I didn’t fully know what to expect walking into Tuesday night’s concert experience, and I certainly didn’t expect for me – a generally-optimistic-but-sometimes-snarky-and-a-bit-jaded-30-year-old – to walk away from being immersed in a crowd of mostly teens with a better connection to myself and a little more hope for the future than I had when I walked in.
But these young, talented performers – Aleem, 23, starting off the night, and Madison Beer, 19, headlining – showed so much authenticity and a genuine love for their music, that my little heart couldn’t help but grow a few sizes. Their connection to their audience of fans – many of whom were experiencing live music for the first time – was kind and vulnerable, both performers allowing moments to take hold of the outstretched, grasping hands extending over the guardrail with a smile and eye contact. 
When Aleem and his band took the stage, I felt the crush of the audience pushing forward, excited and buzzing with anticipation, iPhones up and at the ready to catch the first moments of the singer’s entrance. He energetically came on, and they launched into something upbeat and danceable, but with a mature sound that I could totally get into. He looked like the stage was his home – completely comfortable, and happy to be there. They did a cover of Maroon 5’s “This Love” and I had a moment of quick mental calculation that went something like “Wait a second, I loved this song when I was 16, but that feels like yesterday, but wait that couldn’t have been…oh god, christ, was that 2002?!?” But before I could fall too far into the where-the-hell-did-the-time-go downward spiral, I looked around and saw everyone singing along and dancing to the same catchy beat and tortured-love lyrics that also struck my younger heart. In his bio, Aleem talks about loving when there’s a connection created in songs – exploring bold honesty, genuine struggles, intense feelings – something where the listener hears their own experiences and feels like someone else out there “gets it.” It was clear during his set that this is the music he appreciates from other artists, and the type of music he’s passionate about creating. And from the way the crowd screamed excitedly at the end of his set – he’s nailing it so far. 
During the stage switch, I listened to the chatter around me – excited voices making guesses as to which song they thought she was going to sing first, or asking their neighbor what their favorite song is off the album. (Side note to adults reading this: Can we make this a regular thing? Something other than cool nonchalance while staring down into our phones between sets? Eh?) When it came time for the lights to dim, the crowd started chanting “MAD-I-SON! MAD-I-SON!” then completely lost it when she walked on stage and struck a confident pose. She smiled and took it in for a moment before jumping into her signature pop/r&b and totally danceable sound. 
She was a natural on stage, enjoying her movement, engaging with her killer band, and sharing moments with her fans. She’s talked about how she has always loved performing, and it shows. But below the pop-star qualities is a genuine old-soul vibe and deep emotional connection to the music she’s making. She performed with passion, at times with closed eyes and a tangible release of the emotions she infuses into her songs. 
She covered Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” and her voice was soulful, rich and velvety – it was a gorgeous rendition. She utilized a keyboard and a talkbox for a couple other songs before surprising me with a hauntingly beautiful version of Radiohead’s “Creep.” She made it super slow, and achingly emotive. At one point, as she sang “I don’t belong here…” the tears welling in her eyes spilled over but she continued on and allowed herself to be moved by her connection to the lyrics. After the song was over, she took a quiet moment to thank her fans for allowing her to do something she loves, and explained how lucky she felt to be up on that stage performing for them. She made a point to remind the crowd that no matter what they may be going through, they’re so special, and so loved. 
After this tender exchange, she went through more of her songs including “Tyler Durden” – complete with scenes from Fight Club playing behind her. As she finished out the night dancing and having fun with her fans, I grew to appreciate the title of her EP and her tour – As She Pleases. Seeing a young woman perform with confidence, own her femininity, claim her sexuality, and dare to shine in her own way was totally inspiring. 
So as I walked out of the venue through a sea of youths, I let myself push through my minor annoyances (“Did you really have to Snapchat the entire performance though?”) and I just felt grateful to get a reminder to stop taking myself too seriously, let loose, and find more of my own confidence in authentically doing whatever I please. 
