Nessa Barrett Took Us to Chruch With Opener MAY-A
Baby Cowboy Nessa Barrett swung by Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford on her Church Club For the Lonely Tour. This is Melodía’s second time covering an event at this venue, and let me tell you, the vibes never disappoint. Young fans showed up in their eclectic Nessa Barrett wardrobe including but not limited to bridal veils, light-up cowboy hats, large hair bows, and corsets laced tight. It was a great nod to Barrett’s ever-growing stylistic eras.
The show was opened by Aussie native MAY-A. She was joined on stage by her all-girl band consisting of guitarist Sophie Guiliani, and drummer G on the Drums. The trio created a wall of pop-rock sound that primed the crowd for the rest of the evening. MAY-A has the type of natural stage presence that makes her instantly likable, or maybe it’s just the Aussie charm. She quickly won over the crowd with her upbeat style that mirrors that of pop-punk princess Hayley Williams. MAY-A has managed to catch the wave of pop-punk revival that many attempted to catch but few succeeded. She joins the standout newcomers in this genre including WILLOW and MGK. She closed out her epic set with her recently released single “ifyoulikeitlikethat”, a pop-rock tune dripping in angst and female rage which highlighted each of the trio's skills.
Photographed by Natalie Colon for Melodía Magazine
As time ticked on, Nessa finally made her appearance gracing the stage in a shimmery red mini dress and fluffy leopard print boots. The singer rocked her new blonde bob, stepping up to the mic for her first song of the night “Scare Myself” from her 2021 EP “Pretty Poison”. Barrett was center stage bathed in white light, a fitting scene for a tour named Church Club For the Lonely. During the hard-hitting beat drop of the single, the crowd bounced their heads up and down riding the same energetic wave set by MAY-A. Barrett followed up “Scare Myself” with her recent Lana Del Rey coded “American Jesus”. The song has quickly become a fan favorite by tapping into the youthful innocence of the idyllic textbook bad boy. Here’s a quote from the chorus that encompasses the vibe well:
“He's got lips like cherry wine
And cigarette smoke on his breath
He's got pretty long brown hair
Green eyes that look like sex
Knees down at your altar
Please don't fail me now”
Towards the middle of her set, Barrett left the stage to enter the crowd. She made her way to the center of the heap of adoring fans to sing her recent hit “Club Heaven”. The single serves as a tribute to her recently passed friend and social media star in his own right Cooper Noriega. It was a touching sight to behold as fans used their cellphones to put a spotlight on the star while creating an echo chamber with voices and singing the lyrics of the song back to Barrett. At the song's end, Barrett took her time returning to the stage allowing fans to snap their up-close photos of her. Barrett exudes a nonchalance that gives her the IT girl factor. It’s as if she could be anywhere in the world, even in front of a sold-out crowd, and be cool as a cucumber.
Photographed by Natalie Colon for Melodía Magazine
Although the majority of her set focused on her own music, Barrett surprised the crowd with her moody rendition of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”. Her smooth silky tone brought out the unsettling lyrics of the song creating a cinematic feel that kept the crowd locked in on her. As she serenaded the audience I saw teen girls with tears in their eyes reaching out their hands hoping Nessa would reach back. Barrett gave a solid vocal performance, and from the looks of the crowd, it seems she’s cemented herself a loyal fanbase over the years. If you’re thinking about catching one of her stops on this tour, I highly recommend it!
To catch Nessa Barrett in concert click here and to stream her music click here. To Stream MAY-A’s catalog click here.
