Raise Your Hands, Not Your Phones

For my second piece ever in the 01 community—and as part of my 2025 project to post in every Vocal community—I’ve decided to let off some steam with a little rant.

In December, I attended three gigs at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. Fontaines D.C., Vampire Weekend, and Travis all put on incredible shows, each worth the ticket prices. But one thing bugged me: many people didn’t seem to be soaking up the atmosphere as expected.

It’s not my place to tell others how to enjoy live music. Still, I couldn’t help but think back to the 90s, when I attended the majority of the gigs in my life. Back then, there were no smartphones—or at least the ones that did exist were without internet access and endless apps. Maybe I’m showing my age, but I think things were better when we kept our eyes and ears focused on the live musical treat in front of us. Instead, at these gigs, I saw plenty of people staring down at their “compact idiot lanterns” during songs they didn’t know or the support acts. Many others focused on the music and the stage, but they did so through their screens.

I get it—our phones have become an extension of ourselves, and the thought of being without them can feel daunting. Doesn’t it feel like a waste of money—and a bit disrespectful to the band? Spending all that money and going out to sit in a busy arena or venue with thousands of strangers and look at your phone?

Let me be clear—those people glued to their phones didn’t ruin my night. My enjoyment wasn’t dependent on what others were doing. I just… don’t get the point.

When people buy concert tickets, I assume it’s because they emotionally connect to the artist, enjoy their music at the very least without it being a spiritual experience or simply want to escape the outside world for a few hours. Music has always been an excellent escape for me, a constant companion and live music, when done well, can be breathtaking and take you to a completely different level of enjoyment and euphoria. How can you get that same experience when you are focused on your phone and trying to get the best shots of the band or the best videos or worse, checking Instagram, TikTok or Facebook?

At the Travis gig, the last of the three shows my wife and I attended, we left with very few photos or videos—and we were glad. We wanted to experience the gig as it happened, not view it through a screen in an attempt to "capture" it for later. For me, live music is one of those rare things that’s best enjoyed thoroughly in the moment.

So, what’s my point? It’s the same old argument we’ve heard: we’ve become too reliant on our devices. Those who remember life before smartphones know how different experiences like gigs, museums, events, dinner dates, and holidays felt back then. It was all about being there, in the moment—not stopping every few minutes to post an update or take endless selfies.

Don’t get me wrong, documenting life is important. Of course, it is. But there has to be a balance. Take a few photos or videos, sure. But don’t let them distract you from the experience—the one happening right before you.

Of course, there are exceptions—medical emergencies, for instance, always take precedence. But for most of us, our phones can wait.

Life doesn’t need a filter through a screen. Next time you’re at a gig, put your phone away for a few songs—or better yet, the whole night. You might be amazed at how much richer the experience feels.

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Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes: As if I didn't have enough challenges and projects planned for 2025, this one is the least stressful. This is part of my take on Rachel Deeming's suggested year-long challenge to write in all communities on Vocal, a different one every week, loosely dubbed Community Challenge. There are 48 communities, and as I write often in Fiction and Poets, they will not really be counted. So, once I reach Week 46, I will then finish the year by writing a second piece for the 6 I find most difficult. You can find out more about Rachel's challenge by following the link below, there is also additional information in the comments section of that piece.

I have chosen to tackle it alphabetically, or at least how it is presented on the Communities menu page on Vocal. Which is why I started in the 01 Community!

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If you like, you can also take a look at other things I've been up to lately: