Have you ever waited so long for something that the moment it finally happens, it is absolutely surreal?
That was my experience when I saw Ed Sheeran at the Tacoma Dome in July. I had been a fan for five years but had never been able to see him live. But those years of agony, years of hearing stories from friends that had seen him and watching YouTube videos of his concerts, were all worth it when he was 35 feet in front of me.
After completing his “Multiply” tour at the end of 2015, Sheeran took a break from public life and social media. It was not until exactly a year later that he posted a simple blue photo on Instagram. The following month he released the first two singles from the “Divide” Album, Castle on the Hill and Shape of You.
The complete album was released March 3, blessing the ears of young and old, all around the world. I have had it on repeat in my car ever since.
Watching each of the songs live was a completely different experience than anything you could hear on the radio or see on TV. His voice seemed to carry around the dome and it just reassured me how truly talented he is.
This concert was unlike any concert I had ever seen. Unlike fellow artists Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars or Katy Perry, who all had backup dancers, singers and instrumentalists, Sheeran was on the stage by himself the entire set.
Just a man, a guitar and a loop pedal.
The most incredible part was that the stage never felt empty. Whether that was because his passionate personality and musical talent extended past his 5’8” stature or because the screens behind him made it look like a lot more was going on, he seemed to fill up the stage.
He also kept the audience on their feet for the entirety of the show, an impressive feat for any artist, especially one with a lot of slow songs. I found myself singing and dancing to Photograph and Galway Girl, to every song in between.
I have been to quite a handful of concerts and I think the true sign of a concert well done is the overwhelming feeling of not wanting to leave, even with aching feet and a hoarse throat. As soon as Sheeran belted his last note in You Need Me, I Don’t Need You, I was struck with post-concert depression. So much so, that after the concert, my friends and I stayed a couple hours outside his tour bus, screaming our favorite songs and hoping to catch a glimpse of the red-headed legend.
Overall, Sheeran’s concert was an experience that I never want to forget and I hope that every fan gets the opportunity to see him in all of his glory.