A swarm of 18,064 concertgoers dressed in ‘brat green’ sold out San Francisco’s Chase Center, eager to sweat out the Sunday scaries at Troye Sivan and Charli XCX’s “Sweat” tour.
With the cultural phenomenon of ‘brat summer’ – inspired by Charli’s iconic album “Brat” – and the virality of Troye’s latest music videos, which have amassed 22 to 39 million views on YouTube, it’s no surprise the “Sweat” tour sold out all 22 of its shows.
Explaining to Spotify why she chose Troye as her co-star for “Sweat,” Charli explained that although her album “Brat” and Troye’s “Something to Give Each Other” are different, there’s a “synergy” between them. That special connection made the “Sweat” tour a must-see musical experience this year.
The loyalty of the Chase Center crowd was reflected in their highly involved, creative outfits. Featuring wine-stained white tank tops, reminiscent of Charli’s “360” music video, and homemade shirts with clever, trendy phrases like “Troye son” and “Charli daughter.”
Experimental pop artist and tour opener Shygirl captivated the San Francisco audience when she brought out Bay Area favorite Saweetie to perform their newest song “Immaculate” live for the first time.
Shygirl’s exit was followed by Troye and Charli’s 90-minute-long marathon of a performance. The performing artists switched every three to five songs, maintaining an engaging pace for viewers while giving each other time to rest backstage or change outfits.
Troye’s setlist showcased his three-album discography, especially his newest album “Something to Give Each Other.” The performance was unapologetically sexy and vibrant, delving into the good, the bad and the details of his romantic life as a gay man.
Dance hits like “Rush” exuded queer joy, featuring a glistening Troye dancing and sharing intimate moments with his male backup dancers. In “One of Your Girls” Troye delivered a steamy chair dance to lyrics about the desperation he’s felt pursuing closeted gay men, singing, “Give me a call if you ever get lonely, I’ll be like one of your girls or your homies.”
As for his co-star, Charli was raw energy – gyrating, crawling across the runway and licking the floor during Billie Eilish’s verse of their song “Guess.” Her stage presence was delightfully unhinged, amplified by an innovative stage design.
The main stage was lined floor to ceiling with scaffolding, which Charli climbed frequently, performing for those with obstructed views. Beneath the runway, a cage allowed both artists to engage with fans, who were treated to raucous displays of clawing, banging and dancing along the cage walls.
The most memorable parts of Charli’s set combined her use of the stage with her interaction with the onstage point-of-view camera. In “Von Dutch,” Charli strutted through the cage and up the scaffolding, singing, “It’s OK to just admit that you’re jealous of me,” while staring down the camera lens.
Aside from the two songs Troye and Charli performed together – “1999” and “Talk Talk” – watching them interact between sets was a highlight.
Looking down to the cage from the top of the runway, Charli asked Troye if he was having a good time. He flashed a smile and replied, “I’m having the best time, Charli, thank you for asking.”
Behind the club atmosphere of the “Sweat” tour is a genuine friendship. The love Troye and Charli have for each other makes this tour a once-in-a-lifetime event for the “365 party girls” and “rager teenagers,” or, in TikTok terms, “the girls and the gays.”