The beautiful autumn evening was the perfect welcome for Clairo’s first night of her Charm Tour at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia. As I arrived, the line to get into the venue was down and around the block. The energy was palpable and I could hear the excitement in the voices around me that this big night was finally here.

The night began with the incredibly talented Alice Phoebe Lou, an independent artist based in Germany. Her sweet and melodic music warmed up the audience for what was soon to be a magical evening. Lou made mention that this stage was their most intimate of their entire leg of the tour and that quickly became apparent as the crowd continued to grow. Her entire set created a calming and ethereal vibe throughout the venue. Lou’s soulful voice was accompanied by dreamy instrumentals up until the end of her set. Lou and her band ended her set rocking out and got the entire crowd stoked for what was about to come. 

Clairo took the stage and instead of starting with a tune immediately, she sat in the corner of the stage with her band, drink in hand and they had a moment to connect. This moment of centering was felt throughout the entire audience. Everyone took a chance to breathe and realize that what they had waited for was about to begin- The Charm Tour. 

This particular stage set was reminiscent of an old 70’s music show, with way better lighting. The stage had been backdropped by a simple, yet eye-catching canvas covered in large sequins allowing focus to be where it needed to be, on Clairo and her band. The way the band spread out throughout the stage created such a support for Clairo’s vocals through the evening. This intimate way the stage was arranged allowed for that connection we saw at the top of the set to continue throughout. The lighting highlighted every nuance of lyrics, tempo, or volume. This minor detail created a dynamic visual that enhanced the viewer’s experience.  

It was evident from the first song how captivating Clairo is as a performer. Her audience packed into that venue all the way to the exit doors. Hearing her voice and the ease in which she sang brought a smile to the face of every single person there that evening. Every time Clairo sang a duet with her flutist, I was in heaven. The tones of both vocal and instrument created a new sound all on its own. I immensely enjoyed how effortless the flute (later saxophone) player complimented the performance. These woodwinds brought dimension to the strong and centered vocals Clairo demonstrated. The biggest songs of the night were from her latest album, Charm, where the audience sang every word with excitement. 

I was blown away by the energy and dynamic amongst this band, lead by Clairo. It was a show I will not forget for a very long time. If you ever have the opportunity to witness her perform, do not miss it. Clairo’s international tour dates can be found here.