In support of her latest album, My Soft Machine.

Read more: Arlo Parks Dazzles Théâtre Beanfield

By: Sun Noor

Over the past couple of years, Arlo Parks has quickly become among the most esteemed indie-pop artists on the rise. Nearly a year following the release of her excellent sophomore album, My Soft Machine, the British singer-songwriter and musician finally played her first-ever headlining gig in the city to a sold-out crowd. Parks was joined by Los-Angeles based pop act, Chloe George as support for this run.

The theatre quickly began to fill up to a full house in anticipation. The audience were met subtle fluorescent lights and a large, glowing reel-to-reel analog tape machine. The stunning, minimalist set-piece only added more dimension to the stage, which consisted of two elevated platforms, reserved for the rhythm section of the group. A thick cloud of smoke and flickering lights from the tape machine served as the queue for Parks and her three-piece band to hit the stage, getting right into it.

The singer-songwriter greeted her fans with a big smile, kicking her set off with her spoken-word piece, “Bruiseless,” followed by “Weightless,” which set the tone for her performance. Despite dedicating the first portion of her show to the more emotive and introspective tracks, Parks’ joyous energy was well-reciprocated by the attentive crowd, bopping their heads, singing the lyrics back to her. However, it was evident that Parks was having the most fun, running back and fourth with a childlike wonder.

Parks presented most of the tracks from her latest body of work, which took on a new form, backed by her excellent live band. Introducing her earlier material “Caroline,” filled the air of the room with a sense of nostalgia, taking the audience back a few years to when many were first introduced to her music.

Between the more melancholic tracks and high-energy numbers, their performance was perfectly balanced. From her fan-favorites such as the Radiohead-inspired cut, “Eugene,” (featuring an amplified bridge thanks to the audience) and “Black Dog,” to the funky “Too Good” (which Parks introduced as her “most danceable track”) the band managed to maintain the energy of the crowd throughout their set.

Although her impressive storytelling abilities shines through her poetic lyrics, she has a knack for conveying so much with minor details. The brief pauses in the set were filled with vague stories about some of the tracks and wholesome audience interactions. She even filled the crowd in on how she wrote “Dog Rose” in Canada before jumping right into it. Parks brought us into her world, refusing to hold back from any emotions and delivered a moving performance.

The North American leg of Arlo Parks’ “My Soft Machine” tour continues into early April, with a final stop at the Brooklyn Steel slated for April 2nd. She is also set to return to Montreal this summer to play Osheaga festival in August.

Here are more photos from the show: