SHOW REVIEW: Nessa Barrett
LOS ANGELES, CA | MARCH 21, 2023 | BY ALICIA URREA
On March 21st, 20-year-old pop singer-songwriter Nessa Barrett brought her Young Forever Tour to the iconic Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California. This was the first of two nights at the venue, with an additional date at the Hollywood Palladium on March 25th.
As the rain fell onto the streets of Hollywood, fans eagerly waited outdoors in a single file line to be let inside the venue. After getting through security check-in and having tickets scanned, umbrellas were left by the door as people flocked to the general admission pit. During the intermission after the opening act, the crowd erupted into cheers as the stage’s curtain lowered to reveal a projection of white lettering that read: Young Forever Tour: starring Nessa Barrett. People chanted her name “Nessa!” multiple times before she hit the stage.
About thirty minutes later, the lights went out and the curtain slowly lifted. It revealed white sheets that hung parallel to each other, toward the back of the stage. Nessa emerged from these sheets wearing a one-piece blue lace outfit, starting the show with her single “madhouse.” The night kicked off with immense high energy, and every fan in the room knew every single word to every song. A bright white light illuminated Nessa as she strutted back and forth between both sides of the stage during songs like “decay” and “too hot to cry.”
Nessa also took the time to address her adoration for her fans in between songs. As the set simmered down for her song “god’s favorite,” Nessa spoke to the crowd and reminded them that they were in a safe space, stating “I talked to a lot of you guys before the show and you said I saved your life, but you saved mine. For this song, I want you all to recognize your strength and know that you’re all God’s favorite.”
As much as she was strutting across the stage, she also sat at the edge of the stage in order to be as close to fans as possible. She made the experience extremely vulnerable, in the best way possible. She even dedicated a portion of her set to something called “Burn Box.” During this segment, she explained that fans had the option to write something down on a piece of paper before the show – anything that you needed to get off of your chest – and place it in the box. As she finished speaking, Nessa lit a match and walked over to the box, which was sitting patiently on a stool behind her. She dropped the match inside as all the papers ignited, slowly burning out after a few seconds.
The crowd returned to liveliness as Nessa continued her set, singing songs like “tired of california” (which the crowd ironically sang the loudest) and “deathmatch.” Shortly after, though, the room returned to tranquility as Nessa invited her producer Evan Blair on stage. He joined her for an unreleased track titled “American Jesus,” playing guitar alongside her. Everyone attentively listened during this acoustic set, as it seamlessly transitioned into the song “lovebomb.” Fans held up their phone flashlights and held one another, swaying to the gentle melody. As Nessa sang the chorus, Nessa held up a heart with her hands, and the crowd did the same.
Nessa shared another intimate moment with fans during the song “die first.” Everyone held up single roses in remembrance of her late best friend, Cooper Noriega. Both moments were extremely wholesome that definitely showcased the relationship Nessa has with her fanbase.
The concert ended shortly after, with the blood-pumping track “BANG BANG!” being the last song. The lights flickered from red to white as Nessa ran across stage, soaking in the intensity from the crowd’s energy. As the song concluded, she thanked everyone for coming to the show, skipping backstage momentarily. She returned for the encore, “i hope ur miserable til ur dead.”
The Young Forever Tour was definitely momentous for both Nessa and her audience. Her talented vocals, vibrant stage presence, and overall love for her fans was memorable and evidently emitted throughout her set. Her shows are certainly not worth missing if she decides to return with another tour, hopefully in the near future.