Aidan Bissett @ Paradise Rock Club 10/2

Photography by Annabel Friedman

Review by Reaghan Sassower

There’s something about Paradise Rock Club that makes every show feel bigger than the room itself. On Thursday night, the venue’s low ceilings and tightly packed floor created the perfect backdrop for the emotional storm Aidan Bissett was about to unleash.

Before Bissett took the stage, rising indie-pop singer Zach Hood warmed up the crowd with his aching yet infectious tracks “13 Missed Calls” and “never knew a heart could break itself.” His mix of vulnerability and charm made the room feel instantly at ease, but he didn’t stop at just performing—he connected. At one point, he handed a rose to an adoring fan at the barricade, and later, he asked everyone to light up their phones, transforming the space into a glowing sea of flashlights. The gesture turned the opener into a communal moment, making it clear the night would be about intimacy and connection between artist and crowd.

When Bissett finally appeared, the packed venue erupted with energy. He wasted no time pulling the audience into his orbit, launching into tracks from his new album “Shut Up and Love Me.” The project is his most vulnerable to date, weaving together stories of failed relationships, messy situationships, and the grief of losing a close friend last year. One particularly haunting song imagines what life would be like if he passed away, a track that cast a hush over the room as fans absorbed his honesty. Hearing those songs live felt raw and unfiltered—less like a performance and more like Bissett was offering the crowd pieces of himself.

That willingness to be so open is what makes Bissett stand out. His music doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable emotions—it embraces them. “Bloom” and “contact high” provided cathartic sing-alongs, the kind where the crowd’s shouts nearly matched his own energy. In contrast, slower, heavier moments highlighted his ability to silence a room, the audience hanging on his words as though they were being confided in directly. He commanded the stage without ever seeming untouchable; instead, he felt like someone letting you in.’

Of course, the night wasn’t all shadows and introspection. Midway through, Bissett’s guitarist Grant McManus carried out a fan-favorite tradition, scanning the crowd before plucking one lucky person to be the singer’s “situationship” for the night. Bissett then serenaded her with “are we in love yet?,” leaning into the playful bit that has become a staple of his shows. The fan laughed and blushed, while the audience cheered them on, turning what could’ve been a private moment into a shared joke that made the room feel even closer.

The setlist balanced heavier songs with undeniable bangers. When Bissett tore into “2 much 2 handle” and “ricochet,” the packed venue felt like it might burst at the seams. His voice was steady and strong, but what stood out most was how he leaned into the audience, practically daring them to keep up. They did, shouting every line back at him with the kind of passion usually reserved for artists who’ve been around much longer.

But it was the finale that sealed the night. As the first notes of “Tripping Over Air” rang out, fans immediately recognized the hit that skyrocketed on TikTok in 2022 and launched Bissett into the spotlight. The energy surged one last time, the crowd dancing and screaming the lyrics like a victory lap. It was a fitting end to a show that had been equal parts vulnerable and euphoric, a reminder of why the song—and Bissett himself—have resonated so widely.

By the time the lights dimmed and fans spilled out into the Boston night, one thing was clear: Aidan Bissett isn’t just an indie-pop act to watch. With “Shut Up and Love Me,” he’s proven that he can take heartbreak, loss, and longing, and transform them into anthems that make even a small club feel like the center of the world. His performance at Paradise was more than a concert—it was a testament to the power of laying yourself bare, and the way music can turn that vulnerability into something unforgettable.