Charli xcx’s Music, Fashion, Film Tour Hits Brooklyn

Charli xcx performed the second stop of her “Music, Fashion, Film Tour” at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Monday, September 14th. The arena show featured a 29-song setlist that included all 11 tracks from her new album, Music, Fashion, Film, alongside two unreleased B-sides and older material from her Brat era. Moving away from her usual impulsiveness and the minimalist, club-centric aesthetic of her previous tours, the performance incorporated a full live band for the first time in years. The musicians provided faithful renditions of the studio tracks without substantial deviations, mimicking the record's arrangements precisely.

The concert leaned heavily into physical spectacle, flashy runway sequences, and theatrical elements. During the song "Guess," a confetti cannon launched Charli xcx-branded panties into the audience. The artist underwent multiple costume changes, including a leather minidress printed with the phrase, “I’VE HAD SEX WITH CHARLI XCX.” The stage design utilized extensive pyrotechnics, featuring flame cannons and fireworks. A large fire burned at the front of the stage during the emo-leaning track “I’m Afraid,” while fireworks synchronized with the climax of “House,” her goth-rock collaboration with John Cale.

The tour's title reflects its literal components, with Charli performing directly for cameras to create cinematic movement throughout the show. Her backing band engaged in rockstar posturing during tracks like “2007” and “Yeah.” In a review for Consequence, Paolo Ragusa noted this interplay sometimes made the musicians appear as hired actors playing the role of bandmates, aligning with the new album's meta themes exploring the artistic process and the cost of pursuing greatness. This deliberate shift toward a refined pop show follows the release of her 2026 film, The Moment, cementing her status in pop's A-list by scaling up her production to contrast the tinny timbres of her recorded material.