What Was Your First Concert?

Plus, the best new music out this week and the song that's challenging everyone's ideas about genre and race

Beck Harlan/NPR Earlier this week, we asked a simple question on Twitter: What was your first concert? And to be totally honest, we were shocked by the response (over 7,000 answers and counting)! Our colleague Ann Powers said her first concert was The Beach Boys in 8th grade. Legendary Minneapolis venue First Avenue responded, “Joe Cocker.” We even saw some musicians weigh in, including Colin Meloy of the Decemberists (“Willie Nelson, Great Falls State Fair. Maybe 81 or so?”). So, now we turn to you, newsletter subscribers: What was your first concert? See you in the front row, Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna P.S. Marissa’s first concert was technically ’NSync — her mom took the whole family — but she’d rather cite the first show she saw chaperone-free: Bright Eyes’ Digital Ash in a Digital Urn tour in Providence, R.I. in 2005. Lyndsey’s first concert was whoever played the Florida Strawberry Festival in 1996. To Read What makes a country song country? That's the question at the heart of the debate over “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X's viral hit that was pulled from Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart, raising questions over discrimination in the country music industry. Written by a feminist poet who struggled with bouts of depression, “America the Beautiful” asks how we can do better, calling on the country to use its riches for the common good. Nirvana's Kurt Cobain died 25 years ago this week. The band's former manager, Danny Goldberg, discusses his memories of Cobain in a new book, Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain. New Music This week’s episode of All Songs Considered features new selections from classical expert Tom Huizenga, including the experimentalism of Third Coast Percussion and new symphonic sounds from Portishead's Beth Gibbons, plus a Florida folklore-inspired track from Jake Xerxes Fussell and more. From the punk sounds of Martha and PUP to the highly-anticipated follow-up from R&B singer-songwriter Khalid to the celestial pop of Weyes Blood, here are the new albums out this week worth hearing. Spring’s shaping up to be quite the season for new music: The long-awaited return of Carly Rae Jepsen is near! Plus, hear two new tracks from Vampire Weekend’s upcoming album, Father of the Bride. Tiny Desk Amr Alfiky/NPR Watch Weezer perform a pair of new tracks plus two songs from the Pinkerton era, including the beloved rarity “Longtime Sunshine,” at the Tiny Desk. On a day when sunlight drenched the office, the warm songs of Courtney Marie Andrews felt right at home. Watch her perform songs from her sixth record, May Your Kindness Remain, at the Tiny Desk. Incoming Friend of the newsletter and NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich is back! Next week, he’s taking over All Songs Considered with a special Viking’s Choice show. One More Thing Women are in the main event of this year’s WrestleMania. Maybe next we’ll have more women headlining major music festivals? What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify! You received this message because you're subscribed to our NPR Music emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002