Claire Cottrill, known professionally as Clairo, is an indie pop singer-songwriter currently on tour for her hit album “Charm,” which stopped in Columbus Sunday, Oct. 20.
“Charm” is Cottrill’s third studio album, which dropped July 12, and its accompanying tour kicked off Sept. 6. The tour has 52 shows in the U.S. and Europe, including a stop in Columbus at KEMBA Live!
Many fans, however, were shocked at the cost of tickets. During the presale, tickets were $130 at face value, whereas the average ticket for her last tour was around $45 apiece.
Fans were also saddened by the absence of “Pretty Girl,” her viral 2017 single considered her “claim to fame.” Similarly, the singer did not perform “Sofia,” which is her most popular song on Spotify, amassing over 790,000 streams.
This didn’t stop fans from attending, though. Cottrill sold out KEMBA, which accommodates 5,200 guests for its outdoor shows. Fans camped all day and lines of people wrapped around the venue, anxiously awaiting Clairo’s performance.
At 6 p.m., KEMBA opened its doors and fans flooded the venue, cramped shoulder to shoulder in the pit, as others slowly filled the upper-level lawn. While some fans rushed to get a good spot, many waited upwards of an hour in line to get Clairo’s official merchandise, which is currently sold out online.
Alice Phoebe Lou, who opened for Clairo, took the stage at 7 p.m. Lou, who has three million listeners on Spotify, is a popular indie-alternative artist known for her relaxing beats and soft rock influences.
Lou played 11 tracks, including popular songs “Open My Door” “Lover / / Over the Moon” and “Witches” which were highlights of her performance. Despite being the opener, fans were enthusiastic about her set and sang alongside Lou’s stunning vocals.
After Lou’s set, anticipation for Clairo began. The singer took the stage around 8:20 p.m. and started the show sitting down, having a tea party with her bandmates. After pouring iced tea and whiskey, Clairo kicked off the show with “Nomad,” the lead track off “Charm.”
The set featured a conversation pit and a funky, patterned background to pair with “Charm,” which was inspired by ‘70s jazz beats. She followed up with two more songs from her new album, “Second Nature” and “Thank You,” with saxophone in the background, enhancing the jazzy theming of the show.
Clairo played every song from her recent album but also made sure to play some popular older songs including “4EVER,” “Softly” and “North.”
She also made sure to throw in some deep cuts for longtime fans, including “Partridge” and “Bambi” from her 2021 album “Sling,” and “Flaming Hot Cheetos,” a single from her 2018 EP titled “diary 001.”
Throughout the show, Clairo interacted with her fans, even singing happy birthday to an audience member and drawing a tattoo for another, creating an infectious energy in the crowd.
Specifically, the energy from the audience during “Bags” was unmatched. A clear fan favorite, everyone in the venue shouted every word and was a definite stand-out from the setlist.
“Amoeba,” however, was the highlight of the show. Clairo introduced it as her favorite song to perform, and it’s no surprise why. “Amoeba” is fun, funky and danceable, making it the best song of the night.
Clairo closed the show by introducing her band members one by one before going into her final song “Juna,” her hit single off “Charm,” and perfectly culminating the show.
Despite the outrageous ticket prices, Clairo’s stage presence and stunning vocals were unparalleled, making it a must-see tour.
