Charli XCX’s Brooklyn Brat Show was the place to be on Tuesday night, as the newly reopened Paramount Theater in Brooklyn hosted a night of electrifying performances and surprise appearances. The event was a sensory overload, with a dazzling light show, booming beats, and an audience that was just as eye-catching as the performance itself.
Among the notable attendees were Matty Healy and his girlfriend Gabriette Bechtel, who seemingly chose the occasion to announce their engagement. The crowd also included luminaries like Lorde, Julia Fox, and Lily Allen, adding to the star-studded atmosphere.
The concert was part of Charli XCX’s seven-date promo tour for her newly released album “Brat.” The tour, which spans multiple time zones, features a mix of live performances and “party girl” events. On this night, Charli performed almost the entire album, with her lead vocals sung to backing tracks. The real stars of the show, however, were the electrifying light display and the enthusiastic crowd.
The audience was a vibrant mix of tank tops, short shorts, boots, fishnet, glitter, and brightly dyed hair. Many fans sported homemade T-shirts with messages in the “Brat” font, including some that featured album titles by other artists like Lorde’s “Melodrama.” The crowd’s energy was palpable, with people singing along to songs that had been released less than a week ago.
Charli’s performance was a high-energy spectacle, with the singer strutting through 17 of the 18 songs on “Brat” and a couple of tracks from her 2017 mixtape “Pop 2.” She flipped her hair, punched the air, and rocked her trademark hip-pumping moves, with the energy peaking during a pulverizing performance of the album’s first single, “Von Dutch.”
As the set wound down, Charli dipped into her recent past with songs like “1999” and “Speed Drive,” before taking it way back with a rousing version of Icona Pop’s 2013 hit “I Love It,” which she wrote. She closed the show with the album-ending track “365,” leaving the crowd sweaty and satiated.
The Paramount Theater was transformed into a senses-searing nightclub for the night, with a stage that was essentially a giant lighting rig. Five horizontal tiers of halogen-bright lights, along with vertical stacks bearing spotlights, created a mesmerizing visual experience. The lights pulsated with the beats, sweeping over the crowd in synchronized movements.
Charli’s declaration that New York is her favorite place to play was met with fervent adulation from the crowd, making it clear why she loves performing in the city. The energy in the room was infectious, and the audience’s enthusiasm was a testament to Charli’s magnetic stage presence.
As the crowd flooded out into the warm night, they continued to buzz with excitement, discussing the night’s highlights and speculating about what Charli’s fall tour with Troye Sivan might bring. While that tour is expected to be a more conventional, career-spanning concert, it will be hard to top the excitement of this Brooklyn Brat Show.
The night was a celebration of Charli XCX’s new album and a showcase of her ability to captivate an audience with her dynamic performances. With surprise appearances, an engagement announcement, and a crowd that was fully immersed in the experience, the Brooklyn Brat Show was a night to remember.
