Motor City tends to send shivers down one’s spine. With its crepuscular alleys, densely graffitied dwellings, and vacated buildings, it is quite difficult to not stiffen whenever your parents utter, “We’re going to Detroit.” Still, despite my worries, a trip there is nothing to be unnerved about. It is because of this that I turned a blind eye to the darkness, voluntarily preferring the music blaring from the speakers of the Kid Rock’s Made restaurant. Conveniently enough, the long-awaited café was right outside the Little Caesar Arena, which was the venue that my parents had taken me to for my 16th birthday. Fall Out Boy would be playing there that night and we had already waited hours to see them perform, all the while inhaling the rich aroma of freshly-baked pizzas. My stomach yearned for a taste and my Dad regretted not reserving a table. However, the doors to the venue eventually opened and we, along with a crowd of others, trotted inside.

The arena, a giant donut with a stadium as its hole, was large enough to be an aquarium for a small sea. The walls were lined with small boutiques selling pricey merchandise and overrated food. The decor must have taken hours upon hours to set up; Fall Out Boy-themed adornment quite literally trailed from the floor to the ever-reaching ceiling. I could have wandered that endless, looping hallway for eternity, absorbing the lively atmosphere and becoming one with my surroundings. I was soon drawn into the stadium, where my night took a turn for the better. It may have taken the beloved band a while to set up, but it was well worth the wait.

Their sudden arrival, brought about by rising trapdoors, was enough to entice and excite the audience. I have never heard such exhilaration in my entire life. A zaftig man wearing a black jacket and black jeans stood before us. A narrow-brimmed, black trilby sheathed his ought-to-be messy hair from view and a purple rhythm guitar was strung across his broad shoulder. Taking the forefront of the stage, he sang into the microphone. Like an angel chanting the statements of sinners, it was the story of beautiful tragedy. His green-yellow eyes darted beyond the crowd and everyone knew that unless he was wearing his contacts, all of us must have resembled an onyx sea, dotted only by the twinkling of our flashlights and the stars in our eyes. Despite this invisible veil, he was beaming.

The stadium was anything but silent as the band recited their soulful memories of misspent youth. Their instruments sounded in unity and their voices screamed in sync, echoing across the ovular bowl of the Little
Caesars Arena. Flashing lights and flamethrowers blinked from the stage, igniting into the open air. Even from where I was standing, I could feel the encapsulating heat dance across my skin. The lead singer invited us to sing along to his melody and we did – all of us. Thousands of people, all connected through one anthem. My rock ’n’ roll salute hanging in the Detroit atmosphere, I felt at home.

I could have stayed in that crowded stadium forever – and deep down, I know that part of me always will. Just as well, I had also taken home a part of it with me: a long, black, fabricated key chain with the word “MANIA” written in purple. Next to the letters stands a purple and white wave that represents the album it is trying to describe. The thick fabric hangs from a hook with the adept warning: “NOT FOR CLIMBING” printed along its sterling surface. It is a little funny looking, and it was definitely one of the cheaper items being sold at the venue. However, it is a constant reminder of what I call “the greatest night of my life,” which is why I will always choose to carry it. Looking at the key chain causes me to grin, and thus, whenever I slide my hand into the seemingly perfect handle that it creates on my keyring, I feel lighter. I know that without it, my life would be relatively the same because I will always carry memories of that night. Nevertheless, I am more than happy to own it. After all, we should always strive to remember the radiant things in life.