An Arlo Parks show is a study in contradictions. The British singer’s voice is soft and vulnerable, yet her live show deftly sways through genres, trip-hop, funk, rock. The throughline is Parks herself – exuding a mellow indie vibe that has wide appeal. Parks came to Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall on Monday night in support of her latest album, My Soft Machine.
The evening started with American singer-songwriter, Chloe George delivering a short set. The singer recently released an EP and is quickly growing from Tik Tok to indie-pop artist. George’s sheer delight at being on her first tour, being in Toronto and being heard was charming.
From the moment Parks came to the stage, she captivated the room. At the end of her first song, Weightless, Parks thanked Toronto for supporting her, shouting out that Toronto was one of the first shows to sell out on this tour – something she does not take for granted. A few songs in, she delighted the audience by playing an “oldie” – her 2021 song Caroline. She made her way through her catalogue, hitting all the fan favourites – Eugene, Hurt, Too Good. The three-piece band displayed its versatility – punctuating Parks’ chill sonic landscape with the occasional full-blown rock and roll wailing. The soft timbre of her voice ought not to jive with the harder edges of bigger sounds, but it does.
In a rather clever staging move, the only adornment was a completely fake recording stack that sat behind the performers. Crowned with pretend spinning reel to reels, hundreds of colourful lights pulsated, danced, and sparkled in time with the music. While not “dance-music” per se, Parks offered up songs than gently make people bounce and swing.
The 90-minute set ended with a one-song encore. Parks and her band left the room on a high note with an energetic rendition of Softly, before disappearing. She has found a niche spot in the musical landscape and her fanbase is bound to grow. Keep your eyes out Toronto… Arlo Parks will be back!
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Be sure to check out F7 Entertainment to see what other shows they will be bringing to Canada this year.
