Concert Review: Clairo’s Love for Boston Echoes Through Roadrunner

Claire Elizabeth Cottrill, better known as Clairo, stopped by Roadrunner on Oct. 29 as part of her Charm Tour, following the release of her third album, “Charm,” in July. The show was the second of three in Boston, her hometown. Although her music — often described as “bedroom pop” — is typically slow and mellow, the crowd’s energy was high throughout the night, a testament to Clairo’s ability to connect and interact with her fans.

After a beautiful opening performance from South African singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou, chatter and laughter echoed through the venue as the audience awaited the 26-year-old singer.

After opening with “Nomad” and “Second Nature” from “Charm,” Clairo took time to talk about why the show meant so much to her.

“It means so much to me that you’re here because I’m kinda sorta from here,” she said, met with cheering and screams. “And also, two of our band members went to Berklee. I hope you have a fun time tonight and it’s gonna be really sick. Thanks for being here!”

Clairo made sure her long-time fans were satisfied too. “Boston, do you know this song?” she asked before singing “Softly” from her 2019 album “Immunity.”

“I wrote this song in my bedroom in Massachusetts,” she said as she started “Flaming Hot Cheetos” from 2018’s EP “diary 001.” The nostalgia in the air was palpable, with almost every audience member screaming the first line of the second verse, “I wanna be the one you think about at night.”

The stage and lighting design only added to the warm and familiar atmosphere of the performance. Amidst the piano and mics, carefully placed chairs and candles transformed the stage into a homey environment. Clairo looked comfortable as she swayed and danced around — and the crowd seemed to feel comfortable too.

A standout moment from the Massachusetts native was her performance of “Alewife,” named after the MBTA stop closest to her hometown — notably a Boston-specific addition to the set list. With the lights dimmed low enough to lose the sparkle of the otherwise shining backdrop, Clairo sang her self-described “really fucking sad song” about her struggles with depression, bringing a much needed intimate moment in the middle of the mellow show.

Beyond Clairo’s own stunning performance, a highlight of the show was the tremendous musicianship of her accompanying band. In particular, Hailey Niswager’s saxophone solos provided an unforgettable warmth to the show, with jazz interludes that were unique to the live renditions of the songs. Niswager’s saxophone prowess was only made more impressive by the fact that she also played clarinet, flute, slide guitar, keys, vox, omnichord, and synth through the duration of the show.

Clairo’s return to Boston proved to be as warm and intimate as a hometown show should be — featuring all the charm promised in the tour and album’s name.

—Staff writer Najya S. Gause can be reached at najya.gause@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer Stella A. Gilbert can be reached at stella.gilbert@thecrimson.com.