Rather than walking out to instruments or a dramatic intro presentation, Clairo, whose full-name is Claire Cottrill, and her jazz band gathered in a circle to share a drink before starting their recent show at The Anthem.
It was so intimate that it might make one wonder if they were interrupting a dinner party — but they made sure that intimacy lasted even after the music started. The relaxed, casual nature of the intro was only foreshadowing for the set ahead. And so, Clairo completely charmed a sold-out audience at The Anthem while promoting her new record alongside supporting act Alice Phoebe Lou.
The warm lighting, and hanging mirrors, made it feel lovely and cozy, just like new album Charm itself. Stepping away from the more pop sound of her first to records, Immunity (2019) and Sling (2021), Charm, self-released to high praise from the media, is jazz with an indie bedroom pop twist.
Though Clairo focused on highlighting the new record, opening with “Nomad,” the first on the tracklist, she didn’t shy away from playing her older music.
At the barricade, a fan with a sign tried to get Clairo to play a specific song. Three songs on a poster related to a number for her to select. She exclaimed, “We’re playing the hits!”
She then played her most streamed number, 2021’s “Bags,” a song so well known in her fanbase and indie genre one can recognize within seconds of the catchy synth intro.
During “Flaming Hot Cheetos”, another hit, the catchy tune had fans jumping and singing along to devastating lyrics about struggling with a past relationship.
Stream Charm by Clairo on Spotify:
Earlier in the evening, Alice Phoebe Lou opened for Clairo with a 10-song set, including a mashup of her two songs, “Lover” and “Over The Moon.” Originally from South Africa, she is now based in Germany. Her sound is a mix between indie pop and folk, and similar to Clairo, her most recent project was self-released. Throughout the 45-minute set, she played songs from her entire discography, but mainly focused on 2023’s Shelter.
There are shows you leave emotionally drained and distraught, or intense or depressed. This was not one of those experiences. After her final song, “Juna,” where she leads the crowd singing the catchy phrase “You know me, you knowww me. And I just might know you, too” fans felt connected.
Just like her merch, which read “I got Charmed at the Clairo Tour” suggests, the audience did leave the venue enchanted and dazzled after a warm, intimate evening of jazz and indie bedroom pop.
Here are some photos of Clairo performing at The Anthem on Oct. 21, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Sami Pye.
