I sometimes forget that pop music doesn’t begin and end with the Taylor Swifts of the world. The genre is more than billion-dollar tours and record-breaking streams — it’s also the thousands of underground artists, just one viral moment away from mainstream success. One of those rising stars is Jessica Baio, who kicked off her first headlining tour on Feb. 28 at Exit/In.
The first night of the “UNSAID Tour” opened with artist maryjo, who brought an abundance of energy and attitude to the stage. Performing original songs like “Traffic” and “I Woke Up,” along with a cover of Paramore’s hit “Still Into You,” she quickly won me over. Her goofy but endearing stage presence, full of quips about drunk tattoos and Cleveland, Tenn., filled the room with a feel-good buzz to set the tone of the evening.
Then came the main event. Jessica Baio strutted onto the stage to “bite the bullet,” the lead single from her debut album “UNSAID.” The track — an upbeat yet deeply personal reflection on a doomed relationship — was the perfect introduction to an emotionally charged set. She followed with “I don’t even think about you,” before pausing to greet the crowd and introduce one of her first songs, “crossed the line.”
A rapid-fire sequence of “sharp edges,” “easy” and “unoptimistic” came next, before Baio took a heartfelt moment to thank her fans for making her first national headlining tour possible. She told the crowd about her childhood in California — growing up with little money, enduring endless auditions and subsequent rejections. As she spoke, the intimate 500-capacity venue fell silent in quiet respect. Baio recalled being told she wasn’t good enough and how much it meant to her to stand before a crowd that believed otherwise. Then, with a deep breath, she launched into the album’s title track “unsaid,” a stirring ballad that carried extra weight in that moment.
(Jo Anderson)
Later in her set, Baio surprised the audience with a Taylor Swift medley, weaving together “Love Story,” “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “Blank Space.” She also performed two unreleased songs over the course of the night, “hate you like that” and “excuses.” Here, she shifted the night’s energy from self-reflection to self-love.
“We are all beautiful and talented and deserving,” Baio said.
In honor of her recent feature on Steve Aoki’s track “Radio,” Baio honored Aoki’s tradition of “caking” people at his shows. She then sang the first-ever live performance of the track.
“You guys heard her consent, right?” Baio said before smashing a store-bought cake into an audience member’s face.
(Jo Anderson)
Baio continued lyrical themes of flawed and doomed love with “love’s not pain.”
“This song is dedicated to anyone who grew up in a broken home,” said Baio.
She followed with lighthearted tracks like “best friends with your girlfriend” and “glad you’re settling,” lifting the mood before the night’s most personal moment.
Before the last song on the setlist, Baio spoke about her husband — and highschool sweetheart — and his late father, who had passed away from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She asked the crowd to raise their phone flashlights for a tribute song, “someday,” and as the outro played the audience hummed along in bittersweet harmony. She returned for an encore with “trust issues,” then disappeared offstage, leaving behind the lingering satisfaction of a night well-spent.
Though undeniably pop, Baio’s show had an intimacy rarely seen in the genre. There was no choreography, no dancers, no elaborate stage production — just her, her drummer and the music. Yet, the show soared beyond my expectations. Baio’s ability to be vulnerable without losing the energy of the night spoke volumes about her maturity as an artist, despite being 23.
2024 was a year of music breakouts, from Sabrina Carpenter to Chappell Roan, but nobody’s story is written overnight. The women shaping today’s pop landscape have spent nearly a decade, if not more, fighting their way to the top. After witnessing Baio’s talent and connection with her audience I have no doubt she’ll be one of them soon enough.
