Pop artist Alex Warren brought his Cheaper Than Therapy Tour to Madison Thursday night for the nationwide launch of Future Friends on college campuses.
Future Friends, a new initiative merging live music, mental wellness programming and community action on college campuses, was created by Harris and Sabrina Schwartzberg, founders of Two Bridge and Corey McGuire.
“At the heart of this is a simple truth: we all know and love someone impacted by mental health issues,” co-founder Sabrina Schwartzberg said in the press release. “Future Friends was created to make sure no one has to go through that alone.”
Hosted at the Orpheum, the intimate, free event featured performances, wellness activities and guest speakers including Bachelorette winner and mental health advocate Zac Clark. The night was organized by Two Bridge in partnership with Core Spaces, which owns downtown apartment complexes Hub Basset, Hub Madison and Oliv.
“Future Friends is about creating human connection through music,” Harris Schwartzberg, co-founder of Two Bridge said in a press release. “By pairing meaningful and authentic live music experiences with wellness resources, we’re showing people they’re not alone – and that community can be a powerful part of healing.”
The event opened with remarks from Schwartzberg, who thanked University Health Services for their support and emphasized the importance of mental health on college campuses. “We’re here to connect music, mental health and community,” he said. “Students at this university have incredible resources, and events like this are about making sure they know that.”
Core Spaces President Dan Goldberg said his company’s partnership with Future Friends grew from a shared mission to foster belonging and mental fitness in student communities. “We’re obsessed with creating the best living experience,” Goldberg said. “That means more than just beautiful spaces – it’s about connection, wellness and unforgettable memories.”
Clark, who recently celebrated 14 years of sobriety, shared his journey through addiction and recovery, encouraging students to embrace authenticity and kindness as pathways to better mental health. “Living an authentic life is powerful,” he said. “Kindness will win. Ask for help when you need it – you’re worth it.”
When Warren took the stage, he immediately connected with the crowd of about 1,000. Wearing a bright yellow cheesehead, he joked about never attending college. “This is the closest I’ve ever been to a college campus,” he said. “I feel like a cult leader, and you all are my disciples.”
Between songs, Warren mixed humor with emotional honesty. “If you wanted me to do a flip, you should have paid Benson Boone,” he said. “I’m here for depression.”
As the show went on, the singer spoke candidly about losing both of his parents — his father when he was 9 and his mother to alcoholism at 18. “Everyone always told me it would get better,” he said. “It doesn’t. It just gets manageable.”
Warren reflected on the loneliness of grief and the importance of remembering those who have died. “People die twice,” he said. “They die when they die, and they die again when you stop telling their stories.”
During one of the most powerful moments of the night, Warren asked the audience to turn off the lights in the theater and raise their hands if they had experienced loss. As concertgoers participated, teal concert bracelets lit up across the crowd. “This is a room where we can cry about these things,” he said. “Because it’s not just you.”
Alaina Walsh is the associate news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has covered breaking news on city crimes and a variety of state and campus stories, including the 2024 presidential election and the UW-Madison budget.
