Last night was perfection. Absolute perfection.

I go to hundreds of shows every year. I’ve seen just about everything and everyone. I’ve honestly become a bit numb to shows. That’s not to say I hate going to them. I still wake up every morning excited for the show I’m going to see that night. I’m more trying to say that sometimes I don’t get that feeling, the goosebumps, the experience that I live for.

Last night I got that feeling. The goosebumps rushed up my arms with the first note. I got that experience that I live for.

Out of all the bands I listen to, Bayside is definitely in my top three favorite bands of all time. There’s something about them that makes me obsess over them more than any other band. It’s so bad that not only was this my 23rd time seeing them live, this is also the band that I flew out to Cleveland, Ohio to see this past spring.

Bayside was amazing last night. They played for well over an hour. It was my favorite song after another one of my favorite songs and another favorite song and so on. Judging by my lack of voice today, it’s safe to say I was screaming the lyrics for their whole set. I think that’s why I like Bayside so much. I feel like I can relate to their lyrics. I have been able to since I started listening to them in my angsty early teen years. I’m not as angsty anymore, at least not all of the time, but I can still relate to their lyrics after all these years. Lyrics are a huge selling point for me when it comes to music. Add some catchy (and talented) guitar riffs, a singer with the most charming crooked smile you’ve ever seen, and enough energy to fill a whole arena and you get Bayside.

It’s a little crazy to think that I have been going to see Bayside for over ten years now. I remember going to watch them play at The House of Bricks in Des Moines, Iowa multiple times. Majority of the time, I would go alone but there were a couple of times that my little brother would come with me. My little brother, Hayden, came with me last night and that just added to the perfection of the night. We didn’t have to endure the embarrassment of being dropped off by our father, we drove ourselves and dealt with the stress that is Minneapolis parking and driving. We were no longer sipping on cherry cokes during the set, we had our beer in hand. It hit me hard… I’m an adult now. Hayden and I are both adults. The best part of being an adult? Even though we both have day jobs and lives, we were able to go to this show together and act like we were in high school again… only with beer… legally.

I’ve been going to see Bayside since the early 2000’s. I have a picture of Anthony (the singer), and I that has been the only constant wall decoration I have had since I moved out of my dad’s house. Lord only knows how much I have spent on merch, and concert tickets, hell, even flights, on this one band. Every single penny has been worth it and I regret nothing! The show was about thirteen hours ago and I am already craving my next Bayside fix.

Anthony, Jack, Nick, and Chris: In the off chance you read this… please don’t wait too long before coming back to Minnesota! I just bought a new car and can’t afford an impulsive trip across the country to see you right now.

Every Bayside show I’ve seen has been amazing. Last night was no different. It was perfection.

I’ve been putting it off for years… I will finally be getting a Bayside tattoo in a couple of weeks.

Line Up:

The Early November
Better Off
Bayside

Venue: Varsity Theater

Sausage Fest Meter- 9 out of 10

Crowd Surfers- None

Broken Bones- None

Drunkards Taken Out By Security- 2 very very obnoxious drunks

Found in the Pit- None