The view of the McMenamins Edgefield stage where Clairo performed a concert for her “Charm” Tour. Clairo, an alternative singer who became popular in the late 2010s, brought a lovely concert to her Oregonian fans on Oct. 9, 2024.
On July 17, 2024, Claire Cottrill, professionally known as Clairo, formally announced her “Charm” Tour, consisting of 36 shows across North America. Clairo rose to fame in 2017 after releasing a clip on the internet of her hit single, “Pretty Girl.” Since then, she has released three studio albums, including her most recent, “Charm,” on July 12, 2024. Her journey as an artist in the music industry has been lengthy, with that time helping her cultivate loyal fans who jumped at the opportunity to see her perform her most recent album live. Her musical style is very unlike many other popular artists we hear on the radio right now, with a calm, alternative sound. Her music caters mostly to women and the LGBTQ community, though she has amassed fans from all backgrounds and communities due to her internet success.
In Portland, there are a variety of places for musical artists to hold concerts, with some of the most popular venues being the Moda Center, the Arlene Schnitzer Hall, and McMenamins Edgefield, according to Travel Portland. Clairo’s concert was held at Edgefield, an outdoor venue 25 minutes from Franklin. What makes Edgefield unique in comparison to many other venues in the Portland area, like the Moda Center and the Schnitzer, is that it features a huge sloped lawn — in front of a pit and large stage — where attendees can lounge about in the grass as they enjoy the show.
This venue’s capacity is 7,000, perfect for Clairo’s show on Oct. 9. It got cold quickly during the autumn concert, but no rain or clouds were in sight, which meant a crystal-clear night. The opener of the concert was Alice Phoebe Lou, an alternative South African singer, who went on stage at 7 p.m. Though she had a short set, her songs carried through the open air and made for a perfect start to the evening. Clairo came on right after sundown, starting with “Nomad,” the slow and soft opening track on “Charm.”
An artist is nothing without their fans, and it’s clear how much Clairo’s fans love her music. “[It’s] kind of soft and sultry, a little bit adventurous,” Dylan Morgan, a concert attendee, says. When listening to “Charm,” especially at the concert, the dream-like sound that Morgan describes is very accurate. When performed live, the instrumentals were smooth, and, paired with Clairo’s velvet-like voice, it created a sensuous sound that wrapped around her self-written lyrics.
There isn’t a right way to describe Clairo’s stage presence just as it’s difficult to explain the experience of being at her concert. At times she was a bit awkward as she interacted and joked with the audience, but her love for her fans was apparent. The concert flowed smoothly, and, from my place on the lawn, sitting in the cold grass became worth it almost as soon as the show began. Along with songs from “Charm,” Clairo played songs from previous albums, bringing a sense of nostalgia to older fans in the crowd. By the third song, most of her audience was singing and dancing with her underneath the warm lights of the concert.
“I think [Clairo’s] audience and the ambiance she sets in her concerts reflect her as a person; it’s calm, contemplative, and soulful,” a fellow concert attendee tells me. “Her music has evolved as she’s matured, and [her 2021 album] ‘Sling’ was the first time I’ve heard someone start in pop and transition into a different genre seamlessly.”
Transitioning music genres from pop to alternative is no easy feat; many artists have tried and failed, but Clairo has proved her ability to be versatile both on and off stage. Because Clairo has reached so many people through her music, the concert’s crowd was incredibly diverse — filled with different ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities. Morgan explains how Clairo’s growth as a musician has helped her music continue to connect with him over time, stating, “I like how she’s kind of aging and developing as I do.”
Bringing the concert to a close, Clairo dove into her hit song “Juna,” arguably the most popular song from “Charm” due to its success on social media. As fans sang along, Clairo’s voice carried across the venue, making it barely noticeable as some of the audience left early in an attempt to beat traffic. Hearing Clairo in person was unlike any other concert I’ve attended; the band was cohesive, bringing together a soft and silhouetted sound, and the crowd swayed in unison — all making her performance uncommonly captivating. As the concert came to a close, all outside thoughts became quiet and stayed that way until “Juna” ended and Clairo thanked her Portland fans before exiting the stage.
