In a cramped office corner, a grand piano sits beside a bass, glockenspiel, drum set, full string quartet, multiple guitars and an array of musicians—which appear just as stuffed as the knick-knacks that surround them, displayed on overflowing desks and shelves.

I properly introduced myself to NPR’s Tiny Desk performances on YouTube only recently—clicking on a video that appeared on my for you page—and found myself unable to put my phone down. As each featured artist performed a few of their songs, it felt as though I was watching a beloved TV show—each episode’s plot evolved with new guest stars, but the cozy set location remained the same, like a familiar apartment complex or coffee shop.

From Doechii’s powerful “DENIAL IS A RIVER” to Nora Jones’ nostalgic “Come Away With Me,” I discovered my new favorite way to listen to and find music. With each guest, a unique sound and energy was brought into the ever-adapting space as they performed their set list—which typically lasts about 20 minutes. And while the location stayed constant, the musicians seemed to multiply with each video—exceeding expectations for the assumed maximum capacity of the space. With some musicians choosing to pause between songs, providing banter and context for listeners, each mini concert came to life. 

But what’s so different about this music compared to the recorded version I can just as easily pull up on my phone? It isn’t perfect or entirely predictable. Listening to a studio recorded song (unless it’s your first time hearing it) doesn’t pack the spontaneity and energy that a live performance does. Just because you are familiar with a song doesn’t mean that the artist will present it exactly the same when heard live.

Anderson Music Therapy Service (AMTS) describes live music as a multi-sensory experience.

“Even just watching someone, not actively participating, we feel the music more strongly. [And] without the barriers of microphones and cables and mixers and recording stations and CDs and iPhones and earphones (it’s a lot of steps to get music to your ears!), we feel the direct impact of sound waves in our bodies,” says AMTS.

Live music simply scratches an itch that your AirPods can’t. Even if you’re not entirely familiar with a band, just by listening to the rawest form of music, it’s hard to resist nodding your head or tapping your feet along to the beat. And this is something I experienced first hand over Presidents’ Day weekend.

In a crowded room of sweaty teens I found myself surrounded. Looking around Eugene’s McDonald Theater I was overwhelmed by the dyed hair, screeching cheers, cat ears and B.O. of the emo company which I was now a part of. Visiting my sister at the University of Oregon, we worried that we’d make a mistake buying tickets to Cavetown—an artist neither of us had listened to in years. However we were entirely wrong.

A girl in front of me held her arms—which were covered wrist to elbow in beaded bracelets—above her head, swaying left and right to the music. Someone in a grey beanie stood beside me, hand clutching their phone, which had been recording for well over 30 minutes straight, at a crooked angle. Yet as the music began, I completely forgot about the strange group I’d settled in, and let it wash over me.

There’s something about hearing and seeing live music that is unmatchable to anything else. As the bass beats, you can feel it thrum from within your chest. Watching the lead singer dance around the stage, and the guitarist slide to his knees during a solo, you can’t help but feel personally connected to, and a part of, each song. And this doesn’t mean you have to be a die hard fan to recognize and enjoy this art. While there’s beauty in singing along with your favorite artist, it’s not hard to enjoy foreign music, especially when you’re surrounded and uplifted by an excited crowd. 

Summit Junior Max Huber goes to at least 10 concerts every summer and explains why he enjoys attending so many performances.

“When it’s a band that you like a lot, that’s always fun, especially if they interact with the crowd and their stage presence or the set they have is good,” said Huber. “It’s fun to be with other people that like [the same] kind of music and to meet new people or go with your friends.”

In a society where having at least one AirPod in—whether you’re ordering coffee or walking to your next class—has become such a normative habit, social interactions have decreased significantly. Instead of hearing your favorite song live with strangers at a concert, people have turned to buying the latest noise canceling headphones, turning themselves into walking “don’t approach me” signs.

And it doesn’t help that concert tickets have become so expensive and inaccessible, fueling this isolation—making recorded music more economically sustainable than big concerts and festivals.

Which is why it’s important to find your own feasible ways to experience music at its fullest. Attend a school concert, get tickets to the local symphony, go to open mic nights, support small indie artists, and enjoy this art in its greatest form. 

If you’re looking for some local and upcoming live music events, here are a few:

Choir Concert: March 13. in the Summit auditorium

First Friday: April 4. Downtown Bend

Central Oregon Symphony: April 5. Caldera Auditorium

Hayden Homes Amphitheater: Concerts beginning in May