Sara Bareilles and OneRepublic at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Sept 10, 2013, my first live concert ever. Of course, being me, I attended with the mindset of the photographer, and I figured if I was going to take pictures I was going to do it right. FRONT ROW, YEAH!

I learned of this concert just a week ago, Sara Bareilles promoting her new album The Blessed Unrest and OneRepublic promoting Native.  I’m a big fan of both records, listening through both of them many times. How often do two huge artists pass through town with albums like that? Wow.

I agonized over the fact that big cameras weren’t allowed, but I’m the lucky and proud owner of a fantastic point’n’shoot. Determined to photograph properly, I arrived almost an hour before Harper Blynn opened, and I got a spot in the front row. The benefits of the front row are actually for the people behind me so I didn’t have to raise my camera over my head and block everyone’s view with a lit digital screen (the people behind me did that anyway, so it’s a moot point). Yep, I got photos all right. I’m still going through my 500+ snaps throughout the show. However, I didn’t  go to the live show just for pictures.

The feeling of being surrounded by crowds of people smiling and singing along with their favorite artists. Sara Bareilles and her pitch-perfect and moving singing. Seeing Sara crashing cymbals during Cassiopeia. The warm and wistful feeling that came when watching Sara illuminated behind her piano and singing Gravity. OneRepublic playing Light It Up silhouetted on the white canvas. Ryan Tedder throwing tambourines, cups of tea, mic stands, and stools everywhere. Brent Kutzle back-lit and rocking it out on cello. A crowd-surfing Ryan Tedder not five feet away from me.

Conclusion: Next time, I want a photographer’s pass and my big camera, because being in the front row at a live concert is pretty awesome.