When Clairo and Arlo Parks played a double bill at the National last month, it didn’t matter that it was the middle of winter — their music brought all the warmth and sunshine their fans needed, and then some.
On a Tuesday night in February, Richmond’s celebrated venue, The National, hosted the most phenomenal dreamy sets from Clairo and Arlo Parks. When the listeners walked into the venue, the stage was set with beautiful lanterns, sunflowers, and golden light. That set the atmosphere with the perfect ambient mood, and left the audience wanting more.
Arlo Parks and her band opened the beautiful evening with beloved tracks off of her brilliant debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams. The entire set felt like standing in sunbeams due to the warmth in her voice. The London-based artist began releasing music with the 2018 single “Cola,” which is still one of her most alluring songs. However, her 2021 album quickly became everyone’s favorite album of the year. During her performance, tracks like “Caroline” and “Portrait 400,” just to name a few, had everyone in the room singing so gracefully under their masks.
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Clairo headlined the night with gorgeous glowing lanterns surrounding her, playing tracks off her 2021 album, Sling, with a heavenly piano jazz feel so unique to her voice. She opened with “Bambi,” which is beautiful on the record but sounded otherworldly in person and did a good job of introducing her new era of music. Her set ended with famous fan favorite “Sofia,” and the fans singing the lyrics back to her so loud was so amazing.
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The National was full to the brim with excited faces to see their favorite artists in person. Between the stage’s intimate feeling set, incredible music, jazz solos, and angelic voices, Clairo and Arlo had the audience starry eyed the entire time.
