Your 2025 concert wrapped… mine, actually.
Live music has always been more than just a night out for me, and I treat every show day like Christmas morning. If not in the car or on a plane, I spend the day getting ready and posting about my excitement. This year, I found myself traveling more, waiting longer and feeling more emotions through concerts. From barricade views to balcony seats, these nine shows became milestones of joy, anticipation and connections through music.
Tyler, The Creator – Kansas City, MO
This was my fourth time seeing Tyler live, and he just keeps getting better. He is one of my favorite performers of all time, and he continues to get more confident and more intentional every single time he goes on tour. He treats his live shows like full-blown productions, adding minuscule details that even his biggest fan would miss if they weren’t paying close enough attention. His ability to command a crowd is unmatched, and his presence is energetic but effortless.
Role Model – Chicago, IL
Why, if it isn’t Her Campus Mizzou’s Sexiest Man of the Year!
This was a show I had been waiting years for. Role Model is one of my personal favorite artists of all time, and when the opportunity finally came, my friend Reghan and I went all in. We traveled eight hours for this show, driving from Kansas City to Chicago. We spent a few days in the city before waking up at 3 a.m. to camp outside of the venue the day of the show. In freezing and rainy weather, we persevered and snagged a spot in the second row, right behind VIP ticketholders. Seeing Role Model live felt like closing one chapter of my life to open and celebrate another.
The Backseat Lovers – Columbia, MO
This show came together completely last minute. Sitting in class, I found out they were playing in my college town the next day. The Backseat Lovers are one of Reghan’s favorite bands, so we bought tickets 24 hours before the show and went on a whim. It was new for me to attend a show and not know every single lyric, but it gave me the chance to step back and recognize what live music is all about. Seeing how happy and comfortable everyone felt was heartwarming and made me realize why I love this passion so much.
Jordan Ward – Columbia, MO
Another college town performance, except even closer, as this was in the auditorium of Jesse Hall at Mizzou. I went with a large group of Her Campus friends, and even though the turnout was very small, we still gave it our all. Honestly, I’d like to think we made his night when we knew every word.
Stray Kids – Arlington, TX
After waiting over seven years, I was finally able to see my favorite K-pop group live. I traveled to Texas with my best friend Camryn and stayed with our friend Cassidy (both are part of Her Campus BTW).
This concert was a prime example of patience paying off in the long run. There is no feeling that compares to watching your favorite artist take the stage, especially when you’ve watched through a screen for so long.
Post Malone – Branson, MO
I flew back to Missouri and got back on the road a few days later, this time with my family. Exactly a week after my Stray Kids show, I saw Post Malone live with my brother. This was the most I’ve ever spent on a single concert ticket, since I wanted my brother to have the best experience possible. Post Malone is his favorite artist of all time (top 0.002% of listeners!) and he even took the time to sign my brother’s arm after the show, which he ended up getting tattooed soon after.
Tate McRae – Kansas City, MO
This show was the night before my sister’s 15th birthday, so of course I had to take her to see her favorite artist. I surprised her with tickets two weeks before the show, so she could pick her outfit with as much time and as little stress as possible. Three friends joined us, which made our group a force to be reckoned with as we danced and sang the entire setlist word for word. One month later, we learned that Tate McRae was everyone’s top artist of 2025.
The Band Camino – Kansas City, MO
I saw The Band Camino just two days after Tate McRae, making it an incredibly eventful week. Especially considering Halloween was the day after, and I still had acute bronchitis (in my defense, I didn’t know). However, I didn’t let that stop me from singing loudly and having fun. I waited years to see this artist as well, since the timing never lined up with my schedule. This show doubled as their Halloween show, making the night even more memorable.
Read my full concert review here!
Arms Length + Hot Mulligan – St. Louis, MO
This was my final concert of the year, and my first concert with my boyfriend. We road-tripped to St. Louis right after Thanksgiving, making it a day trip for us to chill out before heading to the venue. I started listening to Arms Length about two years ago, and only started listening to Hot Mulligan consistently when my boyfriend and I got together. I felt like these artists are where our music taste meets perfectly in the middle, making this a great end to my year in live music.
Curtain Call!
Looking back, these concerts weren’t just shows, but shared experiences with friends, family and loved ones. Each night reminded me how powerful a community can be as I joined hundreds or thousands of people, all in one room, there for the exact same reason.
Concerts have taught me to value experiences, travel and connection — with people, music and life itself. They remind me what life is all about — feeling things fully and loving every moment of it.