by Emma Svoboda
I’m not someone who goes to concerts often, but September was a month filled with shows for me. I went to a few concerts at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park and I had a great time at all of them.
I started off the month by seeing Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson on September 5. My friend and I had lawn tickets and ended up with a clear view of the stage, perfect to see all the theatrics both had in their sets. The energy was high and exactly what you’d expect these artists to bring to a show. One of their openers really stuck out to me as being so unique and so fun to hear. The HU is a band from Mongolia, combining traditional Mongolian throat singing with heavy metal. Those were two things I wouldn’t have expected to work together, but after hearing them live I understood the mix. In true Rob Zombie fashion, he brought out his wife Sheri Moon towards the end of his set.
The next show was spontaneous. I ran into some friends who were going to see $uicideboy$ on September 16 and they invited me to tag along. We all ended up with lawn tickets for this show as well. This wasn’t necessarily my typical kind of show, but it was still fun.
The final show of the month is now my favorite concert I’ve been to. While seeing Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, the venue had spots to get discounted lawn tickets for future shows, including Breaking Benjamin and Chevelle. I got those tickets and went with my dad for their show on September 18. We didn’t get there in time to catch the openers, but Chevelle went on shortly after we found our spots.
The set was awesome, even with a mistake causing a pause during one of the songs. Lead singer and guitarist Pete Loeffler paused after making a mistake and apologized with a comment that stuck out to me. He pointed out that they were really just three guys up there to play their instruments, and mistakes happen when you truly play them instead of using a pre-recorded set. They carried on from where they left off for a wonderful set. Breaking Benjamin also put on an amazing show and stopped to thank and applaud each of the performances that preceded theirs. I got to hear all the songs I love, and some new music made it into both sets. Overall, the night felt like a showcase of true musical talent and passion for what these artists get to do on stage.
After a month filled with concerts, I’ve come to appreciate how much a live performance can add to the music I already love. Each show offered something different, from the theatrics of Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson to the unexpected energy of $uicideboy$ and the musicianship of Chevelle and Breaking Benjamin. If September taught me anything, it’s that sometimes the best concert experiences come from stepping outside your usual routine and enjoying the music in person.
