Surviving PCD

August was the month I was most excited about all year. Concerts every week is something worth looking forward to, even though I didn't get to go to every single show. Last month I realized that you could actually get post concert depression for a show you didn't actually see. It hits hard, but it doesn't last as long as the common ones. But then again, I'd probably have Fall Out Boy to thank for that. Bless the weekly concerts! Unfortunately, this doesn't happen very often. I'm not entirely sure how it works for the rest of y'all, but my PCD comes in stages.

PRE-CONCERT ELATION. This sometimes begins months before the actual show. It comes and goes, and is usually triggered by hearing the band's music in the most random of places. I usually get this the moment I resolve to see them, or the moment I get my tickets. This lasts until of course the actual show begins.

IS THIS REAL LIFE. The moment we've waited forever for. When the band/artist you love finally takes the stage to play the songs that makes your heart burst with glitter and rainbows. Everything at this point seems to be a blur, like there is no way you can remember half of it but surprisingly you do. Finally, we are all breathing the same air.

POST CONCERT ELATION. How long this lasts depends on how great the show was and how emotional you are in general. For last month's Fall Out Boy show, it actually lasted about a day and a half with me. This is the part where most of us go "Wow it was so good, I can't believe I was there, and [insert all the other great things that happened here]." Be warned, this could alternate with the next phase, which can get very confusing. Bouncing from elation to depression happens.

POST CONCERT DEPRESSION. They won't be back till they release a new album. If they will ever put out a new album. No, please don't break up. Please come back. My life is meaningless. I feel terrible for the A Rocket to the Moon fans. Because seeing your favorite band together for the first and last time with the breakup hanging right there hurts, man.

THE I'M OVER IT BUT NOT REALLY, NO. NEVER. Once you've dealt with your feelings, and quite possibly your heart in general, there's this phase. Where you declare to yourself and the world that you're okay and over it. But not really. But you're getting there. Towards the end of this you just stop and smile and remember all the good parts without the pain. And wait patiently for their return. It can't be that long, right? Right?

I've had to battle PCD twice the last month, and trust me, suffering from it over two different bands isn't fun at all. One is one too many! So here is how I cope and move on. Because there's just no way around this, kid, you gotta gotta gotta heal yo soul! Anyway, PCD was the hardest for me when I could only see one foreign band a year. And enjoy as much small local shows for the rest of the year. It helps.

1. Look up their setlist (if you haven't memorized it yet) and keep it on repeat.
It is gonna sting at first, but trust me, this helps a lot. Two years ago was the first and last time I saw this really cool band called Thirty Seconds to Mars. It was by far one of the best shows I've ever been to. It was also the last show I got so see for that year. Keeping their setlist on repeat gets me to the post concert elation phase of it as I close my eyes and imagine being back in the mosh pit in the rain singing along to Search and Destroy. Last month I kept Fall Out Boy's Save Rock and Roll setlist on repeat for weeks! It hurts a bit, you know, that a few days/weeks ago I was singing along to those songs with them. Man, that was awesome. *sob*
You know how when you find a new song you dig, you put it on repeat till you've had enough of it? Same principle. Except you'll never really be tired of it, but it does numb the pain after keeping that setlist on repeat for [insert duration here]. Play it as often as you seem fit.

2. Don't even think of looking at those video uploads on youtube. Settle for your photos (if you took any) instead.
To quote Fall Out Boy, "Detox just to retox!". Seriously. You have their setlist, you have your pictures and videos, that's more than enough to keep you occupied. This doesn't mean you never have to look up your fellow concert goer's uploads, it just means right now while you're still mending.

3. Find comfort in friends.
This is why having concert buddies is so important. You need someone to fangirl with after the show is long over. Think of this as your PCD Support Group. Swap stories and laugh at all the ridiculous shenanigans your favorite band members were up to on stage that night. And collectively share your sad faces that they won't be around for a while.

4. The interwebs and band-doms are your best friends. Let them supply you with endless gifs and interview videos.
It's a tour. Follow a few tweeps and tumblr blogs, sit back, and enjoy your favorite people answer the same questions 3543874 times in 254554 different cities while being complete adorable dorks. Always helps cheer me up. Look at them dorks being so happy and adorable. Don't forget your favorite band/band member's twitter and instagram!

5. You actually have a life to live.
Sounds meaner than it's supposed to, but pour all that energy towards something good. Like fan art. That you can send to them in hopes that they will come back sooner. Or get them to take five seconds to say hey to you. Try making ice cream, and cake, or both, and consume them with great passion as you watch yet another interview of theirs in a city you probably haven't heard of yet. Just keep busy. Time flies when you're occupied.

6. Go see a show. Any show
Or go see a movie. But if you're dying to get your live music fix, go see a local band in one of their small shows. Gig nights are the best because (a) live music, hooray!, and (b) they could be really really good, imagine how great it is to see what could be the next greatest band in the world long before they filled up arenas? Okay, that could be a stretch. And honestly, so hipster in a very "I loved them before they were mainstream" kind of way. Support your local music scene. Some street teams of big bands also have tribute nights where they get college bands to do covers of your favorite artists, so that's the best of both worlds. And bless the interwebs you can also watch shows streaming online.

No one likes just one artist, or just one band. Wait and go see the next one that comes to town. Rinse, and repeat. Remember, don't be too sad they're gone, be happy you got to see them live!

x
Henri