Moshing and slam dancing have long been ridiculed as an example of teenage boys working out their respective sexual frustrations, but as it turns out, live music is actually a fantastic way to deal with stress.
As NME reports, a new study from the Centre for Performance Science in London suggests live music reduces levels of stress hormones and no, you don’t have to form a circle pit and take your shirt off to enjoy the benefits.
Researchers measured levels of the stress hormone cortisol in punters before, during, and after a performance by classical composer Eric Whitacre. They found reductions in cortisol for all 117 of those tested.
The experiment was conducted twice, four months apart, in separate venues, but with everything else kept identical in order to replicate the listening experience for the punters, who were different each time.
“This is the first preliminary evidence that attending a cultural event can have an impact on endocrine activity,” researcher Daisy Fancourt told The Telegraph, though honestly, we could’ve told you we feel pretty chill after a great gig.
“It is of note that none of these biological changes were associated with age, musical experience or familiarity with the music being performed. This suggests there is a universal response to concert attendance among audience members.”
Of course, what we’re all dying to know is what impact genre has on a punter’s stress level. Was it just that classical music chills you out or can it be any music that the punters enjoy? Would black metal reduce cortisol in Mayhem fans?
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“This study opens up the question of how engaging with music and the arts in cultural settings can influence biological and psychological states and, consequently, the potential of cultural events to enhance people’s broader health and well-being,” said Fancourt.
The research comes a few months after a study by Dr Anne Fox, a British anthropologist who’s specialised in the study of drinking cultures for the past 20 years. According to her recent report, live music reduces alcohol-fuelled violence.
According to Dr Fox’s research, when a drinker is watching a live music performance, they experience less frustration and even a higher degree of comradery with their fellow punters. Alcohol is no longer the sole focus of their night out.
If you’re feeling a bit stressed out, keep an eye out for our Best Local Gigs Under $15 feature, which drops every Tuesday.
