On Wednesday, March 1, Adam Melchor played at the Toulouse Theater in downtown New Orleans. Melchor, a singer-songwriter from New Jersey, captures a romantic, pop-folk sound. He balances his self-deprecating attitude with charisma, wooing the audience with his honest lyrics and high notes. On his “Here Goes Nothing!” tour, Melchor chose up-and-coming regional acts to open his show. In New Orleans, Grace Gardner and Hans Williams each took the stage. 

As a performer, Grace Gardner is like a fairy adventure and poetic heartache wrapped with pink bows. Sweet and gracious, the former Tulane student stood beneath a floral garland clad in a patchwork vest. The vulnerability of her music helped cultivate her fan base, and at the show, she offered herself to the audience. They accepted her, encouraging her as she revealed how emotional it still is to perform her songs live. 

“I wrote the songs because I thought that it was what I needed to have at that time,” Gardner said. “And when it started to resonate with other people, I was like, cool, and really valued connecting with all those people and their experiences, even though they weren’t identical to mine. We all just resonate. There’s so many parts of the human experience like everyone has. We don’t all have the same kinds of loss, but we all have it.” 

She explores this loss through poignant songs like the delicate harmony of  “Deny Me” and “Parcel,” where she adds more of an edge to her indie pop sound. Her utter likeability transformed the space as people felt her emotions — the murky pain of friendships ending and the joys of being a phenomenal opening act. Her new EP, “Peaches,” is out now and worth the listen. 

Still a Tulane student, Hans Williams has already headlined at Tipitina’s and built a following with 924,640 monthly listeners on Spotify. Williams’ low, growling voice is equally fit to lead a pre-game chant or a band in front of a crowd. Williams lost himself in the music, voice loud as he enjoyed his time with his bandmates. With a five-piece band and saxophone solo, Williams is a joy to watch and has depth as a performer while maintaining high energy. Songs like “Body on my Shoulders” and “All is Well” are introspective, but “93” feels more youthful. Williams navigated the tone shifts with ease and proved his unlimited potential.

The stage transformed into an intimate living room as Adam Melchor took the stage. Rich printed fabrics covered side tables with lamps perched on top, and a coffee table in the middle of the stage boasted a rack of guitars. His enchanting but humble demeanor created an easy relationship with the audience, who looked at his patchwork tattoo sleeve like stickers to peel off and put on themselves. 

As the main act, he simultaneously emulated the pensive reflection of Gardner and the swagger of Williams, bringing the whole show together with pop-folk songs like “Angel Numbers” and “Real Estate.” Melchor controlled the stage, interacting with the crowd to lament about long-distance relationships and express gratitude for the thin pair of purple beads around his neck. The show’s energy was upbeat and appreciative, and Melchor proved he has the potential to be a pop heartthrob with his endearing trumpet skills and easy smile.