BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
In her midriff-baring zebra striped outfit and shades, Charli XCX bopped onto the makeshift stage in the outfield of Turner Field and immediately struck a pose.
The British pop singer – known to casual fans as the key to the hook on Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” and the voice behind the teen dream stomper “Boom Clap” – projects a sassiness that her fans absorb with relish.
Opening her 11-song set with "London Queen," from her recent album "Sucker," Charli XCX and her three-piece female band captivated the cluster of fans who purchased field passes to be superclose to the stage. Her appealing, melodic pop songs persuaded pockets of sections of the ballpark to stick around for the free concert after the Braves beat the Padres, and they received a taut selection of tunes designed for maximum Top 40 exposure.
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
The young British singer – she turns 23 in August – evokes Cyndi Lauper in her earlier years with a slight punk edge. She proved highly capable of crafting an impeccable earworm before breaking into solo stardom with the fizzy “I Love It,” a worldwide hit for Icona Pop in 2013, and her performance of it Wednesday night sent the teen-leaning crowd into a tizzy.
Charli XCX also co-wrote “Fancy” with Azalea, and it’s obviously the song that will follow her throughout her burgeoning career.
Her sound, as evidenced on “Famous” and “Superlove,” can be a bit too uniform, but there is plenty of untapped potential bubbling to her surface.
Charli XCX will return to Atlanta Sept. 29 with Bleachers and Robert DeLong ( tickets are on sale Friday, June 12 ); the Braves concert served as a pleasant primer.
Other concerts on the Summer Concert Series lineup at Turner Field are Boyz II Men June 20; Billy Currington Aug. 6; and the just-announced Third Day show on Aug. 9. Click here for more info.
About the Author
