Indie internet sensation Clairo brought her Sling Tour to The Fox Theatre in Oakland last month to a sold-out crowd. The show followed an earlier stop in San Francisco the night before, with two consecutive Bay Area shows serving as a testament to the fierce support of the Gen Z artist.
Claire Cottrill, who performs as Clairo, may only be 23 years old, but the young singer has already been performing for ten years. Starting on YouTube at age 13, Cottrill has amassed millions of followers across social media as well as millions of streams on each of her songs. Such massive support was easily felt at The Fox Theatre, as fans sang along to every word from early hits like “Pretty Girl” to newer releases like “Zinnias.”
Despite Cottrill’s success, she remained refreshingly down-to-earth throughout her performance. Early on in the set, she even stopped the performance to alert security to an unwell audience member. Her attention was trained on the crowd throughout the experience, as she repeatedly checked with venue staff to ensure the fan was assisted. Once help arrived, Cottrill observed, “one thing I’ve learned about this tour is that so many people are not drinking water” as they wait outside the venue for a spot close to the stage.
The majority of the setlist was taken from the tour’s namesake and Clairo’s latest record, Sling. The subdued, jazz-inspired arrangements highlighted the growth in Cottrill’s style and skill over a decade of songwriting and made for a truly entrancing atmosphere. One of the night’s highlights was the addition of opener Arlo Parks during latest single “Blouse.” The two artists’ voices blended together angelically, elevating the song’s harmonies to a hypnotic level. Alongside the new songs was Clairo’s indisputable smash hit “Sofia” rounding out the night, to which the audience responded with nothing short of euphoria.
Clairo in Oakland, CA:
- PHOTOS: Yves Tumor – San Francisco, CA – 5/23/23 - June 13, 2023
- PHOTOS: Shea Coulee – San Francisco – 3/31/23 - April 17, 2023
- PHOTOS: Maggie Rogers – San Francisco – 3/5/23 - March 21, 2023
