This year was a prodigious year for pop music. Besides the extensive discography boost of many major artists, the year, specifically August and September, featured a long list of concerts in Philadelphia, which many LM students attended.. From the number of concerts that have been held in the past couple of months, there are many highlights from the experience of fans, specifically Lower Merion students. Within LM, a substantial number of students have attended many concerts— Beabadoobee, Cigarettes After Sex, Lizzy McAlpine, and Zach Bryan, to name a few examples.
Most recently, LM students attended the concert that Beabadoobee hosted on September 8, located at The Met in Philadelphia, where she promoted her new album: This Is How Tomorrow Moves. According to the students who attended the concert, the venue was a significant factor in the value of the concert, partially due to the fact that the stage was customizable. By incorporating designs like different lighting arrangements, special effects, and moving background, the concert became more appealing, creating an immersive concert experience for fans. A downside, however, was the seating arrangements, since it was difficult to fully see the stage. “My seat was in Orchestra eight, row R, so I was in the back and didn’t get the best view, especially with the people in front of me or the balcony blocking the stage” said Aerynne Cannan ’26. The structure of the building included pillars and balconies from the second floor, which blocked the view unless you were in the pit, towards the center of the floor or box, a separate viewing room within the stadium. Another LM attendee, Katherine Pugliese ’26, commented, “The box seats were great since we got a clear view of the stage but the pit was where we spent most of the concert since it felt more up close to the stage!” Despite the difficulties, the way Beabadoobee engaged with her audience during performance, which included accepting gifts and asking questions, really highlighted the concert for most students, making her one of the most popular performances of recent times in Philadelphia.
Also at The Met, Lizzy McAlpine, who went on tour in support of her new album “Older” on June 24th and 25th, was another popular concert for LM students this summer. Lizzy McAlpine is well known at LM due to the fact that she was a former graduate who used to be a part of LM Players. This connection to Lizzy McAlpine has made many students -especially within Players- interested in her music, which ultimately led to Lizzy McAlpine to be a significant visit for students over the summer. Students who attended emphasized Lizzy McAlpine’s gentle and tranquil presence on stage, noting how her music gives off a soft, indie aesthetic. “Lizzy McApline’s music was very moving and touching and it really lived up to my expectations. I loved how she expressed her music on stage,” observes Gillian Steinhart ’26. Out of the entire tour setlist, there were multiple remarkable pieces that stood out to the crowd. “Doomsday is one of well loved songs from fans and I understand why, it was very memorable and definitely one of my favorites” Steinhart continued.
Matching the calm aesthetic of the other two concerts, Cigarettes After Sex , another indie rock band, provided their fans with an unforgettable performance on September third at the Wells Fargo Center in honor of the release of their new album: X’s. The venue was very spacious and provided fans a great view of the stage even if you were high up. Priyal Chhipa ’26, said “In my opinion, the Wells Fargo Center is one of my favorite venues for concerts because of the view.” Gregory Gonzalez, the main vocalist and the only member who talked during the concert, was able to express his gratitude to his fans with only a couple of words. One complaint about this concert, however, was how the band only appeared on stage a whole hour after the promised time, leaving some fans annoyed. “Even though they came on an hour late, it was totally worth the wait,” Lucy Thoen’26 admits. Overall, from the setlist, “Dreaming of you” and “John Wayne” appeared to be the most popular songs for LM students who attended, along with their most popular and closing song “Apocalypse”.
Of all the concerts, however, Zach Bryan’s August seventh concert at Lincoln Financial Field, seemed to be most populated with Lower Merion students. Many students from LMn attended The Quittin’ Time tour. Compared to some of the other artists, Zach Bryan had a subtle stage presence, with simple, calm lighting. A downside for this concert, similar to that of Cigarettes After Sex, was his tardiness of two hours due to a tornado warning. Despite the warning, the concert continued, and many LM students thought that the rain made the concert more memorable. Juliette Rui, ‘26, said that “I had been to Zach Bryan once already but seeing him again with floor seats and in the rain made the experience euphoric.” Viewing Zach Bryan close up allowed the audience to further connect with him, singing and dancing with the crowd. On the tour setlist, the song ‘I Remember Everything’, has been a fan favorite.
“Concerts are literally the best thing ever. I love having an excuse to dress up and see my favorite artist perform.” commented Aerynne Cannan ’26. Pugliese added, “It’s just so much fun being surrounded by a crowd of people and enjoying live music together!” Rui mentioned, “The concert experience is thrilling and it brings a smile to my face watching everyone singing along.” The memorable moments, profound connections with the artist, and the transformation of the music into an immersive event, making it an unforgettable opportunity and extremely popular occasion for LM students.
