On a summer evening this year, journalist Rachel Feintzeig found herself in the midst of a crowd of some 40,000 concertgoers, united by shared song and enthusiasm at a Vermont singer-songwriter’s performance. Despite her self-described cynicism and social reservations, Feintzeig experienced a powerful sense of connection and joy in the collective energy of the event.

Feintzeig attended the concert with her husband and their two young children, ages seven and nine, marking the family’s first exposure to a live performance of this scale. Months earlier, her husband, a kidney specialist, had secured four tickets in the upper deck at face value, approximately $140 each. The event attracted a predominantly young crowd, seen by Feintzeig as fashionably attuned to trends promoted on social media, including prairie dresses and cowboy boots—attire that contrasted with her more casual look.

The evening unfolded at a large stadium, where the sun set over the stage, casting pink and orange hues across the sky. A visually striking moment came when a small cottage was lowered onto the stage, a nod to the artist’s “Folklore” aesthetic. The singer-songwriter’s emotive performance, supported by thousands of fans waving light-up wristbands, created an atmosphere Feintzeig described as akin to fireflies on a summer night from her childhood.

Reflecting on the experience, Feintzeig emphasized the phenomenon known as “collective effervescence” — the intensified feeling of shared emotion generated when individuals experience something significant together. This moment, she said, felt particularly meaningful amid a challenging year marked by environmental crises and health scares.

Feintzeig also observed the current challenges facing live events, from exorbitant ticket prices and long wait times online to the crowded and sometimes unpleasant experiences commuting to venues. She cited examples such as costly concessions and traffic congestion at major sports events, which have remained persistent obstacles even as the appeal of in-person gatherings endures.

Despite these difficulties, Feintzeig advocates for prioritizing shared live experiences as a source of vitality and hope. She noted that communal enthusiasm surrounding major cultural events—including sports milestones, World Cup fervor, and even astronomical phenomena—reinforces social bonds and provides relief from the isolating trends of digital life.

For Feintzeig and her family, attending the concert fostered a memorable connection not only between themselves and the artist but also within the crowd itself, encapsulating the restorative power of collective celebration.