Charli XCX Took Angels To The 'Next Level' At Her Cameo-Packed L.A. Concert

"Tonight is going to be the ideal night of your life," mentioned Charli XCX on Tuesday night (October 1), though she was nowhere to be seen. The stage indoors L.A.'S The Wiltern was dark and foggy, however Charli's voice was crystal-clear. "I'm going to take you to heaven. I'm going to take you to the next level." Just like that, pop's foremost futurist materialized center stage, keeping her word by launching right into "Next Level Charli," the rallying cry that opens her eponymous third album.


and so started the 90-minute concert/rave/light show that brought Charli to life in predictably exciting fashion (you know it's going to be a party as soon as she utilizes three confetti cannons on the initial song alone). The British pop star ran through each of the new album's 15 tracks, even welcoming a couple of surprise visitors while doing so. Soon after "Next Level Charli," she tore through "Unlock It" and "Click" with Kim Petras; with each other, they whipped around the stage like a pair of Tasmanian devils. Starting act Brooke Candy was similarly animated if she bounded onstage for "Shake It," with Charli proclaiming, "This is the party song! This is where you get fucked up!"


Then there was HAIM, who, aptly enough, appeared in a Charlie's Angels-style formation for "Warm." Because the stage filled with an orange glow, Charli and the three sisters broke into a pretty choreographed dance before ending the number with a crowd hug.


For as much rave-ready fun as there was — and there was plenty, including a rendition of "Vroom Vroom" featuring a cluster of fabulously dressed drag queens — Charli reigned it in each once in a while. She's called her new album her most personalized project to date, and its quieter, more intimate moments allowed her to shine while keeping both feet on the ground. "I Don't Wanna Know," "Thoughts," "Official," "White Mercedes," plus a moody revamp of "Blame It On Your Love" relieved the sweaty, glittery crowd of their dancing duties while highlighting Charli's insane vocal length. Because who says the party can't also be personal?


Besides a pride festival that she co-curated with Troye Sivan in June, Charli's last major L.A.-Area show was at the Rose Bowl in 2018, where she opened for Taylor Swift on the massive Reputation Tour. She's since mentioned that gig made her feel like a "underdog," nevertheless at her headlining tour stop on Tuesday, she was the master of her own, self-built universe; a digital, distorted, gel-coated world where she's truly the life of the party. And however, Charli didn't get there alone, and she is aware it. That's why, amid the madness, she named and praised every one of the artists featured on her new album, shouted out her parents ("legends," she called them) for being in the audience, and thanked the LGBTQ community for their unwavering support.


By the time the encore rolled around, though, it was back to chaos-inducing, self-hyped agency. She kicked off "I Love It" by hilariously referencing that viral clip of her attempting to rile up a group in Germany. Then it was on to men which she really interested in each person on Grindr, and finally, the nostalgia binge "1999," which ended with her encouraging fans to "be uncool for a second" by hopping on somebody's shoulders.


Charli, though, remained the coolest person in the room — and she didn't let the sold-out crowd of Angels forget it. "My name is Charli XCX so you all have incredible taste in music!" She mentioned by way of a goodbye. "Make some fucking noise for me!"