Live Review: Charli XCX and Troye Sivan at the Kia Forum

Seductive, loud and wild in the best way, Charli XCX and Troye Sivan turned the Kia Forum into a Los Angeles club scene on Wednesday night. 

Sivan and XCX’s “Brat Summer” takeover is far from over. The two pop stars are on the final leg of their co-headlining Sweat tour, dominating U.S. cities one by one. On their last sold-out night in Los Angeles, thousands of eager fans lined up outside the Kia Forum in their best “Brat” inspired attire. Among the sea of neon green, groups of friends clung to one another, chatting excitedly and rushing to their seats. It was not long before the 17,500-capacity arena was filled from top to bottom. 

Although doors opened at 7:30 p.m., Troye Sivan and his male backup dancers took the stage at roughly 8:30 p.m. Sivan pulled out all the performance stops with fog machines, strobe lights, and intricate choreography. The YouTuber turned pop sensation, has become an important figure in the queer community, and for good reason. From dressing up in drag to performing lap dances on stage, Sivan unapologetically flaunts his sexuality. In his first act of the show, Sivan performed three songs with a consistent burst of intense energy. Ending his first act, with his hit song “My My My!” before exiting the stage. 

For a brief moment after Sivan’s exit, cheering fans were left in confusion as the lights of the arena turned off. Suddenly, flashing lights revealed a box formed by neon green curtains labeled “Brat” on stage and it was clear to fans who was next. The curtains dropped to unveil Charli XCX and the arena echoed in deafening cheers. The England-born artist stepped out in a white veil and a shirt that read, “Hot Person at Work.” 

After greeting the audience, XCX welcomed artist, Shygirl, and together they performed the Brat summer anthem, 365. At this point, not a single concert-goer was sitting down. Everyone stood from their seats, arms in the air, and danced to the music, turning the forum into a club scene. XCX hyped up the crowd as she jumped up and down, adding more fuel to the energetic crowd. 

She performed two more songs before ending act one of the performance and nonchalantly exiting the stage and making a switch-off with Sivan. Sivan returned to the stage wearing a new outfit and adding a large prop bed to his stage set-up. The concert consisted of a back-and-forth with the two artists, each performing a couple of songs at a time before trading off again. While XCX’s performance was party all around, Sivan took a more intentional approach with choreography and even softer singing. It was the perfect balance for the audience. 

At one point, Sivan entered the stage wearing a wig and a brassiere-style corset top. This was the outfit he welcomed popular internet personality, Vinnie Hacker, to the stage before performing “One of Your Girls” and dancing around him. It was clear from the ear-splitting screams that the fans adored this performance.  XCX had similar erotic moves during her performance, even spitting and licking the clear stage at one point. For the two of them, their confidence in their bodies and sexuality has become a huge selling point of the tour and of their image as a whole. It is intoxicating to see people who are so defiantly comfortable with themselves and leaves the audience wanting more. 

As the show came closer to an end, XCX gifted fans the treat of nostalgia by performing the 2012 smash hit “I Love It.” From a higher view, the pit crowd thrashed in synchronicity and moved like a violent wave. Voices from all over the arena echoed her lyrics and the energy was not only contagious but also exhilarating. 

Sivan and XCX both returned to the stage together for a final performance of “Talk Talk,” where they were raised on a platform and blasted confetti into the crowd. It was the perfect ending to a lively night. 

Set List

Act I – Troye Sivan

• Got Me Started

• What’s the Time Where You Are?

• My My My!

Act I – Charli xcx

• 365

• 360

• Von dutch

Act II – Troye Sivan

• In My Room

• Dance to This

• Rager teenager!

Act II – Charli xcx

• Club classics

• Unlock It

• Sympathy is a knife

• Guess

Act III – Troye Sivan

• Bloom

• Act III – Charli xcx

• Spring breakers

• Play Video

• Girl, so confusing

Act IV – Troye Sivan

• The Call

• One of Your Girls

• Act IV – Charli xcx

• Everything is romantic
  Speed Drive

• Apple

Act V – Troye Sivan

• Silly

• You
• STUD

Act V – Charli xcx

• 365

• Vroom Vroom

Act V – Charli xcx & Troye Sivan

• 1999

• Encore – Charli xcx

• Track 10
• I Love It

Encore – Troye Sivan

• Honey

• Rush

Encore – Charli xcx & Troye Sivan

• Talk talk