In 1972, when Robert Elms was 13 years old, he saw the Jackson Five play live. At some point during the performance, he describes experiencing three minutes of “divine delirium” – where he found himself in a state of otherworldly perfect synchronicity with everything happening around him. Unbeknown to him then, this would set him off on an endless pursuit for that same height of pleasure.

This is a memoir of a life lived through live music from pub rock to jazz funk, punk to country and a musing on why music really matters.

Every gig is in its own way memorable. Whether it’s a swooping bass or an unexpected cacophony mid-set, his anecdotes are fused with nostalgia and highly immersive. His snapshots of musicians past and present are startlingly concise: Tom Waits showboating with an umbrella, Grace Jones vogueing with a mannequin, Amy shimmying shamelessly like a little girl at a wedding. Gil Scott-Heron rapping with a conga drum. Dylan, Miles, and Bowie. The list – the beat goes on.

While in our changed times, Robert notes that we have found new ways of listening – of being part of something special by uniting fans with their favourite performers online, there is not, nor can there ever be anything quite like the live experience.