Summer is the time for sleeping in, pool parties, internet and recently, country concerts. They have become a staple for teens in the last two years or so, especially at Shoreline Amphitheater. People often associate concerts with the cluttering of Facebook and Instagram with pictures of girls in plaid shirts, daisy dukes and cowboy boots standing on a concert lawn. These concertgoers seem to be having a good time, but is it the music that’s bringing them happiness, or is it something else?
Junior Cami Nemschoff attended a country concert about two years ago. “I went because it was summer, and it was fun, not for the music,” she says. “I didn’t really like it that much, so I didn’t go to any this year.”
Unlike Nemschoff, many students enjoy the country music. “I started to go because my boyfriend was into country music,” senior Savanna Cyr says. “I started to like it. I was exposed to a lot more music than I thought I would be.”
Cyr attended three country concerts this past summer. “I just like going to concerts in general. I love the whole atmosphere of them,” she says. “Of course, there’s behavior that shouldn’t be happening. You just have to exclude yourself and not get involved. You should go with people you trust and you know will have your back.”
Concert attendance among high schoolers extends beyond Aragon. Aliya Cullinane, who attends St. Ignatius College Preparatory, says, “It’s fun because everyone’s there. It’s one of my favorite events during the summer.”
Notre Dame junior Janel Barden agrees, saying, “We’ve gone to more than one this year; this is our fourth one this summer. I’m excited about meeting new people because a lot of people are from the area. Everyone’s really friendly.”
Recently, country concerts have been typecasted as having many intoxicated teens, which can lead to some chaos. “Sometimes there are a lot of fights. Intense ones. One time I got punched,” Cullinane says.
“I’ve seen some fights, but I’ve never been a part of them,” Cyr says.
Considering this, Shoreline seems to be a bit tamer than other venues, since there have been no known drinking incidents that have resulted in hospitalization.
Kelly*, a junior at Aragon, believes that instead, teens attend concerts for reasons other than the music. “No one’s going for the concert. Everyone goes to get drunk or high or hook up,” she says.
“It also has put a bad mark on all concerts at Shoreline, because when you think ‘Shoreline,’ you just think of a whole bunch of obnoxious teenagers doing illegal things,” Kelly says.
But the question remains: why have teens turned to country concerts in particular as their newest party spots? Students seem to have multiple answers. “It’s easier for them to be in a bigger area so it directs the [authorities away]. Police [are] more apt to crash a house party then teenagers in a crowd of more people,” Kelly says.
“You go with friends, and then you find out people from another school are going that you haven’t seen for a while, so you see them. It’s like a reunion,” Cyr says.
“There are no parents, so I guess that’s why a lot of teenagers go. My parents don’t care if I go, as long as I don’t get in the drunk tank,” Cullinane adds.
Many will agree that these country concerts are entertaining, whether people go for the social aspect or to just relax and listen to strumming guitars, harmonious voices, and that familiar southern twang. Cyr says, “The lawn is open seating and there’s just a lot of teens. It’s very summery.”
*Kelly’s name has been changed to protect her privacy
