Full Speed

I went to New York primarily for a concert, although there were plenty of other destinations I could have chosen. Somehow, New York felt like the obvious choice.

I’m not usually someone who gets caught up in the hype surrounding tourist attractions. I don’t tend to build trips around the places everyone says you have to see. But after visiting New York, I think I finally understand some of the fascination.

I’m a city person at heart. As much as I sometimes want to avoid the noise, crowds, and constant movement of a bustling place, I love what a city makes accessible. New York offers an incredible range of variety, culture, art, architecture, environments, experiences, and people—all within reach of one another. There is always somewhere else to go, something else to see, and some new detail to notice.

At the same time, my overambitious nature probably worked against me. I tried to cover too much ground in too few days, moving from one destination to the next without giving myself much time to slow down. By the end of the trip, I was worn out—not necessarily because I disliked anything, but because I wanted to experience everything at once.

New York demands a certain amount of energy. Even simply getting from one place to another can feel like part of the experience. The city is loud, often crowded, fast-moving, and full of visual information. For someone who enjoys photographing places and collecting impressions, it can be both inspiring and overwhelming.

I would definitely return, but next time I would take a slower approach. I would spend more time in fewer places, leave room for wandering, and allow myself to experience the city without constantly thinking about what I might be missing. There is obviously more to New York than I could see in one hurried visit.

The concert may have been the reason I went, but the city itself became the larger experience. New York was exhausting, exciting, overwhelming, and strangely familiar all at once. I may not be drawn to every tourist attraction, but I understand now why people keep coming back.

The reason for the trip was to see Pomplamoose, a band I had listened to from nearly their beginning. As a kid, fascination and fixation were pretty central to my personality, and Pomplamoose quickly became a fixture in that part of my life. They don’t tour very often, and rarely play anywhere near the places I’ve lived, so seeing them live for the first time after nearly eighteen years felt deeply nostalgic.

Also got to see their opener, Jacaranda. This was a new find for me, so I will be on the look for what else they do in the future.

*Side note: I was way too early, rain poured down, seeped though my umbrella and I was drenched like a drowned rat before anyone was allowed inside.