Supernova: How’s It Gonna End? Tour
★★★★☆
On a warm, sunny evening in Detroit, Aidan Bissett took to the stage for his Supernova: How’s It Gonna End? Tour. The show, held at El Club, started with a set from opening act Casey Baer. The pop-princess clearly draws inspiration from acts like Tate McRae and Madison Beer, as her style, stage presence, and music all draws similarities to the viral pop icons of today. Baer put on a wonderfully energetic start to the concert. Her vocals had the crowd engaged, her stage presence got them moving, and her call-and-response style lyrics warmed up the audience’s voices. After a rousing and entertaining set—filled with humorous adlibs, sharing friendship bracelets, and a roaring rendition of cruel summer—Baer left the stage for Bissett’s headlining set.
In stark contrast to Baer’s opening song—one with significant instrumental build up—Bissett casually took to the stage with his two band members. Without introduction, he began the show with a performance of “Worst Girls of All Time.” Yet, even without a anticipatory introduction, the crowd was already sitting in the palm of the singer’s hand. Maybe it was residual excitement from Baer’s set, or maybe the crowd was really just that excited to hear Bissett perform, but the audience was wildly attentive.
With a discography full of upbeat pop tracks, it’s not surprising that Bissett’s audience was moving along to the music; however, from the very start of the show it was clear that everyone watching was there for a good time. By the time he sang the chorus of “All That I’m Craving,” only the second song of the night, the crowd was already moving like waves in the sea. People were jumping, dancing, and having fun, and we were only five minutes in.
After a few high-spirited tracks, including the viral track “Twenty Something,” and a clothing strip met with lewd cheers, Bissett makes a comment to the crowd about his next track. He claims it’s one he’s wanted to put into the setlist but never knew where to place it. He tells the crowd that he wants to hear everyone screaming and that he’ll call them out if they don’t because, in his own words, he’s “a menace.” He relents the half-heartedly stern assessment of the crowd, and climbs among them to perform “A Song For Her.” The emphasis on screaming certainly makes more sense when the chorus is really just that: a scream. Looking around, the closeness of Bissett from his place among the crowd, as well as the release of the scream itself, seems to provide a sense of catharsis. It’s heart-warming to see the power of live music in such a physical way.
Throughout the show, such as during “More Than Friends” and “Ultraviolet,” Bissett proves more than just his vocal and writing capabilities. A plethora of guitar solos from Bissett himself, and even more instrumental breakdowns from his band, dot the show. While Bissett gets a fair few critiques for his rise as a “TikTok singer,” these moments prove he’s a talented, passionate musician. The musicality of the show, especially one of such a pop-heavy artist, was a happy surprise.
As we reached the end of the performance, Bissett jokes with the men in the crowd. He claims that younger generations—particularly men in those generations—are afraid to move at shows. The guys strewn about El Club, however, are commended for their passion and dancing. Bissett tells the audience that he “loves their vibe” and to “keep it up for the last few.” And keep it up the audience did.
During “Gorcery Store Girl,” Bissett manages to get each and every audience member down to the ground during the final prechorus before prompting the masses to dance as soon as the chorus hit. It was a moment of child-like joy that I don’t typically see at shows. The crowd was letting go of their inhibitions and having fun, and it was building a wonderful atmosphere.
Bissett ends the night, of course, with the track that brought him into the spotlight. “Tripping Over Air” first rocketed to popularity on the platform TikTok, like most modern viral songs, and the crowd knew every bit of it. For the entire song, including another instrumental breakdown, the crowd was jumping and screaming the lyrics.
Even as Bissett said his final goodbyes and left the stage, the crowd still roared. One Direction’s “Best Song Ever” seemed to be Bissett’s departure song of choice, and the crowd was just as loud singing and dancing along as they were during Bissett’s set. They raced and gathered around the merch table in a show of support I’ve never seen at the show.
With a smile, I left the warm atmosphere of El Club as the fans kept the night going, and, unsurprisingly, no one followed me out. The fans were dedicated to staying and showing their support to each other and Bissett for as long as the venue allowed them. Their clear love for Bissett was comendable, and their unmistakable passion for live music was truly a beautiful sight to behold. Bissett put on an entertaining show, sure, but the true enjoyment came from the happiness of his fans. They were infectious to him, to me, and to each other, and that was what made the night truly special.