On a cool Saturday night, St. Vincent took the stage at Charlottesville’s Ting Pavilion, and with one swift motion, Annie Clark planted her flag on the modern rock ‘n’ roll frontier. Gone were the distractions of flashy props and overblown theatrics. What remained was a masterclass in minimalism—a bare-bones setup that let the music speak for itself. Dressed in all black, the only spotlight on Clark, her stunning band, and their haunting melodies, St. Vincent made it clear that she was here to deliver a real rock show, not some frilly pop performance.
Opening the night with the jagged, yearning tones of “Reckless,” the show set the tone for what would be a captivating journey through her expansive discography. In front of a crowd of nearly 3,000, Clark and her ensemble delivered a finely tuned set, drawing heavily from her Grammy-winning album All Born Screaming. The mix of old favorites and fresh material felt like a perfect balance, each song delivered with precision and passion.
Clark, ever the rockstar, proved that her power comes from more than just her exceptional songwriting. When the hit “New York” began, she fell backward into the crowd, palms passed her over the heads of her adoring fans, and when the crowd-surfing momentum began to wane, she was gently placed back on the ground while singing eye to eye with adoring fans as she sauntered back to the stage.
As the night neared its end, St. Vincent defied the usual confines of a rock show with a more reflective moment. Clark introduced “Candy Darling,” a tribute to transgender icon and Warhol superstar Candy Darling, by giving the stage over to keyboardist Rachel Eckroth. The haunting, jazzy tone of the track filled the arena as Eckroth’s mournful keys set the mood, leaving a lingering sense of reverence and introspection before the encore wrapped up.
But even as the lights dimmed and the curtain fell, St. Vincent’s cool factor remained undeniable. With each performance, she has become as synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll royalty as the likes of Questlove or Dave Grohl. The aura around her grows stronger, and it’s impossible not to be swept up in the mesmerizing nature of her artistry.
Before the night closed, opener Wallice also made her mark. Touring behind her debut album, Wallice engaged the crowd with a set that oozed confidence. The highlight? The aptly titled “The Opener,” where she sang, “No one knows my name in this crowd / I’ll sing my little nameless heart out / I’m putting on a damn good show.” Her words rang true—Wallice owned the stage as though she’d been performing for years, setting the tone for the unforgettable night ahead.
St. Vincent Setlist:
- Reckless
- Fear the Future
- Los Angeles
- Broken Man
- Birth in Reverse
- Dilettante
- Pay Your Way in Pain
- Digital Witness
- Flea
- Cheerleader
- Big Time Nothing
- Marrow
- Violent Times
- New York
- Sugarboy
- All Born Screaming
Words and photos by Rich Tarbell
Edited by R. Anthony Harris
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