Not many artists elicit a “no camping” warning from the venues they play, but the arrival of Nessa Barrett and Ari Abdul came with an announcement from The Van Buren in Phoenix: Fans cannot be on the property prior to 2:30pm on the day of the show. But even with only a few hours between arrival and doors, the line stretched down and around the block.
The early arrival of attendees meant there was a proper crowd for Ari Abdul, who is the perfect opener for the Aftercare tour. Her dark alt pop combines the reverb-heavy swells of shoegaze with a mysterious edge and emotionally charged lyrics — in short, she’s a vibe. Abdul and her live guitarist have captivating onstage chemistry, strutting around each other and giving will-they-won’t-they energy that had the crowd going wild. And even after hearing “BABYDOLL” (and its sped up version) so many times on TikTok, fans were so excited to hear it again in a live setting.
That was the theme of the show: Internet songs in real life. Nessa Barrett also rose to fame on TikTok and has been releasing music since 2020, and Aftercare is the latest entry in her alt pop catalog. The album is “a journey from desperation to domination,” but you only see the latter when she’s on stage. Not only was every eye on Nessa but also every phone camera, giving the crowd a faint glow that matched the color of the production. For much of the set, it was black and white, with visuals like clips from Edward Scissorhands and other vintage-looking footage. It was simple but effective, keeping Nessa and her vocals the focus of the show.
Several singalongs (“LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU”, “gaslight”, and “PINS AND NEEDLES”, notably) later, Nessa Barrett wrapped her 25-song set with “AFTERCARE,” solidifying the vibe of the show. She’s a bona fide performer, and the fans will always be left wanting more. Maybe that’s why they filmed the whole show.
