Ber Brings Her Debut Album Home to Minneapolis
4.17.26 - Minneapolis, MN
Two weeks after releasing her debut album, Good, Like It Should Be, Ber found herself back in her home state and headlining First Avenue. In 2023, I saw Ber perform for the first time in a small venue in Chicago, so it was an honor to watch her perform songs from her first album. Her hometown crowd showed up and showed out throughout the entire night.
Getting the night started was another Minnesotan native, Anna Devine. Also a member of the band Chutes, Devine took the stage for her solo act. Devine’s whimsical, indie-folk energy matched the night perfectly. The highlight of her set for me was when she covered "The Climb.”
Starting off the night with “Who’s This?” Ber cemented herself firmly as a Minnesota-native. I find that all her songs are laced with hints of Minneapolis. Her mentions of the city, the weather, restaurants, and common Midwestern experiences draw her closer to this state. Specifically with “Who’s This?” Bermentions restaurants like Bulls Horn and includes the lyric “-22 Minneapolis,” and hearing the audience scream that back to her really made it feel as though everyone in the audience understands exactly what she was writing about.
Written in Pepin, Wisconsin, Good, Like It Should Be speaks to the human experience of self-discovery, joy, and introspection. Ber’s personal growth and happiness radiated out of her while she was singing on stage. The entire night felt like one big cathartic release for Ber and her fans.
During the middle of her set, we delved deeper into Ber’s sadder parts of her discography. She sang “Middle of Nowhere” and “Book Cover” in a row, which was one big emotional moment for me, Ber, and the rest of the venue. Laying herself bare with her lyrics is one of the main reasons why I felt drawn to Ber’s music in the first place.
After that brief dip into heavy emotions, Ber spoke about her favorite song on the album, “Hey, Bluebird,” which she wrote as a love letter to herself. It contains all the pieces of advice and words of encouragement she wished she could say to her 20-year-old self. She brought up one of the co-writers of the song, Jeremy Massersmith. He delivered an impressive whistle-solo, which garnered hoots and hollers from the audience.
Nearing the end of her set, Ber played the titular track, “Good, Like It Should Be.” This song was the final crack in the dam for Ber’s emotions that night. Earlier, she told the audience she would probably cry at some point in the night, and this was that moment. With a shaky breath, Ber finished out the song and immediately burst into tears. Turning to her band for comfort, she regained her composure and wiped the tears from her face.
My two favorite parts of the night were during “Oh, To Be Cool” and her final song, “Whatever Forever.” For “Oh, To Be Cool,” Ber had the audience do a call and response to the words “cool” and “fun.” The song is an upbeat and unserious reminder that we don’t all have to be confident and perfect all the time because that’s just unrealistic. “Whatever Forever” is up there in my rankings of favorite songs by Ber (“Boys Who Kiss You In Their Car” is my all-time favorite), so ending her set with this song just felt right. It’s perfectly joyful, and the entire track just screams summer. It left the audience on a happy note.
The entire night was nothing short of beautiful. From Ber’s gentle guitar strumming and strong vocals to spinning around and dancing onstage, it was an unforgettable night for singer and fan alike.
