By Alain Cruz
I want to start by saying that I wasn’t really a fan of BENEE before going to the concert, but I’m always open to becoming a fan of any artist I see. Of course, I had heard her mega-hit “Supalonely” during the pandemic, even learning the dance as we were all stuck inside, so I was excited to hear that one song in particular. Still, I didn’t expect to walk out of the venue as a mega fan. But that’s exactly what happened.
From the moment I walked in, the energy in the room was incredible. Every single person there felt like a real fan. People weren’t just waiting around for one popular song to record on their phones; they knew every word to every track and were fully engaged for the entire show. That kind of crowd makes a difference in the overall experience. There’s something special about being surrounded by people who genuinely love the artist and are there for the music, not just for social media moments. For me, this is something that is very important.
The venue also played a big role in the experience. Terminal West is easily one of my favorite venues in Atlanta. It has a cozy and intimate feel that makes the performance feel more personal, and the lighting was absolutely perfect. Everything from the stage to the atmosphere helps make every show that much better. As for her performance, she completely blew my socks off. She has such a natural stage presence and really knows how to connect with the crowd. One of my favorite moments was when a fan handed her a pair of boots, and she just casually put them on and kept performing like it was part of the show.
The band backing her up also deserves a lot of credit. At one point, while she was talking to the audience, the guitarist started playing “Megalovania,” which completely caught me off guard in the best way. It was a small moment that made me laugh and added even more personality to the show. Even the merch stood out. My girlfriend ended up getting a shirt featuring an airbrushed pigeon covered in rhinestones, which was both unique and honestly pretty cool. It felt different than just a t-shirt with tour dates and a logo on the front (which there’s nothing wrong with, but come on, a pigeon shirt is way cool).
Overall I had a great time. I went in as a casual listener and left as a real fan. “Green Honda” became my new favorite song and I quickly added it to my playlists. Between the energy of the crowd, the intimacy of the venue, her performance, and the strong support from the band, everything came together perfectly. It’s always great when a concert can completely change your perception of an artist and this was definitely one of those experiences. I look forward to hearing more of her music and hopefully seeing her again in the future as she has definitely made a fan for life.
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