In my whole life, I’ve only ever been to two concerts. The first was Def Leppard and Journey, which was great. And the second was one of the most impactful pieces of art I think I’ll ever get to see: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (ATSV). It is a movie I’ve loved since it came out, and on Oct. 18, I had the great pleasure of seeing it with a live orchestra.
There’s too much to say about this experience. The second I walked into the Hult Center for Performing Arts, I was in awe. There were hundreds of Spider-people, all from different continuities, sitting patiently and waiting for the show to start. It felt so nice to be in a room of people all so passionate about something. The community I got to see was easily one of the highlights.
Of course, the movie was incredible. The first time I saw it in theaters almost two years ago,andI was speechless.You can read my full review of the film last year here. This time, it did exactly the same for me. Only now it was accompanied by a group of some of the most talented musicians I’ve ever seen all playing alongside the film.
The real star of this show was the orchestra. Getting to see this incredible soundtrack live was just unbelievable. The anticipation built the second we arrived, as the musicians warmed up, I could already feel the blood pumping. The conductor Shelbie Rassler came on stage and thanked us all for being there, and I just knew we were in good hands. From the opening scene to the intermission to the credits, I was hooked and unable to pull myself out of the sound.
It was deeply human. I think oftentimes in film, especially animated ones, it’s easy to forget the work that goes into them: that some composers spend days, weeks, even months making a score. That each frame was poured over by animators, and that the film itself was the product of hundreds of people and their passion. Getting to see it right in front of my face just brought it all to life. It layed out years of work in front of the audience, as if to say, “yeah you’re watching it, but really look at it.”
I’m not someone who has a deep affinity for live music. I do appreciate it, but I don’t think it’s as impactful to me as it is to others. Yet still, I wish more than anything that I could go see ATSV Live in Concert over and over again forever. And I’m very mournful that I missed seeing Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse live as well. ASTV live is no longer in Oregon, but I think if you get the chance to see any media live in concert, you absolutely, positively, without a doubt should. And I know from now on, I’ll be on the lookout for more experiences like this one.
