it's like nobody wants to [brat] anymore
are the youths ok?
Floor Time
/flôr tīm/
noun
the 15-60 minute time period spent laying on the floor in the middle of the work day, typically as a relief from the soul-sucking reality of corporate America.
I, like many lucky souls, rallied on a MONDAY to attend Troye Sivan + Charli XCX’s North American SWEAT Tour. I don’t know how many cities would thrive at a Monday night show—but I know this about New Yorkers: we will show up and show out. It was the first weekday of fall, but that didn’t stop us from rocking up in full brat girl summer lewks. Chunky jewelry and assless chaps were all the rage. brat green accents stood out in a sea of fans in the pit. Poppers were smelt up and down the aisles. It was everything a cultural phenomenon should be and more.
With that said, I hate to be a wet blanket—but I must. Because despite all the magnificence, I have a major qualm about going to shows these days (and it’s not about people singing louder than the artist, something I hate and have written about1). In recent history2, I have observed people being absolutely vibeless at super cool events like this. Like, you paid $[redacted] to be here, you spent [redacted] hours on your outfit, hair, and makeup—why are you worried about being perceived?! Why don’t you look like you’re having fun?!
If I had a nickel for every time my bestie Eli and I attended a big concert and couldn’t get seats together, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.3 Despite this, I had an unbelievable time. Charli XCX and Troye Sivan are unreal performers. I ended up next to really friendly people who kept apologizing for bumping into me while dancing4, to which I responded, “by all means, this is Charli!!!” They passed the vibe check. Meanwhile, Eli’s part of our section consisted of people on their phone the whole time, not dancing.
It drives me nuts! Dance, monkeys, dance!!! Have you, dearest gentle reader, realized this too? Is it because we’re all victims of the internet so being perceived and god forbid, recorded, is the worst thing we can imagine? Is it because we forgot to have fun IRL and not just in our black mirrors? I can’t figure out why but I know that there has been a stark change from BC (before-COVID) and AC in terms of concert vibes. Is it because tickets have become so expensive so the only people who can afford them are wealthy people who yaaas queen give us nothing? I can’t figure out but it drives me nuts. Overall, the summation of my verbal/mental descent into madness you just witnessed is this: IRL is fun! Be free! Live your life! Be the brat we know you can be and forget what others think!! K live, laugh, love, bye!
Something I Thought of in the Shower
How did we think of so many of the jobs that exist? Like imagine explaining to a pilgrim what a consultant does (tbh imagine explaining to a human girl—read, me—in 2024 what a consultant does)
Something Pretty
My friend Alex is visiting from the Bay and we went to the Morgan Library this week! I forget how stunning it is even though I do have a gripe with museums that have a $25+ admission fee.5
Something To Laugh About
Here are this week’s gems:
Who woulda thunk that in 2024 we’d get Pleakley visibility like this?! And if you don’t know who I’m talking about—culture yourself, you uncultured swine6!!
Me and every fall girlie this week (note: switching it up and sending an IG link because it has been brought to my attention that not everyone can access my TikTok links).
This is my favorite kind of brain rot—the store-obscure-movie-quote kind.
Something for Clarice
Hey! This newsletter is free and I intend to keep it that way. That said, if you love it and want to show your appreciation, buy me a coffee ☕️
By the way…I’m reading this.
I visited Book Off this week, a magical store consisting of used books, and collectors items of all the best nerd stuff (e.g. Doctor Who memorabilia, vintage Game Boy games, Pokemon cards, anime figurines). I bought 3 books for under $8 and now I’m just trying to decide which to read first. I think I might tackle A Study in Charlotte (snagged a copy for a whopping $1.00), a YA mystery and gender-bending Sherlock Holmes (say less!!).
And I’m watching this.
I caught up on Rings of Power and Only Murders in the Building (finding this season to be better than the last, for both series) and now I’m moving to KAOS, which I have not read any reviews for but is truly the most up my alley a show could be. Jeff Goldblum. Greek gods. Dark humor. New York. Pastel set design a la Wes Anderson. Sign me up!
Hope you are all enjoying the first week of fall. In classic Clo fashion I will be hermitting this weekend with a book and tea, so no one perceive me physically or emotionally pls.7
‘Til next time, brats. Your friend,
Clarice
note that I am less irritated by this at something like the SWEAT tour where they’re singing over tracks anyway—at a singer/songwriter’s show it is simply disrespectful
read: post-COVID
an apology for encroaching on personal space, what a revelation!! someone tell the woman with elbows in row 3 (next to Eli).
Idk just feeling like a hater this week
again forgive me, I wrote this under the influence of a lot of haterade
I love hypocrisy 🙃