To me, when a great band is playing together, it’s amazing for me.

Oates is expressing a musician’s awe at the collective “lift” that happens when skilled players lock in—rhythm, dynamics, and intention aligning into something larger than any one performer. The repetition (“to me…for me”) underscores that this is a personal, almost visceral reaction rather than a technical claim. Implicitly, the quote values collaboration over virtuoso display: greatness is heard in ensemble cohesion, not just individual talent. It also hints at a listener-performer duality common among seasoned artists—despite experience, he can still be surprised and moved when a band achieves true unity in performance.