The line stretched for miles as teenage girls dressed in black and pink leather, sparkly tights and bedazzled cowboy hats waited anxiously for the doors to finally open. One group of girls had been at the venue since 9 a.m. When the doors finally opened at 7 p.m., these punk cowgirls sprinted to the pit and screamed excitedly, their acrylic nails braced against the cold metal barrier two feet from the stage. The ocean of teenage girls ebbed and flowed with anticipation.
TikTok star Nessa Barrett performed her “Young Forever” tour at The Eastern on Feb. 28. Barrett rose to TikTok fame in 2019, gaining followers through lip-syncing popular sounds and her public relationship with fellow TikToker, Josh Richards. She began her music career in July 2020 with her debut single “Pain.” Today, she’s selling out venues. The original concert venue was The Masquerade; however, the maximum capacity of 1,500 could not support the high demand for tickets. The concert was moved to The Eastern, which can hold up to 2,300 people, and quickly sold out. The venue is standing room only, with a multi-level performance room. Last Tuesday, the crowd occupied the three upper levels with comfortable space, while the most devoted fans packed tightly into the lower pit.
When the opening act hit the stage, the energy of the crowd was unpredictable. The 19-year-old singer, Isabel LaRosa, released her EP “I’m Watching You” in 2022. Her single “I’m Yours” gained popularity on TikTok. After LaRosa shed her astronaut helmet, accentuated by red and white flashing lights, the crowd became relatively uninterested. The singer herself was shocked when the audience jumped to the beat of a chorus. Despite the audience’s indifference, LaRosa’s vocals were impressive, and her energy was contagious. Her brother accompanied her on stage, playing the electric guitar. Although limited by her small discography, LaRosa entertained for 30 minutes and readied the crowd for Barrett’s set.
In between the sets, I asked a few fans what brought them to the concert. While I expected the answers to be Barrett’s TikTok stardom, none included her influencer status. One teen noted her appreciation for Barrett’s music because of her honesty and lyrics about mental health. The singer has openly struggled with bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. Another audience member spoke of her relation to the raw anger of Barrett’s song “I Hope You’re Miserable Until You’re Dead.”
“At the time the song was released, I had been engaged, and my fiance left me,” she said. “The song really spoke to the emotions I was feeling and gave me real energy.”
Minutes before Barrett finally hit the stage, the crowd began chanting her name, and the excitement was palpable. From behind angelic white sheets, dramatic smoke and bright lights, Barrett finally emerged. The room erupted. The 4 foot 11 singer was dressed in her own merch: a white football jersey with the words “Young Forever” on the front and black angel wings on the back. Although Barrett is known for her punk-princess fashion, often clad in black or pink corsets and skirts, her ensemble was laid-back and adorable.
Her opening number “madhouse” is a pop ballad discussing her mental health and how others perceive her stability. The crowd didn’t miss a beat singing along. Her voice was clear and her energy was high; swaying, strutting and sprinting across the wooden stage. Her standout performances were “too hot to cry,” “god’s favorite” and “BANG BANG!” Barrett’s ability to transition seamlessly between punk-princess energy to girl-next-door was astonishing. Likewise, her soulful voice was clear and powerful throughout the performance.
The importance of honesty regarding mental health struggles was a coherent thread throughout the entire set, including her music and audience interactions. She sat on the edge of the stage to engage with the audience and spoke endearingly about her own difficulties, as well as her gratitude for her fans’ strength. The singer said, “There is so much love in this room,” and it was evident that she was right.
My favorite interaction was what the singer called “The Burn Box.” As part of her tour tradition, she had asked fans to write down confessions, regrets or things they wanted to let go. She placed these responses in a little, white box and burned it on the stage. The catharsis of this tradition represented her music, her attitude and her fandom. The venue was a “safe place,” as Barrett put it.
However, the performance was not without its pitfalls. For example, Barrett’s soft voice was often lost behind the bold drums and her enunciation was sometimes unclear. Despite this, I felt for the new artist, and her vocal control, comfort with the audience and clear adoration for her fans made the little things irrelevant.
Outside the venue, one fan called the show “heavenly,” and I have to agree. Before the concert, I was familiar with Barrett through social media and had heard a few of her songs. In all honesty, I had expected to be disappointed and to have wasted time I could've spent studying on a Tuesday night. I had trivialized her career and minimized her success to TikTok clout. I was even embarrassed to post the concert on my Instagram. Leaving the venue, I couldn’t have felt differently. I was astonished by her grace, her gratitude, and above all, her talent. I am now, without shame, a full-fledged Nessa Barrett fan.
