On September 26 at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, “Charli XCX and Troye Sivan Present: Sweat” was the ultimate collaboration of energy and performance between two of the leading pop artists today.
This was one of the few shows that I have been to where the audience was totally invested even before the show. Everyone was channeling the theme through their outfits: brat green, tiny tops, and oozing sex and youthfulness. There was an expectation that the show was going to be amazing before we entered, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.
Troye Sivan was the first to step on stage, with his entourage of dancers behind him. Not only did the concert demonstrate his incredible live vocals—which were able to cut through the heavy beats of each song—but also his talent for dance. The dancers moved with such fluidity, intimacy, and coordination with one another and Sivan. They were a key part of the show because of their on-stage chemistry with Sivan and their addition to the performance aspect of the tour—not just singing a song, but really portraying its meaning visually, aurally, and emotionally.
Some of Sivan’s older discography made a feature, but energy seemed to fall a bit for these. Many people did not know the older songs, but for us older Troye Sivan fans it felt like he was tying in his entire discography and emphasizing how much of a well-rounded artist he is. And, of course, showing off his smooth and rich vocals.
Every song could be categorized as my favorite, but two new ones that deserve recognition are “One of Your Girls” and “Rush”. The first could not possibly have been performed without an ode to the music video, in which Sivan is in drag and giving Ross Lynch a lap dance. There was a pre-filmed drag scene before the song, but the live dance heightened the excitement. It was sexy, intimate, and very unexpected, with moves I never thought I’d see on stage—each person was truly committed, fully executing the vision of the song and video. “Rush” brought intense energy to the audience.
Charli’s performance was brat. She was unapologetically herself, strutting across the stage, licking the floor, and gesturing at the cameras. The creative vision for the album is unadulterated confidence, and she brought it to life. She came on the stage for her first set in an enclosure of green sheets, labeled with the iconic brat design. Her first song was a “365” remix ft. Shygirl, but then quickly switched to “360” and “Von dutch,” letting the audience know this was her show. Charli also had electric interactions with the crowd. One highlight was “Apple,” in which a camera panned into the audience to focus on one concert-goer to do the iconic Tik Tok dance.
The stage contributed to the performance—multilayered, some lofted sections as well as parts underneath the main stage with cameras for the audience to see the artists. One key point of both artists’ albums was to lean into strong, electronic beats. Strobe lights brought that late-night clubbing feeling to the arena.
This tour really encapsulated what a “co-tour” should be: each artist alternating on stage. Energy was high, with the audience on their toes anticipating who and what was next. The artists performed their collaboration songs, “1999” and “Talk talk featuring troye sivan”, together. The latter summed up the atmosphere into one song: upbeat, forceful vocals, and palpable energy. Fans of either artist or both were able to come together for the closer to leave every emotion in the arena.
Overall, this was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. It felt like there was intention put into each song, dance, and set to do the idea of a “brat summer” justice. The public wanted this over-the-top, raunchy, entertaining performance, and that’s what we got. Both artists demonstrated how they have entered this new chapter in their careers, yet still recognize where they started. I will certainly relive the night’s electricity any time I hear one of their songs.
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