Alexander Stewart Brings the “What If” Tour to Life at Valley Bar

Alexander Stewart made his way to Phoenix, Arizona for his 3rd to last stop on his “What If” tour at the Valley Bar. As a long time listener, but a first-time concertgoer, I was looking forward to seeing if his live vocals would match up to his recordings and he absolutely delivered.

Before Stewart made his way to the stage, he had one opener go on before him, Neriah. This singer-songwriter from Los Angeles has been making music since 2020, and having previously seen her perform for Madison Beer back in 2024, I was excited to see how her music has evolved since then. As for her signature style, Neriah’s glittery, ethereal aesthetic made her shine under the stage lights, literally.

Neriah opened her set with “Spring Cleaning”, a song from her newest EP Reason to Hate You. That was the best song to start with because it’s fun, upbeat, and even if you don’t know the words, just dance! She threw in a few of her older songs like “Out of Your League”, “SH!TSHOW”, and a crowd favorite, “Unfinished Business”, which she mentioned has over 25 million streams on Spotify. There was a noticeable amount of people singing to her music and overall, the crowd enjoyed her performance. I think her music meshes well with Stewart’s and was proven to be a great choice as his opener.

When Alexander Stewart took the stage, screams filled the room. Standing behind a group of teenage girls who seemed to be completely starstruck when he appeared inches away from them, I watched as he welcomed the crowd with a big smile before launching into “Here Again”, “Not Ready Yet” and “Let Me In” from his new album What If. I was most excited to hear “Good Things Go,” my favorite song off the album. Hearing the crowd clap along to the beat as he performed honestly gave me a sense of euphoria.

One thing that stood out to me was how emotionally heavy the setlist of the tour is. There are consistent themes of heartbreak, vulnerability, and in the midst of it all, the crowd was radiating happiness. There was something special about hearing those lyrics sung back in unison by a room full of genuine fans who cherish and relate to his music. He would periodically step up on a higher part of the stage and almost orchestrate the crowd into singing, fully immersed in the moment himself. It was a great crowd to be a part of. 

Between songs, he had mentioned that the Valley Bar was one of the most intimate and small venues on the tour. “I can actually see everyone’s faces”, he shared. His interactions and constant engagement with the crowd is what creates the best memories at a concert because we get to see the real Alexander Stewart.

As of one of the final stops on the “What If” tour, this show felt especially memorable. It was the kind of night that reminds you why live music matters— how it connects you to the songs you love in a way you never quite expect.