t it basically the same things as the studio version? Watkins would refute that claim. “There’s something about hearing something you’ve only heard in earbuds…but physically feeling it in your chest.” For Watkins, this is the draw.
