An Appreciative Love Letter to One of My Favorite Bands, The Maine
The Maine,
Where do I even begin?
First off, congrats on being a band for 10 years. That's quite an incredible feat, and I'm so lucky to have been (and still be) a part of your journey. I don't think high school me ever pictured making it this far with you guys, but I'm so glad I did.
And celebrating that momentous occasion with you at 8123 Fest was an otherworldly experience I'll never forget. It's also a huge part of why I decided to write you this letter.
While I've been to plenty of your shows, none of them hold a candle to my time at your festival.
I felt more at home on the grounds of the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, Arizona, surrounded by my favorite artists and fellow fans, than I've ever felt anywhere else.
Honestly, I've felt a little lost in my life recently and unsure of so many elements. But the moment the first chord was stuck and word was sung, all of those nagging feelings of uncertainty floated away. For the first time in a while, I felt comfortable in who I was and positive I was meant to be exactly where I was.
When you finally graced the stage, an indescribable rush of emotions hit me like a ton of bricks. All those fond memories I have of listening to your music over the years and seeing you perform shows enveloped my mind, causing this euphoric feeling to take over. It really is difficult to explain, but I'm positive everyone at 8123 Fest felt something similar.
It's not just this extraordinary moment that I need to thank you for, but for everything you've done.
Without really knowing it, you and your music have been with me through so many integral moments of my life. And I cannot thank you enough for letting me into your crazy world with open arms.
I've never quite felt as though I belonged in my own family, so being able to be a part of yours is one of the greatest things I could've imagined.
Your endless creativity and sheer love for what you do is nothing short of admirable. While so many other artists change who they are to fit into the industry's mold of what an artist should be, you've always stayed true to who you are. And it's inspired me to do the same.
Without you and your music, I don't know if I ever would've found the confidence to be comfortable in my own skin, so thank you. Thank you for sharing your music with the world. And thank you for being incredible musicians and and even radder bunch of dudes.
Here's to the future and everything it holds for you, as well as those like me who will continue to support you throughout all of your endeavors.
Sincerely,
A Forever Fan
The Maine is definitely going to take over 2017, but you should also have THESE 16 other artists on your radar this year.