St. Vincent Brings Daddy’s Home Theater Tour to Agora (photos)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – St. Vincent, aka musician and producer Annie Clark, is a changing pop star – a guitarist and singer who isn’t afraid to venture into new territories on every project.

Clark’s transformations were central to his recent mock movie “The Nowhere Inn”, as well as his latest album “Daddy’s Home”. The concept and title for the 2021 album were inspired by Clark’s father being released from prison in 2019. Meanwhile, for music, Clark immersed himself in the New York scenes of the 1970s, leaning over towards funk and soul with a sordid rock ‘n roll touch.

It’s a pretty different vibe for the indie star – but because it’s Saint-Vincent, it totally works.

The theatrical tour came to life at the Agora on Monday night, with a staging to match. A city backdrop also featured a few puffy clouds, and a rotating circular stage and dividing wall revealed three singers (Stevvi Alexander, Nayanna Holley and Danielle Withers) who supported Clark and often stole the featured themselves with their impressive vocal skills.

Prior to Clark’s performance, comedian Ali Macofsky delivered an opening set, joking about online dating, murder shows, and the pandemic. The self-deprecating artist poked fun at past relationships, the drama of his family, and the sound of his own voice during his time on stage.

“If you loved me, my name is Ali Macofsky. If you haven’t, it’s Amy Schumer, ”she joked at the end of her performance.

When Clark appeared, his band was already jamming to a funky riff. Clark wore a pair of brown boots, shorts and a suit top as well as a scarf and a loose blouse, mostly unbuttoned.

Like a chameleon, the singer-guitarist’s style has changed with several of her recent albums. In 2014, the last time the musician performed in Cleveland, Clark sported a mane of voluminous silvery white hair in support of her intense, Grammy-winning self-titled album. In 2017’s “Masseduction” phase of electronic pop, Clark’s touring outfit matched the glamorous, punchy tunes: a tight-fitting pink suit with matching gloves and thigh-high boots.

But now that “Daddy’s Home,” his flowing wardrobe design matches the soulful, funky vibe of the new 14-track project.

At the Agora, Clark sang grimy “ow’s” on the album’s title track and yelled a few screams at the end of “Pay Your Way In Pain”. The psychedelic “Live in the Dream” made audiences tremble in sync, and “The Melting of the Sun” closed the encore with a stirring and moving crescendo.

Clark also dived into his older material, delivering a fierce version of “Cheerleader,” an upbeat-sounding “New York” and a lopsided and lopsided take on “Your Lips Are Red,” performed as the red lights bathed the stage.

While St. Vincent wasn’t the only big concert to take place in Cleveland on Monday night (a certain British pop star stole the show at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse that same night), his concert captivated a venue that was nearly full. .

“I want to thank you for not being at the Harry Styles show tonight,” Clark said at one point, a little sarcastically.

However, there was no shadow directed at Styles, or anyone else. Clark celebrated the return of touring and live music during the coronavirus pandemic, at one point, toasting “all of us that we can be back together in the same room after all the [expletive] we’ve been through this last year.

Let’s drink to that.

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