Clairo Charms Minneapolis

And this time, she came to the Varsity Theater.

It wasn’t long ago that Claire Cottrill, aka Clairo, performed at 7th Street Entry in the summer of 2018. A few things have changed since then, and not just the lack of black “X’s” on the now 21-year-old’s hands.

Since her last Minneapolis performance, Clairo put out her debut full-length album, Immunity, which immediately received high praise from critics and fans alike. The positive reception quickly shot the singer and her band to another level of stardom, recently performing on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and Ellen.

Given her recent accomplishments, it was no surprise that the crowd screamed at a nearly deafening level when Clairo took the stage. They opened with “Alewife,” a tender tune from the recently released Immunity that set the tone for the night: moody, vulnerable, and enchanting.

Clairo wrapped up the show with the equally somber “I Wouldn’t Ask You,” but in between the emotional book ends the audience got a pleasing supply of popular bops. From the queer crush anthem “Sofia” to the beloved “Bags,” Clairo floated from song to song with ease, giving a strong performance that featured her earnest and melodic voice.

It wouldn’t be a Clairo performance without the EP hits “Pretty Girl” and “4Ever,” both of which sent bolts of electricity through the crowd, making even the most coolly apathetic fans start jumping.

And Clairo is nothing if not that: a kind of musical permission slip to express the vulnerable teenage thoughts that still bubble up to the surface now and then. Who knows, you might even sell out the Varsity.