The feeling of getting to see one of your favorite bands is unforgettable. Even though there are hundreds of other people in the room, you feel like they’re only playing for you. It’s something you have to experience firsthand and if you do, you’ll be glad you did.

Oct. 16 was a day I had been anticipating since the previous June. My ticket had been tacked to my wall to ensure that I wouldn’t lose it during the five-month wait. Finally the day came around.

I’ve been following The Pretty Reckless since their album “Light Me Up” debuted in August 2010. I anxiously waited for them to release their second album,”Going to Hell,” which came out in March of this year. Aside from a couple EP albums, the band was fairly quiet during those four years, which made this concert even more exciting for me.

Luckily I was able to buy meet and greet tickets for the show which not only gave me a chance to get some cool merchandise, but I got to meet the band whose music I’d fallen in love with in recent years. Because I waited for so long to get inside the venue, my pent-up excitement made me almost incoherent when I finally got to meet the band.

However, it was pretty cool when Taylor Momsen, the singer of the band, looked at me and said, “Hey, nice shirt.” I had bought one of the band’s shirts online for the show and when she acknowledged it, I was pretty stoked. Because everything was running behind schedule, I didn’t get to spend much time with the band, but I was able to express to them how much I appreciated the fact that they had come that evening, and they expressed the same to me. It was pretty awesome.

The best part of the night was being able to be in the front row for the entire show. I’ve been close to the stage at other concerts before, but for this one I was right at the gate. I waited through two opening bands, who were actually really great, until finally The Pretty Reckless took the stage. And I can certainly say that it was everything I wanted it to be and more.

I knew every single song the band played and it’s so awesome to hear a song that you’ve listened to dozens of times play right in front of you. There are times when the recorded versions of songs end up better than the live renditions, but that was not the case with The Pretty Reckless. Hearing each instrument play its part is amazing, but then hearing it all come together into a piece of art, well, its hard to put into words.

There’s a certain electricity in the air at shows like this. In that hour when the band plays there is a sense of community. The audience is feeling the kick drum, feeling the bass and feeling the emotions of the guitarist when he plays a solo. Not only this, but everyone is singing the same lines together. There is nothing like hearing hundreds of people sing something together.

And during those moments you’re all somehow connected. You all came to the same show, you’re all having an amazing time and none of you want it to end. These feelings are ones that I’ll seek out for the rest of my life. Seeing this band live completely elevated my love for them. Hearing how much they appreciate their fans, and seeing their passion for what they do come out on stage is something that everyone needs to experience. With a band they enjoy, of course.

Being at this concert made my ears ring for a good 48 hours afterwords, my voice was extremely hoarse from singing at the top of my lungs and I severely hurt my arm fighting for a drumstick tossed in the crowd. Ultimately I didn’t get it, but at least I tried. If I could go back in time I’d go to that concert again and again to see that amazing performance, and to feel those fantastic emotions.