TomTalks #24: Charli XCX-CRASH Tour, Birmingham (Pop Bliss For All To Get Down To!)

 

Artist: Charli XCX (with support from yeule)

Genre: Pop/HyperPop

Venue: 02 Academy Birmingham

Location: Bristol Street, Birmingham

Hello people and welcome back to Tom Talks, where we are discussing a performance by Charli XCX on her new tour! Charli is an artist I have been a fan of since 'Pop 2' shook my expectations for what makes a Pop project in 2018. Since then I have loved most of what she's done and even enjoyed the new project. (review coming soon!)

This night saw fans of all eras from newer fans of her no 1 album 'CRASH,' to even people who followed her pre 'True Romance.' Unfortunately we missed support act yeule, but were excited and eager to see what Charli would be like live and were treated with some of her material that was not performed on the night, before she lit up the stage.

She started off proceedings with the electric 'Lightning,' which definitely caught myself and the crowds attention. I will say the dance choreography was fantastic, and Charli and her two dancers really added to the performance with their moves. Tracks like 'Gone,' (sadly without Christine and the Queens) 'Baby' and 'Every Rule,' gave the crowd some Pop anthems to singalong too, while the more danceable cuts like 'Constant Repeat' and 'Used To Know Me,' got them grooving along.

Not surprisingly most of the material here was from 'CRASH,' which was a slight disappointment considering I was a massive fan of her more experimental, hyperpop sound. However, fans will be happy (including my mate) that tracks like the intimate 'party 4 u' made the setlist.

We then got some of the big hits with '1999' and recent smash 'Beg For You,' which were just as catchy and anthemic live as on the radio or out a speaker. To end the first proceedings, we got a solo performance of her breakout solo hit 'Boom Clap,' a dedication to the gay community with the poppy 'Boys,' and my personal fave from the new album, 'New Shapes.' These tracks all were as fun as listening to them on Spotify, and Charli live has a great stage presence, along with some decent vocals too.

We then had a brief break, before she came back out in style with the absolute banger that is 'Vroom Vroom,' giving us some of that HyperPop va-va vroom I had been waiting for, and the crowd were clearly full of energy for it, as well as Miss. XCX. Fan favourites 'Unlock It' and 'visions' gave us some rave energy, while we closed with the pop banger that is 'Good Ones.'

This was a top notch performance that brought energy, anthems and songs to singalong and vibe to. Charli has a great stage presence and knows how to get the crowd going, and picked a pretty great set list, that missed a few of my personal faves, but still was well picked out. Seeing Charli live was a great experience and if you are a fan like me, then get yourself a bloody ticket!

4/5

Charli's 'CRASH' tour continues on May 21st at UEA LCR in Norwich, May 22nd at 02 Academy Sheffield and finally on May 23rd at Rock City in Nottingham. She then will depart for Europe.

Thank you for reading this article and if you would like to read another concert review, check out my thoughts on slowthai's latest tour. Follow the Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with the latest content and leave a comment on Charli's new tour. Until next time this has been another Tom Talks!