As I stood on the lush green grass, feeling its cool blades brush against my skin, the enticing aroma of fried food mingled with the hum of music rang through the air. The cheers of thousands of people surrounded me, creating a symphony of excitement and energy. My heart raced with exhilaration, making every moment feel like a vibrant celebration.
This has been my concert series experience this summer at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre.
For the past two summers, I’ve bought lawn passes to the venue, and it has been one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made.
This year alone, I’ve seen 13 unforgettable concerts from May through August. As a music lover and concert enthusiast, having this pass has transformed my summer into a thrilling series of live performances.
Music has always been one of my favorite aspects of living life. I adore the words that stick to my soul like glue, and I love the feeling of togetherness and community that one singular artist can convey.
As I reflect on the unforgettable experiences from the 2024 summer concert series, it’s clear that these performances captured everything I love about music. So, without further ado, here are my summer concert superlatives.
Most likely to be my timeless favorite — James Taylor
My mom introduced me to James Taylor when I was around 12 years old, and ever since, I have been obsessed with his calm and beautifully written lyrics. His music immediately brings peace to my mind, and I’ve had a special connection with it since.
Obviously, Taylor has slowed down in his old age, like artists naturally do, yet he still evoked that feeling of youth-like fun. He wasn’t jumping up and down on stage like a 24-year-old might, but he did make plenty of jokes that were funnier than your typical dad puns.
He always had this sweetness to him, this pureness from his music, like witnessing fresh rainfall and everything being clean again. That’s what Taylor sounds like and how he performs. It was one of the most peaceful nights of my life.
He even gave thorough and detailed introductions for each member of his band, which was full of extraordinary talent including one of his sons, Henry Taylor, on vocals.
The crowd consisted of older individuals, and it was much less crowded than any of the shows from the season. The crowd was respectful and, as one could imagine, not rowdy at all.
Despite his age, his voice is still strong and clear. Taylor brought his calm, yet fun energy into every song he sang. Hearing “Carolina in My Mind” and that iconic guitar intro will forever be a core memory for me.
Most likely to catch me off guard — Cage the Elephant
I’ll have to admit, I didn’t know essentially anything about Cage the Elephant before seeing them. I knew that my sister-in-law loved them, and I heard their most popular songs on TikTok, but other than that, I didn’t know what to expect.
Immediately, once the band started playing the energy was high. I could feel the excitement in the air, which carried throughout the entire show.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I instantly loved them. The lead singer, Matt Shultz, has a contagious stage presence with constant movement. I was engaged the entire show. Not a single thought outside the concert entered my mind. It was like I was completely focused on the performance in front of me.
There were enthusiastic stage productions like fire shooting straight up in the chilly night air during “Come a Little Closer.” The energy was unmatched. It was like a party that was never going to stop.
Most badass moment — Alanis Morissette and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Of course, going into this specific concert I knew these were strong, influential women. I knew they had that spark of intensity that I love about them.
What I wasn’t prepared for was how immensely badass the entire show was. Every single song felt powerful to me, even the slower ones like “Crimson and Clover” by Jett.
I felt every single compelling lyric from both of them and felt so free singing along to “Ironic” with Morissette. She even brought out her younger daughter to sing a few lines of the song, which made me and my mom cry.
Despite Jett’s age, she was performing just as well and was just as active as any younger artist would be, and who wouldn’t want to hear “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” live? The crowd was in sync with singing along to it, as well as Morissette’s hits too. The whole show radiated badass, and I left feeling empowered like I could do anything.
Most likely to have me saying WTF — Hozier
As soon as this 6 foot 6 inches tall Irish man appeared on stage, I was in awe. I felt my jaw literally drop. He had me saying WTF, in the best way possible.
Of course, I knew Hozier had a strong voice, but when I heard it live, I was shaking in my boots. His voice is incredibly clear, and his music stings. His complex lyrics make me think deeply.
The stage production was incredible with the background screens displaying art from his albums as well as video stories. It truly felt like a production that had thought and care put into every decision. The lighting was divine and complimented the songs that were being sung.
Despite his deep and complex lyrics, Hozier was quite the comedian himself, cracking jokes in between songs. I loved the lively songs like “Jackie and Wilson,” which always bring an unexplainable amount of joy when I hear it.
Yet, the intensity of songs like “Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene” had me thinking right at the moment, deep thinking. With lyrics like that, how could you not?
I compared Hozier’s show to having a religious experience. Everything about it was shocking yet familiar in an exhilarating way.
From my calm fondness of James Taylor to my thrilling experience at Hozier, my 2024 season has been packed full of unforgettable memories and electrifying performances that have soared straight to the top of my favorites list.
