On July 12th of 2024, American singer-songwriter, Clairo, released her third studio album, Charm. The album contains eleven tracks, opening with “Nomad” and closing with “Pier 4”. Her first self-released album and first album to reach the top ten of the U.S. Billboard 200, Charm has received critical acclaim for its incredible songwriting and production quality. Lyrically, Charm fuses differing experiences of modern-day romance and love, all over melodious instrumentals reminiscent of 1970s jazz and folk music.
The release of Charm is what ultimately prompted the eponymously-named Tour to begin on September 6th of this year. Beginning in Texas and Arizona, Clairo traveled to California in October, performing in San Diego, Stanford, and finally, here at the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Similar to the sequencing of the album, the first song on the setlist was “Nomad”. Its up-tempo melody immediately ignited the audience with emotion and energy, followed closely by “Second Nature” and “Thank You.” Fans were captivated by her distinctive sound, often described as aligning with the “Bedroom Pop” genre, and were moved by her intimate lyrics. While also being an immensely talented musician, Clairo has a calming presence that allows her to easily connect with her listeners. This was evident when she unexpectedly played the song “Harbor”, a track off of her second album, Sling, and the entire crowd sang along and turned on their flashlights, transforming into a sea of stars. Clairo’s fans’ proved their dedication yet again when one audience member was brought onstage and volunteered to backflip for her, before being asked to stay and dance for the duration of the song “Terrapin”.
Another highlight for many viewers of the concert was the gorgeous set design, inspired by a 1970s, green-carpeted “conversation pit” or sunken living room, lit up by a glittering tapestry backdrop.
Melody Vogel, a senior at San Marcos who attended the concert, agreed, stating that “the set design was really pretty, and her vocals were very good live”.
Julia Kirchmaier, another senior at San Marcos who works at the Santa Barbara Bowl, also said she “was really impressed by her voice”.
The Charm tour will continue until March 20th of 2025. Until then, Clairo will be visiting states such as Oregon, Washington, and Utah, though it is unlikely any of these locations will have venues as picturesque as we are so fortunate to have with the Santa Barbara Bowl. There are multiple other brilliant artists performing there soon, among those being Leon Bridges and SOFI TUKKER, so be sure to take advantage of this town’s beautiful forum and attend an upcoming show!
