Haiden Henderson Opens the Night with Heart, Humor, and a Hell of a Good Time

Before Emei took the stage, her best friend Haiden Henderson launched the night into full gear with an opening set that blurred the line between opener and headliner. From the second he stepped on stage, he radiated charisma and confidence—part boy-next-door, part full-blown rockstar. You could tell he was there not just to play a few songs, but to own the moment.

He kicked things off with “Hell of a Good Time,” and the title alone was enough to set the tone. The track was a bold and playful opener, the kind that grabs your attention instantly and doesn’t let go. It felt like a musical adrenaline shot—the crowd came alive, and Haiden made it clear that this was going to be a set worth remembering.

Early on, he surprised everyone with a cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” and it was easily one of the standout moments of the night. He brought a raw, almost nostalgic energy to the song, infusing it with his own style while letting the original emotion shine through. His version felt a little grittier, a little more personal—like a memory of youth filtered through a rockstar’s lens. The crowd screamed every word back at him, and for a moment, the whole venue felt suspended in time.

From there, he transitioned into original tracks like “K.O.” and “Bleachers,” proving that his own music hits just as hard as the covers. With explosive choruses, confessional lyrics, and that unmistakable edge, Haiden delivered each song with the kind of intensity that demanded attention. You could feel the rockstar energy building—hair tousled, sweat starting to glisten, mic held like a lifeline. He wasn’t just performing—he was living every note.

But what made his set truly magnetic was the way he made the entire room feel like part of the experience. He constantly engaged with the crowd, hyping them up between songs, cracking jokes, and even pausing mid-set to read a sign that said, “Please come to my birthday.” Without hesitation, he laughed and said, “Yeah, sure. I’ll see you there.” That unfiltered spontaneity—equal parts charming and chaotic—made the set feel like a shared inside joke between him and the audience.

He closed with “Sweat,” a fitting finale that tied together all the energy, heat, and chaos of the night. It was wild, it was loud, it was sweaty—and it was perfect. By the end, the crowd was breathless but buzzing, fully in on the ride Haiden had taken them on.

As he walked offstage, it was clear that he hadn’t just warmed the crowd up for Emei—he had made a name for himself. Haiden Henderson doesn’t just give off rockstar vibes—he is one, in the making, and everyone in that room got a front-row seat to it.

Words & Photos by Sthefany N.