Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
Phoebe Bridgers plays the guitar at a concert at the Crocodile in Seattle, Washington, on on July 12, 2018
Phoebe Bridgers plays the guitar at a concert at the Crocodile in Seattle, Washington, on on July 12, 2018
Photo by David Lee distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license
Emmanuel | Culture > Entertainment

Never Going Back! The Joy of a Phone-Free Concert

Alyssa DeMayo Student Contributor, Emmanuel College
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Emmanuel chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

As a self-proclaimed concert enthusiast, I thought I knew everything a show had to offer. Little did I know, my favorite show of all time is the one I have no photo evidence of. 

When Phoebe Bridgers announced that her tour would be phone-free, I passingly appreciated the gesture. I’ve listened in on conversations my parents had about their concert experiences being so amazing without phones. I figured that there would be virtually no difference between the experiences.

Oh, how wrong I was. 

Walking into the arena, diary and phone pouch in hand, I felt a buzz of activity. Fans turned to talk to anyone they could, sharing their excitement and favorite songs. I sat with my friend, asking about our time apart while she sketched the main stage. I found myself not wanting to reach for my phone once. 

As the concert began, it was jarring not to see faces in the crowd illuminated by their phone screens. I didn’t realize how long I had spent watching a concert through a camera lens. 

Crying, laughing, singing. Regardless of what anyone in the crowd was doing, they were entirely focused on the stage. Something I can’t say I’ve ever witnessed at any other concert I’ve been to. 

I originally brought my diary to the show to take quotes from Bridgers, afraid that I would forget the experience without it. However, when Bridgers shared her stories behind her songs, it felt wrong to bring them out of the venue with me in any form. She spoke of the intimacy she experienced with the shows on this tour, and feeling it with the crowd made me forget about my diary.

Without worrying about who would be around to film, I fully embraced the show; tears and screams included. Leaving the show, my voice raw, I realized my perspective on concerts was forever changed. 

I know that this experience will not be the norm for most artists, but for anyone going to any concert in the future, think about turning it off before the show starts. The concert videos will still be on social media, but you will not regret engaging with what is in front of you.

Alyssa DeMayo

Emmanuel '28

Alyssa is a junior at Emmanuel College double majoring in Writing, Editing & Publishing and Communications. She is excited to explore her niche interests and share them through her articles. Outside of class, Alyssa enjoys discovering new cafés around Boston, listening to new music, and finding inspiration in the city.