SAX, STYLE SWITCH-UPS & SLOW DANCING AT CLAIRO’S PENULTIMATE ‘CHARM’ TOUR SHOW

LIVE REVIEW | CLAIRO w/ June McDoom | MANCHESTER O2 APOLLO 19th March 2025 by Martha Munro

On 19th March, an average, bustling Wednesday night in Manchester, American singer-songwriter and Gen-Z sensation Clairo seemed to light up the whole city from the O2 Apollo stage. With her dazzlingly talented band, support act and self, she has been bringing her beloved 2024 album Charm to life across Europe over the past few weeks, and at her final destination, the reliable Manchester crowd didn’t disappoint.

As the buzzing crowd filtered in, an atmosphere of cosy closeness was immediately created, partly down to the set that was waiting onstage; with a curved backdrop of floor-to-ceiling, oak-brown, vine-like drapes, the mossy musicians’ stands were arranged in a semicircle, inviting the audience into a surprisingly intimate scene for such a spacious venue. When the lights went down, twinkling ones appeared behind the drapes, like stars through curtains. And then: June Mcdoom.

This singer-songwriter support act, with her enchanting vocals and slow-dancing-in-the-kitchen sound, had the crowd at her fingertips. Under shadowy spotlights, she began with guitar – one smooth, one twanging – and a steady drumbeat. And McDoom’s voice, coming in with an astounding sensitivity, was utterly beautiful. She had an Adrianne–Lenker-esque quality to her, not only in her gorgeous vibrato, but also in the subtle country elements throughout the set. Every now and then, the guitar would slide between this indie idyll and a stringier country influence, always joined by a smooth, deep bass and lullaby-like vocal line. In just half an hour, she turned the Apollo into a fairy garden, with chirping birds, soft melodies and a shared calm; the perfect opener for the equally warm, soothing Clairo.

And when the headline act arrived, the crowd, of course, was ecstatic. Accompanied by her band, a wine glass and Wendy Rene’s After Laughter (Comes Tears), Clairo took to the stage, adorned in a stunning, drapey, grey dress and knee-highs. Her and the other musicians began by simply sitting and chatting, as if acting out an evening get-together scene; it was intimate and casual, like a lovingly domestic microcosm that set the tone for the whole night. 

Her apt first number was track number one on Charm, Nomad: a beautifully selected opener, with atmospheric drums and Clairo’s classically smooth croon. This track also utilised the lighting on stage – soft and warm, the lights would glow, fade and brighten in time with the music’s shifts, really giving the impression that the melodies were breathing, living things. The chilled-out vibe established was carried into the next number Second Nature, with its jaunty honky-tonk and a stunning saxophone solo, pocketed with the crowds’ endearing choruses of ‘da-dums.’ 

Following were other gorgeously crafted live editions of Charm songs, such as Thank You and Terrapin, as well as earlier, nostalgic releases like the fan-fave Flaming Hot Cheetos, all strung together with a playful energy and skilful solos from guitar to flute. Add Up My Love was a definite highlight, energised by the joy of the dancing crowd and Clairo’s easy, twirling stage presence.

One of the most memorable aspects of the show was how the musicians took some of Clairo’s most adored tracks and completely switched up their styles and sounds. 4EVER took on a more percussive personality than its studio version, moving from this drum to that, from maracas to crowd-called adlibs, creating an earthy atmosphere and giving old music fresh life. Again, the drums were the driving force of Amoeba, only this time they took on a jazzy funk twist, leading the song and audience into a magnetic trajectory of playful syncopations and rippling vocals. This proved, again and again, just how talented Clairo is, not to mention her ragingly incredible band who transformed the artist’s discography into something tangible, reachable and alive.

As the night came to a close, the fans only became more and more ecstatic, erupting with applause and screams as their favourites were played one after the other. Monumental applause introduced the indie-classic Steeeam, a sweet, summery number that seemed to embody the mutual warmth in the room. On its tail was the lively love song Bags with its deep, syrupy guitar and timeless charm, followed by Charm’s own flute-filled Sexy To Someone, an addictively rhythmic, relatable song with its harmonies and heavenly live soundscape. Then, of course, the TikTok-sensationalised, slow-dancing super-song Juna moved the hearts and hips of everyone in the room with its sweet, sensual beat, before the night was rounded off by the years-long fan-favourite Sofia. The applause that followed was electric and full of love, with the crowd smiling back up at the elated-looking Clairo, before she and the band took their final bow: a night to remember for those on and off stage alike. 

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Martha

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