A night of introspective grandeur with Clairo

Moving the audience to their feet and to tears, Clairo channeled Gen-Z bedroom pop and 70’s indie folk in a gentle, contemplative concert at Fox Theater on March 31. From the upbeat playfulness of “Bags” to the quiet devastation of “Harbor”, the concert was a testament to both Clairo’s musical prowess and ever-evolving artistic identity, limited by no one but herself.

After a full-band opening set from equally talented (and Grammy-nominated) Arlo Parks, Clairo and her seven-piece band commenced the show with Sling (2021) opener “Bambi”, a hushed, folksy manifesto of sorts expressing Clairo’s struggles in the music industry. The following “Zinnias” and “Wade”, infused with woodwind and dissonant guitars, maintained the subdued start to the Oakland concert.

Arlo Parks’ opening set

The energy in the crowd immediately heightened as the recognizable drumbeat of Immunity (2019) highlight “North” kicked in, followed by fan favorites like “Bags” and “Softly”, accompanied by cozy saxophone, expansive drums, and keen audience participation.

The show then shifted more introspectively as Clairo performed the rest of Sling, a bout of inward-looking chamber pop. Songs like “Little Changes” and “Reaper” were not immediately as upbeat or lovesick as her Immunity set, but still mesmerizing in their own ways as Clairo’s delicate vocals melded gracefully with crooning clarinets and acoustic guitar. The audience seemed captivated — their warm reception to these performances ultimately moved Clairo to tears of appreciation.

At the concert’s finale, instead of shying from the songs that may have pigeonholed her as an artist, Clairo made them her own, augmenting bedroom pop classics “Pretty Girl” and “Sofia” with jazzy instrumentation and eager enthusiasm. Considering that she once considered quitting music entirely, it was a heartwarming sight to see Clairo effortlessly oscillate between the lo-fi appeal of Immunity and the introspective grandeur of Sling, all with unmistakable joy and control.