“Well NY did u have fun?” asked Charli XCX on a TikTok posted after her September 23rd concert at Madison Square Garden. Judging by the post-show euphoria with fans spilling into the streets, belting out the night’s most iconic lyrics and endless posts, the answer was loud and clear.
On approach, MSG stood listless and gray in the dreary weather, but inside, a party atmosphere was in full swing. The crowd was neon and vibrant: dressed in a very on-theme ‘Brat green’ (an electric, borderline offensive shade The New York Times called “affronting”), draped in metallic accessories — the chunkier, the better — and, of course, fishnets. The lazy nods to club fashion were just enough to set the vibe. By contrast, the concert merch was subdued. Boring even. T-shirts emblazoned with “brat,” “sweat,” or “rush” in uninspired block lettering felt flat — hardly in keeping with the energy of the crowd but nonetheless garnered quite the lines.
The show itself didn’t begin with a bang or a “Rush”; instead, Troye Sivan kicked it off with his dance hit, “Got Me Started.” Draped in a leather harness (because, of course) and backed by a troupe of dancers, Troye spun, twirled, and bounced with hypnotizing effect to a roaring crowd. “What’s the Time Where You Are?” and “My My My!” followed in a blur of suggestive choreography. All from a man who recently confessed he’s ‘embarrassed’ of dancing. With moves like TKTK, it’s no wonder Gap tapped Troye for their autumn/winter campaign, ‘Get Loose’.
Just as Troye wrapped up his first few songs, the strobe lights erupted, pulsating with all the feverish intensity of a Bushwick nightclub. A giant ‘brat green’ curtain billowing at stage center dropped dramatically to reveal the “Club Classics” icon herself – Charli XCX – to a wave of thunderous applause. She dove right into “365,” accompanied by Shygirl, who was the night’s opener. A foil to Troye’s polished precision, Charli dispensed with the choreography – but not the physicality. With bold, confident movements that felt anything but rehearsed, the pop icon strutted across stages, sprinted up stairs, and scaled the scaffolding, turning the arena into her personal playground. In a way that only Charli could, she delivered the essence of a wild club night without ever really dancing herself.
As Charli and Troye took turns commanding the stage, their set teemed with the adrenaline of a perfect night out. Concertgoers could almost forget they were at MSG — the stadium felt more like a packed club, complete with all the usual annoyances (yes, even that one girl who keeps whipping her hair). The spectacle never let up, from TikTok sensation Kelley Heyer breaking out her viral ‘Apple’ dance to Troye grinding on a backup dancer. Charli, ever the brat, flashed her panties during “Guess” while a camera crew breathlessly tried to keep up. It was an unapologetically over-the-top celebration of club culture.
And then there were the cameos: Addison Rae making an appearance for “Diet Pepsi,” while Lorde popped in for the “Girl, So Confusing” remix. Each guest performance was a knockout, but the show itself moved with brisk efficiency, like it had somewhere to be. This wasn’t some meandering dance night. Charli and Troye had a curtain call — and by 10:30 p.m., after a high-energy encore ending with “Talk Talk,” the dreaded overhead lights flickered on. And like any great night out, it had ended too soon. Maybe MSG hadn’t literally sweat, but it definitely shook — and left everyone wishing the night had lasted just a little longer.
