With the release of her new album, “Charm,” American singer-songwriter Clairo revealed that she would be going on tour, her first since her Sling tour in 2022. It began on Sept. 6th in Los Angeles, California, and is set to finish in Manchester, UK, on Mar. 20th, 2025. Fans are ecstatic and have clamored to get tickets since she first announced her tour. As a long-time Clairo fan, I desperately wanted tickets for her Salt Shed show on October 16th. Luckily, I got them.
The concert was set to start at 8pm, which is exactly when the opener, Alice Phoebe Lou, came on. I’ve never listened to her music before this, but I’m grateful to have been introduced. Her set lasted just under an hour and she had great stage presence despite some of the crowd not knowing her nor her music.
At about 9:15, Clairo came on and began singing “Nomad.” Although it was called the Charm Tour, Clairo played songs from all albums, including other singles that she has. She played a total of 20 songs, with everything from “Flaming Hot Cheetos” to “Glory of the Snow.” Every single song was performed wonderfully, and it was a great surprise when she decided to play “Sinking” from her album “Immunity.” Throughout the entire show, Clairo interacted with the audience, something I love to see when I’m seeing live music. She talked to us, read the signs of the fans, encouraged us to dance, etc. The actual set up of the stage was simple yet eye-catching. The entire back of the stage was covered in shimmering decor, which caught and reflected the colors of the changing lights. Above her and the band was a large circular light that would tilt, brighten, lower and more with each song. My one complaint of the show had nothing to do with Clairo herself but with the crowd. I’m aware that Clairo’s music is very mellow, but the crowd was so low energy it was almost like they didn’t want to be there. Even Clairo picked up on this, telling us to dance and have more excitement. All the people around me were just standing there, and really only got excited for her more popular, well-known songs. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with not knowing the lyrics of a song, but there’s no need to act like you don’t even like the performer. Apart from the unfortunate energy of the crowd, the show was fantastic and absolutely worth it.
The concert was held at Chicago venue The Salt Shed. Previously a literal salt shed, the “Elston Dock” has since been transformed into a beautiful music venue with both an outdoor and indoor area. I’d been urged by many to see a show at The Salt Shed, and I’m glad I finally did. Clairo played indoors which is divided into 3 sections. The stage is at the front, with the general admission on the floor in front of the stage, the premium section in a balcony to the left, and the grands at the very back. All the employees were very kind and helpful, and we easily made it to our section. The Salt Shed was a great venue, and I’d gladly go back.
Overall, I loved the show. The opener, venue, and performance were all great and I’d encourage any fans of her to see any tours of hers in the future and to see a show at the Salt Shed.
