Alice Phoebe Lou danced across the stage, an image of whimsy in a sea of subtlety. Swaying around the Salt Shed stage, accompanied by bossa nova instrumentals, she slowly but surely charmed the audience at Clairo’s tour on October 16.
Phoebe Lou stripped out the bulk of the costuming, background, and instrumentation in her opening performance. Instead, her raw musicality shone. The band, which included drums, bass, electric guitar, and keys, laid a pleasing groundwork that she vocally adorned. Enveloped by a black divider and illuminated by soft pastel lighting, she was a standout both visually and sonically.
In a dalmatian-and-butterfly-adorned tee and a sunflower cap, Phoebe Lou sowed a garden of images and sounds. The clear fan favorites were “Only When I” and “Witches.” Regardless of whether they knew the artist’s songs or not, at Phoebe Lou’s urging, everyone danced. During “Lover / / Over the Moon,” she asked the audience to hold hands with those around them, close their eyes, and sway. The dim background noise came to a hush as she sang, “I’m a lover / So let me love you.” And with Phoebe Lou’s luminous energy, it was hard not to. United by her charming effervescence and collective movement, a rapport between artist and audience bloomed.
Phoebe Lou’s register spans a dreamy falsetto and a full-throated tenor. Though she tended to use her upper range, the lower one emerged in resonant, soulful moments. This performance’s lack of other elements to distract invited audiences to wholly take in Phoebe Lou’s vocal spectacle. The band ran chords and arpeggios in the breaks between songs, making the performance feel more like an outdoor jam session than an opening act for a crowd of 3,600. Phoebe Lou is embarking on her own European tour in April, with venues at and above that size. Her set seemed to be a wholly successful test of how to charm an audience of this level.
Using her two nights at a sold-out Salt Shed to the fullest, Phoebe Lou introduced herself to Clairo’s audience with a crescendo. With many parallels to Clairo—a jazzy sound, a playful whimsy, and a musical career spanning over a decade—Phoebe Lou was easily identifiable in Clairo’s orbit. The opener’s oeuvre transitioned perfectly to the songs off Clairo’s album Charm. The two artists played off each other’s talents in a cohesive concert experience. Phoebe Lou’s success in encouraging the audience toward dance, touch, or song reflects her effortless charm.
With raucous cheers heralding her finale, Phoebe Lou blew a kiss and exclaimed, “Keep in touch!” As she walked off stage, an audience member handed her a rose—another addition to her garden. The artist’s opener performance was a whimsical, bossa nova-inspired bouquet, sure to resonate with fans who flock to Clairo.
