Covering Nessa Barrett, with support from May-A, at The Ritz in Raleigh, NC was like stepping into a dream, where the edges of reality blur into the pulse of sound and emotion. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a spellbinding immersion, something I rarely encounter even after years of covering live performances. There is a certain enchantment in pop that I often overlook—an artful simplicity that can dismantle defenses and break through any cynical layers that might have formed over time. Watching Nessa that night, I found myself enraptured in a way that felt almost too intimate, as though her performance was meant only for me.

Nessa Barrett’s “Church Club for The Lonely” Tour wins the hearts of her fans.

Nessa was hypnotic, her presence as magnetic as the moon pulling at the tides. Over a decade of covering live music has taught me to trust my instincts; the sensation that lingers as you drive home, that low hum of energy still vibrating in your veins. Some shows leave you tingling, others fade quickly into the background noise of memory. But then, there are nights like this—nights where the performance transcends the stage and lodges itself deep within you. I couldn’t shake it. It wasn’t just that I had seen something extraordinary, it was that her voice and presence had woven themselves into my very core, lingering like a haunting melody for days after.

There is something disarming in the way Nessa connects with her audience, almost as though she is confiding in them, one-on-one, in the privacy of their own thoughts. As she sat at the edge of the stage, her eyes wide with emotion, it became clear to me that this is a fleeting intimacy. Soon, she will be filling arenas, and these tender moments—this closeness—will be but a distant memory, a brief flicker before her inevitable rise to stardom. It is the paradox of watching someone on the cusp of greatness, knowing that you are witnessing something raw and real, but that this nearness cannot last.

Yet, as I watched her, I couldn’t help but muse over how temporary and yet eternal this moment was. It was like catching a glimpse of a star just before it explodes into a supernova. And I found myself, half-jokingly but wholly serious, thinking: where can I buy stock in Nessa Barrett? How do you invest in someone whose future seems so assured? Perhaps it isn’t stock I need, but souvenirs—ten T-shirts, fifty posters. She’s bound to become a cultural artifact, and it’s not just her sound but the energy and devotion she evokes that will soon be priceless.

In the end, it wasn’t just a show. It was a revelation, a glimpse into a future filled with arenas and roaring crowds, but also a nod to the present—a shared moment of intimacy before the explosion. The night lingered with me, an echo that refused to fade, leaving me both exhilarated and a little melancholy at the inevitability of change. Nessa Barrett is destined for greatness, and as the final note hung in the air, I realized I had been part of something much larger than myself—a fleeting, mesmerizing moment on the edge of stardom.

Nessa’s official site:

https://www.nessa-barrett.com/

Nessa Barrett

May-A

May-A’s official site: http://www.may-amusic.com/

May-A, a visual artist, singer – songwriter from Australia, brought forth a powerful performance with her brand of alternative indie. A real joy to experience, exhibiting her chops and setting an uplifting, fun mood for the evening. Editors note: If you get a chance to see her band, check out the drummer!

May-A