I was able to boot up my little sister's Canon A2300 just in time for the SWEAT tour stop in Boston. On Saturday, September 28th, the TD Garden was flooded with a familiar shade of electric green as almost 20,000 people flooded into a sold out arena to see Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, and Shygirl.
the pre
Some of my hometown friends crammed into a basement apartment nestled in Boston's cultural equivalent of Bushwick (Somerville) while we sipped poor man's espresso martinis and listened to vinyls. Joints were passed, eyeliner was applied, and cats were patted. I decked myself out in a Hot Topic t-shirt, a Die With Your Boots On skirt, and black running sneakers so that I could remain in sport mode for the entirety of the evening.
Michael and I reflected on the first Charli concert we attended at Boston's House of Blues in October 2019. She had opened with "Next Level Charli" and my heart fluttered first up to my throat, then down to my feet as we jumped, danced, cried, and sang along to every song at that show. During "Shake It" drag queens crawled around the stage. The VIP Balcony was sparsely attended and we ultimately wrapped up the concert watching the encore from the empty VIP seats. I knew going in to Saturday's show that this would be a Charli experience divorced from her 2019 show. Then, our tickets were about $35. SWEAT tour tickets started at over $100. There were no empty seats at the TD Garden on Saturday -- the show was completely sold out.
the green line
The screechy green line was the brattiest it's ever been last Saturday night. The cars were overflowing with people obviously attending the tour. Digital cameras were snapping, handheld fans were blowing, and knee-high boots were making a roaring re-debut.
the show
One of the most memorable aspects of the night was the overwhelmingly strong sense of community. At one point Troye laughed into the microphone "are there any gay people here?" The Garden shook like when Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard hit a half court buzzer beater. Fans, including myself, were very excited to share their attendance of the concert online. No moment passed without being recorded by over 100 people, at least.
One of the most stunning moments was Troye's performance of "What's The Time Where You Are?", pictured in the first photo above. Dancers swum in rich blue light. They slithered between tableaus, complimenting the crisp production that Troye's shimmery vocals coat like honey. Luscious lighting washed over the industrial set and raised sports banners on the ceiling, almost pulling you out of North Station. These tender moments were later antagonized by excessive use of strobe. Many songs were corrupted by inordinate amounts of flashing lights.
Each of the dancers, including Troye when he seamlessly flowed into the choreography, were so chic. Straightforward outfits were kissed with whimsy through fringe, feathers, and strings. The spectacular marriage of visual and sonic art was attended by the unique personality of each contributor. Troye and Charli's everlasting friendship was center stage. They'd close the gap between each other on the massive stage to hug while singing, shrinking from powerful media figures down to two best friends making art about this life together. These moments made the TD Garden feel intimate!
However, I was swiftly reminded that I was not, in fact, sweating in a grunge basement fit to be captured by Cobrasnake when I paid $27.99 for a vodka soda. I wasn’t packed up against other damp bodies but instead knocking my knees against hard plastic seats. The relentless flashing arena lights ripped my senses from any indie sleaze trances. The performers have a large and rapidly growing fanbase that demand a stadium venue, but the facilities were outrageously unromantic.
The SWEAT tour felt especially significant in Boston, a city not particularly known for club culture. People who love parties, fashion, and glamour had a chance to experience the presence of thousands of other people who are also down to have a good time and be fully themselves.
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