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Concert review: Clairo charms audiences with intimate ambience, hits across her career

Clairo stands at the microphone while performing on her “Charm Tour” at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on Sept. 6, 2024. The singer-songwriter performed five shows at the Los Angeles venue with a setlist stretching across her discography. (Courtesy of Ariel Goldberg)

“Charm Tour”

Clairo

The Fonda Theatre

Sept. 10

By Natalie Ralston

Sept. 11, 2024 12:40 p.m.

Clairo charmed Los Angeles like it was “Second Nature” last night.

On Tuesday, the bedroom pop artist greeted an exuberant crowd for the fourth of her five shows at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. The singer-songwriter kicked off her “Charm Tour” Sept. 6 and is set to perform until March 2025 in promotion of her introspective third album “Charm,” released in July. With most of the harmonies on “Charm” inspired by 1970s jazz-style melodies, Clairo fully embraced the era onstage, placing her backing band in a carpeted conversation pit and channeling soulful instrumentals. Her somber stage presence set the tone for a night of tender nostalgia, playing tracks from both her early artist days and latest album.

Bursting onto the stage with a dynamic set, openers Paris Texas quickly united the crowd with their vibrant stage presence, which was in tonal opposition to Clairo’s more melancholy energy to come. Soon after, the theater’s iconic velvet curtains drew back, and the crowd erupted in celebration as Clairo and her band appeared onstage. Establishing a relaxed attitude, the singer casually distributed glasses of wine to her bandmates and engaged in a few minutes of playful conversation as the audience eagerly watched in anticipation of the first song.

[Related: Concert review: Olivia Rodrigo illuminates Kia Forum with colorfully emotive hometown performance]

The artist then leisurely approached the microphone before transitioning into the night’s first performance, “Charm” opener “Nomad.” Dressed in a monochromatic white corset and pleated skirt paired with shimmering silver heels, Clairo embraced the isolating feelings and mature messages associated with the song, singing poignant lyrics such as, “I’d rather wake up alone than be reminded / Of how it was a dream this time.” As the audience eagerly harmonized, the band smoothly shifted to two more fresh tracks: “Second Nature” and “Thank You,” both from her new album.

Clairo (center) performs on stage at Hollywood's Fonda Theatre on Sept. 6, 2024. The stage design for the performance resembled a conversation pit, with the backing band arranged around the singer-songwriter in a two-tiered setup. (Courtesy of Ariel Goldberg)
Clairo (center) performs on stage at Hollywood’s Fonda Theatre on Sept. 6, 2024. The stage design for the performance resembled a conversation pit, with the backing band arranged around the singer-songwriter in a two-tiered setup. (Courtesy of Ariel Goldberg)

The groovy melodies allowed for a more upbeat atmosphere and provided a necessary change for listeners from previously relaxed songs. Illuminated by an overhead moon-shaped light, the yellow and blue hues created a soft ambience, reflecting the sincerity of Clairo’s lyrics. The lights flashed in synchronicity alongside the powerful beat of the drums, focalizing the role individual instruments played in the fan-favorite tunes whilst band members seemingly lost themselves in the music, dancing to the rhythmic beats.

Harkening back to the past with some of her most popular tracks from early in her career – including “Softly” from 2019’s “Immunity” and the 2017 single “Flaming Hot Cheetos” – Clairo ignited the audience with passion, reminding original fans of their introduction to the now-established singer-songwriter. With the crowd cheerfully shouting lyrics, the newfound excitement in the audience was met with a gift from the band: the addition of smooth saxophone and keyboard synths, diversifying the sonic palette of the well-known songs for a transformative live experience.

While these lush instrumentals shined onstage, they occasionally outshone Clairo’s vocals. The theater’s quality sound system and the backing musicians’ exuberant energy sometimes made Clairo’s hushed lyrics incomprehensible. Fortunately, each track’s lively blend of instruments gave the crowd enough momentum to remain excited for the next melody.

Singer-songwriter Clairo smiles and looks out at the audience while on stage at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on Sept. 6, 2024. The show was part of the artist&squot;s ongoing "Charm Tour," which runs through March 2025 and features performances of songs such as "Sexy to Someone" and "Nomad." (Courtesy of Ariel Goldberg)
Singer-songwriter Clairo smiles and looks out at the audience while on stage at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on Sept. 6, 2024. The show was part of the artist’s ongoing “Charm Tour,” which will run through March 2025 and features performances of songs such as “Sexy to Someone” and “Nomad.” (Courtesy of Ariel Goldberg)

Quietly transitioning into “Bambi” from her 2021 record, “Sling,” the band toyed with the familiar track’s composition by incorporating key flute notes, layered guitar and additional vocals that transformed the song entirely. Shortly after, Clairo finally engaged with the crowd, orchestrating a reimagined classic of “Happy Birthday” on the spot. After the audience collectively pleaded for her to perform the melody, the singer subsided and playfully joked with fans about the band’s ability to skillfully harmonize on a song without any practice. She then facetiously insisted that the audience bark at her like a dog, using the joke as a continuous bit for the rest of the night, before re-engaging listeners with more tracks from “Charm,” including the intimate “Echo” and heartfelt “Pier 4.”

[Related: Concert review: Pushing boundaries of live music, St. Vincent elegantly performs stunning set]

Although the ’70s-inspired stage design certainly possessed charm, the restrictive nature of a conversation pit ultimately limited the immersion the performance was able to provide. The instrumentalists – including drums, bass, guitar, piano and flute players – were strategically positioned in various corners of the two-layered staircase. Clairo rarely departed from her center-stage microphone, leaving multiple areas of the stage untouched and sections of the audience seemingly unseen. Similarly, the deep blue and amber-yellow lighting was largely stagnant, only ever occasionally switching up the tempo for a haphazard effort to make the show feel more varied.

Luckily for Clairo, her beloved songs “4EVER,” “Amoeba” and “Bags” drove the show home. Picking up a new black and white electric guitar, she continued adding fresh layers to old tracks. Ending the show with her two most recently popularized “Charm” songs, “Sexy to Someone” and “Juna,” the energy escalated quickly, as the crowd became aware of its forthcoming end. After a zealous, almost synchronized dance from the audience, the singer stepped off the podium to walk along the end of the stage for her final goodbye before blowing a kiss and thanking the audience once more for coming.

As the last note faded, Clairo’s unmistakable presence seemed to echo throughout the room, reminding fans of a tender night well-spent.

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Natalie Ralston | Theater, film and television editor
Ralston is the 2024-2025 theater, film and television editor and Arts contributor. She was previously an Arts staff writer. Ralston is a fourth-year English student minoring in film, television and digital media from Murrieta, California.
Ralston is the 2024-2025 theater, film and television editor and Arts contributor. She was previously an Arts staff writer. Ralston is a fourth-year English student minoring in film, television and digital media from Murrieta, California.
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