Arlo Parks’ Performance at the Fox Theater Was “Too Good”

On March 5, Arlo Parks performed at Oakland’s Fox Theater.

To kick off the show, Chloe George opened. Her 30 minute set was filled with gratitude and fun. Her joy performing on stage radiated throughout the venue. And, to make her set even more engaging, her voice was amazing. The whole audience buzzed about how much she stunned each and every person.

With perfect light design enhancing every song, the show completely blew me away. My expectations were already high going into the show, but she truly exceeded them. Arlo Parks’ voice is just as soft and emotional as it sounds on her album and the pacing of the setlist kept the crowd energy high –– even when she mixed in her slower and more emotional songs. Additionally, her talented band was regularly highlighted with extended instrumental parts of each song and fantastic spatial sound design. Their talent, and Arlo’s appreciation for them, truly translated to the audience.

My favorite moment in the concert was her performance of “Pegasus,”a song off of her new album, My Soft Machine (2023), featuring Phoebe Bridgers. I had only heard the acoustic version of this song before the concert, and the non-acoustic

version was absolutely amazing live. In spatial harmony, each note came from a different side of the Fox Theater and the soft lights cast a mystical vibe on the room. The audience went crazy to “Pegasus” ––  the perfect balance of emotion and danceability. It was quite a special moment.

Second to Arlo Parks’ performance of Pegasus, I also absolutely loved her choice to pick up a guitar herself nearing the end of the show. She jammed out with her bandmates, dancing and jumping around the stage with limitless energy. With the stage completely engulfed in green light, it was a moment different than any other in the show. The light’s color palettes had previously shifted from blue to pink to red. This upbeat instrumental portion of the show was a surprise to the audience and brought the energy back up to speed after a few more emotional songs. It truly tied the whole show together.

Overall, Arlo Parks hit the nail right on the head. Her stage presence, set list, sound design, light design, and bandmates all culminated into what I would call a perfect concert. Arlo Parks is a must-see artist when she comes back to the Bay next!

Photos and article by Eliza Scheer