Charli XCX – The Cabooze – Minneapolis, MN – August 4, 2015

Charli XCX sold out The Cabooze in Minneapolis on August 4, 2015, as a part of her US tour with Bleachers opening.

The show is packed with eager fans, fans who are both as appreciative and supportive of Bleachers as the are of Charli XCX.  It’s a tremendously positive crowd, much more than we had anticipated.  The Cabooze is not the biggest of venues and when it is sold out, it is packed.  Add in the fact that it is August in Minnesota, which is humid as all get out, and the audience could turn negative fast.  This isn’t the case that night.  Rather, everyone there is excited and wants to have fun.  That is what they are there for.

Bleachers is formed by Jack Antonoff, well known for the band, Fun.  We had never heard the band before and very much enjoyed them, much like the rest of the audience.  They cover both The Cranberries and Kanye West in their set, while playing a number of their own songs, including their hit, “I Wanna Get Better”.  The encore of “I Wanna Get Better” is a fantastic introduction to Charli XCX’s set, which opens with her jumpy and fun hit, “Sucker”.  The remainder of the show is just as exhilarating as the beginning.   The thing I found interesting about this show was that although I listen to her regularly, I don’t know everything she has ever sang.  Therefore, I’m not about to go to a show and sing every lyric.  However, it didn’t matter.  Even the songs I didn’t know, I was dancing and jumping up and down to.

The remainder of the set includes well known tracks, such as “Boom Clap”, “Fancy”, and “Gold Coins”.  Having shot Iggy Azalea, I have found listening to her do “Fancy” with a recording of Charli XCX’s accompaniment better than Charli XCX singing with Iggy’s backup recorded.  Regardless, it was fun to see her do “Fancy” and ask the crowd for help to do Iggy’s part.  Overall, the show was fantastic.  I find it interesting that she was in a smaller venue and foresee her in much larger, more spectacular venues and tours to come.