Is a Concert Worth Going to Just for the Opener?

[Image Credit: Eleonramur, Billboard, 2026] 

By: Amber Wallis 

On February 24, 2026, I went to the Oakland Fox Theatre to see the Artemas concert in hopes of hearing the opener, Ella Boh, perform live. Ella Boh creates dark-pop music that focuses on raw emotions, and she expresses these feelings through different themes supported by visual aspects such as color, shadows, and enriching lyrics. Many moments of this night stood out to me, such as meeting Ella Boh, and I enjoyed every moment of it, despite not being well-connected to the main singer, Artemas. 

To begin with, Artemas’ concert cost about $50 per ticket. I found these prices to be reasonable, considering the show was around 2.5 hours with 3 performers (Ella Boh, Henry Morris, Artemas). Around this time, Artemas has been gaining popularity rapidly due to songs such as  “i like the way you kiss me” and his newer release, “professional heartbreaker.” When I first heard of his concert, I knew little about his music and only heard his popular songs on social media. In fact, I was more familiar with the headliners, including Isabela LaRosa, who played for the first few shows before switching with Ella Boh. However, I was committed to going to the concert despite my limited knowledge, and little did I realize this was a choice I wouldn’t regret making. 

[Image Credit: Amber Wallis, 2026] 

With the concert only a few months away, I was dedicated to exposing myself to Artemas’ music more. His music is mostly dark pop and includes a variety of electronic elements that support his catchy vocals. I listened to the LOVERCORE album and added more songs as the setlist was updated. However, on the day of the show, there were about 2 songs I didn’t know, due to them being unreleased or older songs. This preparation helped me understand his style more and made me feel more connected to the concert and other fans. I also didn’t listen to Henry Morris’ songs and had little exposure to his music. 

On the day of the concert, I didn’t go as early as I wanted due to class. Ella Boh listeners often camp outside the venue hours before the show starts and get to see Ella Boh and her crew arrive. It didn’t seem like anyone did that for Oakland, though. I arrived a few minutes before the doors opened, and I was worried that I wouldn’t be close to the stage. However, many people didn’t stay on the concert floor and spent more time hanging around and looking at merchandise. I was able to get to the 3rd row from the front, and eventually to the 2nd, then by the barricade later in the performance. This was really surprising to me because I didn’t realize how easy it was to be that close to the stage, and I thought it would be more crowded at a small venue. The people seemed generally nice and outgoing, but a few people were rude and didn’t enjoy people moving past them to see their friends. Also, many seemed older than I anticipated; I thought most fans were around 15-18, however, many were over 21. For me, it was interesting to hear people talking about Ella Boh, who didn’t listen to her music, and this was the opposite situation for me. 

[Image Credit: Amber Wallis, 2026] 

Ella Boh performed for 30 minutes, and she sang many of her popular songs like “babydoll,” “ur gf,” “SERiAL KiLLER,” and her newest song, “iLLORONITA.” She also did a cover of “Careless Whisper” by George Michael, as well as perform her unreleased song “Starlet.” She had strong vocals throughout the performance, often singing expressively, dancing around, and interacting with the crowd. I really enjoyed her performance live, and what stood out to me the most was her interaction. Since Ella’s microphone stand was right in front of me, she stood there multiple times and made eye contact with me. I think wearing her merch and being at the barricade helped me get recognized among the Artemas listeners. Being in the front had many benefits, and I had a clear view; however, it was very hot there. Despite this, it was worth it as Ella interacted with the people in the front often. She ended up going down on the block in front of the stage to meet the fans, and at the end, she ran along the barricade to meet and hug people. A downside to standing in the front was that I couldn’t really see if the crowd enjoyed the performance as much as I did. When I looked behind me, there weren’t that many people singing. This was disheartening because she was extremely talented and delivered an amazing performance, showcasing her powerful, energetic vocals that matched her onstage attitude. 

Henry Morris played 15 minutes after Ella Boh. He mainly played his electric guitar and sang. Despite not knowing much about him beforehand, he performed well and demonstrated astounding skill. However, I found it difficult to hear his microphone over his guitar, and I couldn’t really understand much of the lyrics. In my opinion, he wasn’t as engaging as Ella Boh, but that was primarily due to his limited movement with the guitar and microphone. The crowd seemed to enjoy hearing him play, and there was even a request to play a song not on the setlist. Also, after the performance, I learned that Henry Morris had a few technical issues, but this didn’t really matter as he played well. 

[Image Credit: Amber Wallis, 2026] 

Artemas started around 10, and the first song, “lovercore intro,” had a very flashy but dark introduction. His set had a smaller and taller platform, and he also had an electronic keyboard with another mic off to the side. I didn’t like how elevated the platform was, and during the intro, I could only see the top of his head and only a few letters on the screen behind him. However, the visual effects made up for this, and there were a lot more lights used than in the previous sets. Artemas’ vocals were also surprising, and his soft but enthusiastic vocals contrasted well with the effects. He was also very engaging and encouraged the audience to finish the lyrics of the songs. I liked how he played the electronic keyboard during certain songs, and it truly elevated his music. His microphone by the keyboard was used to pitch his voice higher, as well as add a slight reverb to his words. I’ve never seen this used at any other concert, and it was really unique to see him utilize these instruments. Overall, I enjoyed his set much more than I anticipated. It really helped to listen to his songs beforehand, or I would have felt bad for not making the most of the experience. 

[Image Credit: Amber Wallis, 2026] 

After the show, I got to meet Ella Boh, and this was one of my favorite moments. She was outside, greeting fans after the set, and she would welcome them with a hug before talking to them and taking pictures. She genuinely seemed happy to see us. There was no fee for the meet and greet, which was really special and kind for her to do, especially since going on tour can be exhausting. The line wasn’t long to meet her, and I got to talk to her after a few minutes of waiting. Going to the concert for Ella Boh was worth it, and I enjoyed hearing the different styles of music and how each artist expressed themselves differently. Even though I had doubts about the concert, I still enjoyed it to the fullest and felt closer to all the artists. This experience taught me to try something new and to grasp every opportunity to enjoy life. 

[Image Credit: Amber Wallis, 2026]