Firstly, I'd just like to take a moment to pay tribute to the victims of the Manchester attack. 22 beautiful angels were taken far too soon- nobody should go to a concert to not return home.
Another incredible Vamps tour has just ended and the past few days have really seen me reflecting on the impact that the band have had on my life. After over 4 years downloading and promoting new music, going to shows and meeting the boys, I've made countless memories that will no doubt last a lifetime.
It's amazing how many times I've answered the question 'But why do you go to so many of their shows, aren't they all the same?'. You could argue that this is true in that the same set list will be played for a whole tour- but every experience is different.Each show is spent with different friends, often in a different venue and in a different area. This means that so many amazing and unique memories are made at each show and they last forever. Even if every experience was identical and spent with the same people, what's to say I won't still make more amazing memories at each and every show? Because to me, The Vamps aren't just a band, they're a fundamental source of happiness.
To me, going to a Vamps show isn't about seeing a group of attractive boys performing. It's not about being able to post a billion photos and videos of the show online to brag about my experience. It's not even about the music. It's about being able to make wonderful memories with some of my best friends in the world- whilst being at my absolute happiest.
The past few years have been an emotional roller-coaster for me- there's been a heck of a lot of ups where I've made happy memories, but there's also been a lot of downs, where I've struggled to pull through and see the positives. But thanks to this band, things have grown so much clearer for me. The feeling of total happiness and freedom that I feel at the shows is so powerful it'd be impossible to put it into words. Months of saving and planning all culminate when tour time comes around, and the boys never disappoint.
For this years 'Middle of the Night' tour, I was lucky enough to visit 5 cities and travel 1,800 miles for the band who had such a significant impact on my life. Since 2015, I've been to at least 3 dates of each tour, and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. I genuinely don't think I could just go to one Vamps show at tour- as soon as the lights go down and the curtain drops the adrenaline takes over and I catch the 'bug'. The boys set may only last about an hour and a half, but the excitement lasts all day. Starting with waking up in the morning (cheesy pun not intended), and carrying right on through until going to bed that night it's pretty safe to say that I'm in my element at tour time.
I don't just support The Vamps because I like meeting them, but those experiences truly are magical. I've met the band quite a few times now and I cannot do enough to express how grateful I am for that. The few short seconds spent with the boys are filled with such overwhelming happiness that I genuinely don't think I can explain, but if you've met your favourite people before then I'm sure you can relate to what I'm trying to express. (If not, I promise you will meet them soon!).
I'm no medical expert but I know for certain that going to these shows has genuine health benefits for me. Aside from the 47,248 calories burned by jumping around and going crazy, it's been proven that being at your happiest works wonders for your health- and Vamps concerts certainly make me feel that way.
Don't just take my word for all of this. I asked on Twitter why people went to concerts, and here are a few of the responses:
"Because they're the only place I feel safe and happy. Gigs are the actual most magical thing in the world, music is the only reason I'm still going and hearing music live is just magic".
"Concerts will never not be my safe haven. I can always rely on my favourite band to help me see the positives in my life and pull me through the darkest of times".
"I go to concerts because music is a very big part of my life and it's like an escape for me when I'm feeling stressed or angry. I love to go and see my favourite artists do what they love and see them on stage in front of arenas full of people. I love how at a concert you can forget all the worries and stresses in your life even if it's just for a couple of hours and become united with people who love the same type of music as you".
Concerts are sort of like a 'light at the end of the tunnel'. What I mean is it's something to look forward to no matter how tough times are, no matter how much negativity I'm surrounded by. They're something I can focus on and they help give me a clearer mindset when everything else around me is out of focus.
Being at these shows gives me a really strong sense of belonging- I often struggle to mix with people and feel at home. In 'ordinary' scenarios, I really need to psych myself up in order to go out and interact with my peers- but concerts are the opposite. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel any stress in the lead up to tour- but it's genuinely nice to be worrying about 'normal' things like 'Help what should I wear?' and 'Why is public transport in Britain so bloody expensive?'. I also get a sense of belonging on Twitter- recent hashtags have included #ConfidentForTheVamps which saw so many amazing and positive comments shared among fans, and it seriously boosted my confidence.
I'm sorry if this post has been a bit repetitive but I just wanted to try and get everything I feel onto this black and white post to share my feelings with anyone reading this! I do hope you enjoyed reading- if you did, or if you share the same feelings and want to have a little chat, feel free to drop a comment or send me a message over on Twitter- my username is @neverlandhan!
