There’s honestly something special about being able to go photograph an artist that you grew up listening to with your mother for two decades. Once I received the email of confirmation that I was approved for the Goo Goo Dolls, I automatically picked up my phone and called my mother to tell her the news.
“Hey mom! Guess what!? I am photographing one of your favorite bands!”
And it’s crazy that once I said that she knew what band I was talking about. The anticipation started to grow intensely and I knew that this event will be nostalgic. It was the day of the event and of course, it had to rain, but everyone knows that when it rains that the dark skies will eventually turn into sunshine which it did. Even the most beautiful moments we experience can sometimes be interrupted with unexpected circumstances. I did experience a mishap before the show started due to miscommunication at the venue, but the house photographer and a nice young woman at the box office truly made my experience memorable. Both were so kind and accommodating due to not fully understanding what happened, but both of them did their best to make sure I got into the show. I sadly didn’t get their names.
The event felt like you walked into a home full of love, understanding, and unity. It didn’t feel like a concert to me at all. It felt like this is what the universe wanted me to experience. Everything at this moment became irrelevant. And the only thing in the back of my mind was that I am experiencing something that others only dream of doing. And my mother was in the back of my mind the whole time cheering me on.
When Goo Goo Dolls made their appearance on stage; the atmosphere shifted and everything went dark for a moment and when that stage lit up the whole venue; you saw thousands of attendees standing to cheer the band on. We were only allowed to photograph from the soundboard, but honestly when you watch the show from the way back; you can see everything around you more. I saw attendees dancing with their partners; kids singing along with their parents, and people crying from excitement. I honestly wasn’t really focused on taking photos of the Goo Goo Dolls because this was more than a concert for me. It was an experience that exceeded my expectations, the live performance truly resonated within myself and the attendees, and for the night everything else disappeared in my mind. It was such a shared experience. I felt like we were all connected to each other and that’s the main reason why music is created. To be able to connect with the music as well as be able to connect to one another in a more emotional way.
I believe Goo Goo Dolls performed their newer music which I haven’t really listened to, but they did perform “Slide” for their third song and that’s when I stopped photographing because I wanted to sing my heart out. I’ve seen this band several times with my mother and I knew if she was standing right next to me, she would be screaming along because this song holds such memories for us. Listening to the song felt like different chapters of my life started to unfold and I was able to revisit the past in that moment. So much emotions embraced my whole body like a tight hug from a loved one and that’s when I knew that this music even after decades; it can still leave an impact on you emotionally. Looking back at the night; I have no words. No words can truly express the feeling of such a nostalgic and powerful performance. I went home feeling blessed and thankful because the performance made me look back at my younger self in my mind and resonate to memories that I thought I forgot.
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