Girlhood, Live in Concert: Jessica Baio

Jessica Baio, photo by Kirk Stauffer for Back Beat Seattle

Jessica Baio's audience at the second show of the US leg of the Other Side Tour at Seattle’s Neumos had a level of age diversity I haven't seen since Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. From tweens to young adults to women well into their fifties, four generations of women were able to have an excellent Thursday night. As a married woman with relatable music and a strong online presence, Jessica appeals to a large crowd. The crowd found escape through dreamy background visuals and Jessica's twirling while hitting high notes and holding hands with audience members. This feeling continued from the moment doors opened to VIP at 6:30 pm until the venue closed for the night at 10:15 pm. 

From left: Paige H., Caroline H., Lydia C.

It was impressive, as someone who usually only attends concerts predominantly filled with high school and college-age girls, how many tween girls were in attendance. Some of the first girls I talked to upon walking in were Paige, Caroline, and Lydia. They were all middle school age – the concert ticket was Caroline’s twelfth birthday present. Her mom had brought all three girls to the concert and surprised them with VIP tickets last minute. They told me that one of them started to cry when Jessica came onstage for the pre-show VIP segment. Caroline’s mom Rebecca was bedazzled in the same sparkly eyeliner the girls donned.

From left: Taylor Eley, Riya Rajkumar and their friend Juliette Justus

Near them, also in VIP, were super-fans 22-year-old Taylor Eley and 18-year-old Riya Rajkumar, plus a friend of theirs, 18-year-old Juliette Justus. Taylor told me that Jessica’s music helped her through a breakup, noting that the last time she saw Jessica live (also with a VIP ticket), she was still deep in the coping process. Regarding the show tonight, she says, “I love seeing her again, she’s such a sweetheart.” She's been a fan since Jessica’s debut single “World Record”. Riya told me about her relationship with Jessica’s music, “Sophomore year of high school was, like, the hardest year of my life, and her songs, like, really helped me through that. And then, especially, like, the last few months, I’ve been dealing with… a lot of, like, betrayal and backstabbings… ‘Inferior’, like, has really helped me just, like… know my worth a little bit more… and knowing that [Jessica] feels that [way] as well [is helpful].” 

They’re still on an emotional high after their second VIP experience with Jessica. Riya says, “It feels like the same sort of, like, excitement. That initial, like, nervousness… when you see someone on the screen for so long and then you see them in person.” Throughout the show, fans repeatedly yelled at Jessica how gorgeous and loved she was, so it seems that Riya’s excitement was a communal experience.

Mari Gunter (left) and Kennedy McKenna (right)

Mari Gunter and Kennedy McKenna, both seventeen years old, were also in VIP. They marveled over both having gotten individual photos with Jessica, and also how they got to see her husband Sam (of the famous joint account @samandjessofficial). Kennedy says she's been a fan since “before they got married” all the way back in 2020. Her favorite songs are “Inferior” and “Bad Tattoo”, and Mari’s are “Trust Issues” and “Who You Are”.

From left: Pamela Sykes-Knoll, Kalena Knoll, me

Kalena Knoll and her mom were decked out in gorgeous floral dresses. Kalena spoke dreamily of Jessica’s lyrics and told me she's learning Jessica’s songs in her vocal lessons. She’d made her a gold necklace, but unfortunately was not able to give it to her. She and I twirled as we admired each other’s outfits and took a photo together.

Lucas and Sofia Joehnk

I spent most of the concert with my new friends Sofia and Lucas Joehnk. Sofia, a high school freshman, has been a fan of Jessica’s for three or four years. “I found her music through Natalie Jane, because I went to Natalie’s tour and she was opening.” This continued with Jessica’s first solo tour, “I saw her live last year on her tour… her music is just… inspiring to me”. Sofia specifically cites “Someday” as one of the songs that inspired her most. Her rising-college-senior brother Lucas attended with her and made sure she had the time of her life.

From left: Bethy Fleshman, Julie Forcum, Jacquie Nicole

We mustn’t forget the moms! I heard a mom inquire a few feet away from me, “Is this the mom’s sitting area?”, to two other moms sitting on the floor. Bethy Fleshman and Julie Forcum both have high school age children. Bethy speaks fondly of Jessica’s music, especially her voice. Julie is helping her kids explore the Seattle music scene for smaller artists after having already experienced Taylor Swift and Coldplay in concert at Lumen Field with them. She’s particularly excited by the music scene at smaller Seattle venues because the artists are people who her daughter “can actually, like, relate to more”.

Jacquie Nicole's daughter is twelve years old, and this show was her first concert, “I have three boys, this is my only daughter, so I’ve been waiting for this moment.” She adds, referring to Jessica's tween appeal, “She does a good job of writing songs for, you know, the younger crowd."

Bethy Fleshman (left) and her daughter Gabby (right)

Jessica’s show was full of whimsical energy, pop music that reminded me greatly of Addison Rae, an extra appearance from opener Johnny Huynh, and screams of ‘I love you’ from the audience, which Jessica of course relayed back. She led the audience in chants during “Inferior”, and entered the crowd during “Trust Issues”. I was super impressed by her usage of the screen onstage, which her concert videographer broadcasted her onto in real-time. This is a step most artists playing small venues don’t take. I left the show feeling complete, surrounded by happy women of all ages.

Get tickets to The Other Side Tour here.

Special thanks to Gus Chancy, BC Taylor, Gabie Gomes, Kirk Stauffer and Back Beat Seattle for helping make this article possible.