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Brooklyn Steel is a tucked-away warehouse turned venue containing a large open floor as well as a balcony up above. Clairo performed here with openers Hello Yello and beabadoobee on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
At first glance, opener Hello Yello seems like something straight out of the 1990s, like your older brother’s band that practices in the basement, but they’re no joke. Martin Rodrigues, Dylan Wiggins and Jaden Wiggins hail from Oakland, California and have only been a band since last fall. Each guitar solo was mind-splittingly epic, mostly because guitarist Dylan Wiggins made it look so easy. They sing the kind of songs anybody would want dedicated to them in their lovesick fantasy.
Next up was beabadoobee, an odd name fitting for the unique artist that she is. Her Wikipedia page doesn’t even have a picture, but make no mistake, she’s a name to remember – if you can. Born in the Philippines and raised in London, this 19-year-old woman’s career only started a year ago. Her music is a vibe on its own, but easily falls into the “alone on a Friday night” aesthetic. She is a self-labeled outcast and makes music for those like her.
After the openers finished, the stage was cleared and set up like a blank canvas waiting to be painted. The backdrops were all white, with two raised platforms on each side lined in fluffy gray carpet for the band. In the middle of the stage was a plain white half circle that would soon be filled with clouds at sunset, home movies and trippy, LSD-like color visuals. The show started as soon as Clairo hit the stage, and the audience immediately lit up with shouts of excitement and phone screens trying to capture every moment of the upcoming performance. Even with all the blatant technology in the room, the show still felt like a blast from the past.
Clairo is exactly who she presents herself to be in her music – an ordinary girl making her way through the obstacles we all face when growing up and falling in (and out) of love. Her energy was natural and inviting, she danced to her own songs like she was hearing them on the radio and she wasn’t afraid to invite the audience to join her, encouraging dancing from the crowd. The artist performed a wide range of songs, from tracks off her latest album, “Immunity,” to songs from her EP, “Diary 001.” She also included popular features like “Drown.” The crowd bounced up and down to “Sofia” as Clairo crooned over a packed house.
Mosh pits began to form with the energy of kids in a ball pit, carefree and softly bouncing off of each other like weak magnets. Clairo’s set felt like one endless song, as she performed the first verses of some songs and the choruses of others, blending her discography together. The highlight of the night was the debut of a new untitled song, a sleepy ballad she performs alone on stage, lights low with just her guitar. All the things your parents and older siblings say they felt when they saw their favorite band play, the energy and the unspoken unity, were in full effect in Brooklyn that night for a very intimate, free, fun and memorable experience.
The songs Clairo performed included “Impossible,” “Sis,” “North,” “Sofia,” “Close to You,” “Bags,” “Hello,” “Flaming Hot Cheetos,” “4EVER,” “Pretty Girl” and “Drown” ft. Cuco.
