Singer-songwriters Coco & Clair Clair performed at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Monday, Oct. 14, showcasing a wide range of songs from their recent 2024 album, “Girl,” to their 2017 debut album, “Posh.” The pop-rap duo took to the stage at 9:45 p.m. following their openers — SadBoi, a female rapper from Toronto, and Raven “Artson” Aartse, a DJ from Amsterdam — who both performed for around 50 minutes each.
Coco & Clair Clair’s openers built up anticipation for the main act by creating a club-like atmosphere and getting the crowd excited and on their feet for the main performance. This helped balance out the fact that their intro was a basic walk onto the stage and their choreography was minor, contrasting with the loud and flashy environment of the concert.
The DJ booth was located upstage in front of a sparkly backdrop composed of glittery tassels — minimalistic, but fitting the atmosphere of the concert. While the lighting for the openers was fairly simple, consisting of bright colors that were fairly static, the strobes during Coco and Clair Clair’s setlist were flashy and distracting, corresponding with the theme of their music but unfortunately hindering their visibility to the audience.
Even though their entrance lacked extravagance and their choreography consisted solely of jumping and pacing the stage, the duo still captivated the audience with their energy and enthusiasm. Their stage presence was engaging, as they often told jokes and stories onstage. Between each song, they would stop and chat with each other and their supporters, giving out signed merchandise and even inviting a breakdancing fan to the stage.
Despite the freaky atmosphere, the duo prioritized their comfort over all else, taking off their high heels and stopping after each song for a sip of their drinks. When requested to play their hit song “Atlanta Girls,” Coco & Clair Clair maintained their tradition of only performing the song in Atlanta even though fans were begging them, proving their loyalty to their roots and determination to stick to their morals, a key factor that draws audiences to them.
As a smaller group, the duo has done its best to stay true to its original fanbase, even after their song “Pop Star” went viral on TikTok. Following a pattern Lizzy McAlpine and other small artists have exhibited in the past, the duo faked an exit mid-concert to lose “fake fans” so they could come back to play their hits for their most dedicated supporters who stayed behind. This trend, while somewhat successful, sort of backfired for the duo, as they disappeared for too long and some of their most dedicated fans left the venue thinking that the concert had ended.
Although Coco & Clair Clair took a brief respite from the stage near the end of the show, they were constantly on their feet along with the audience for most of the concert. There was no moment where the environment mellowed. Fans were constantly frenzied and excited, even those who might not have known all the songs.
The packed and enthusiastic setlist also kept the audience consistently energized during the two-and-a-half-hour performance. Along with their famous hits and fan favorites, the duo performed covers of “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson and “National Anthem” by Lana Del Rey.
Although the show was enjoyable for all types of fans, the concert was catered to adults. The abundance of vapes and high and drunk attendees didn’t hinder the quality of the performance, though many in the audience did not show respect for their fellow fans — evident in their disregard for personal space. However, the audience still seemed to enjoy the concert while singing and dancing along to the songs.
From their booming setlist to their exceptional stage presence, Coco & Clair Clair gave their fans an entertaining show. While they lacked an engaging entrance and exit, the performers’ energetic moods and dynamic interactions with their fans made up for it, making the concert an exciting and unforgettable experience.
RATING: 4/5
