Live Review: FLETCHER, CXLOE

CXLOE brings her dark, edgy, indie pop to the stage with massive energy to set the bar high. The Sydney-born singer tells us it is a dream to be back home for this tour after relocating to LA to work on new music. She shares some fresh material with us tonight including her latest single New Trick, packing a punch with a thumping beat and a huge chorus that catches on quickly. 

CXLOE’s unapologetic confidence shines through as she delivers strong vocals with an emotive and powerful message. She shares her gorgeous cover of The Cranberries’ track Zombie that she previously recorded for triple j’s Like A Version. It’s a dark and moody vibe that sparks a huge audience singalong. Low Blows and Better The Devil are more notable moments with a super catchy synth-heavy electro-pop production to get the crowd dancing with excitement. 

FLETCHER starts the party by paying tribute to Katy Perry’s 2008 hit I Kissed A Girl with her reimagined version girls girls girls to tell her own coming-of-age story. “I kissed a girl and I liked it/Sipped her like an old fashioned,” the rising American pop star sings on the chorus to the same melody. By the end of the first song, audience members are already taking off their bras and throwing them at her to welcome her for the first time to Australia.

The energy in the room is insane. It’s clear FLETCHER already has a really solid and devoted fanbase here and she encourages us to help her make tonight the best night of their lives for everyone. “We’re never guaranteed a moment so just live in it,” she exclaims before laying down some house rules for her show. “One, let loose and feel great. Two, sing really loud,” she declares.

The audience sings at top of their voices to every word of her music and FLETCHER jumps in and out of the mosh pit to join them. The crowd cheers for her to do a ‘shoey’ but after a failed attempt at her Sydney show, she stands her ground and instead offers to sign the audience’s boobs. She grabs a marker as fans lift up their shirts and she signs away to the soundtrack of Tove Lo’s Disco Tits. Some audience members even continue to sign each other’s as she jumps back on stage and continues to sing. 

“I came from a small conservative town in New Jersey. I felt trapped by the place where I lived growing up queer and now, I feel empowered by my sexuality,” FLETCHER reveals. One of her latest songs Her Body Is Bible was written about what she thought it would be like to hook up with a girl for the first time. “Wherever you are on your journey, you are exactly where you need to be. You are loved and embraced,” she assures her fans. 

She dedicates her song Fuck You For Ruining New York City For Me to anyone lost in a heartbreak and makes a perfect transition into the explosive part of Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever for a huge moment. She then shares an emotional moment with Healing, honouring her fans who have been part of her journey.

The crowd chants her name repeatedly for an encore and she returns with a surprise guest, none other than Australia’s G FLIP (who was spotted earlier dancing along to her set backstage). Together they perform G FLIP’s track GAY 4 ME with both singers sharing vocals and having a blast on stage to share a really special moment.

FLETCHER’s debut album, Girl Of My Dreams, will drop on September 16.