An hour before doors opened, “Verified Resale Tickets” for FLETCHER’s show at The Foundry last Friday were going for $305. And while the rapidly-blowing-up pop star normally performs on a massive-for-a-nightclub, two-tiered stage, the modest stage of the 450-capacity venue had no room for that, making for an extra intimate and special tour stop. “Tonight is gonna be rowdy as fuckin’ hell. We usually have a huge set,” said the Asbury Park-born and bred singer/songwriter, after opening the evening with ineffably infectious pop bangers “girls girls girls” and “Forever.”
Although the young luminary is yet to drop a full-length album, the beyond-packed room resembled some 21st century queer variation on Beatlemania, with at least half of the audience clawing their way towards the stage for the entirety of the hour+ show while they nearly drowned out FLETCHER belting out the lyrics on several occasions.
Much of the set focused on the songs of THE S(EX) TAPES, FLETCHER’s second EP, which dropped in September of 2020, including club jams “Bitter” and “If I Hated You,” in addition to heart wrenching ballads “Sex (With My Ex)” and “Feel” (which closed the night). However, the highlight of the set came relatively early on with “All Love,” a delectable pop anthem off of 2019’s you ruined new york city for me EP.
While FLETCHER’s audiences adore her on a full-on queen-level, she navigated the stage for the entirety of the evening like a rock goddess, putting herself well within reach of fans on all corners of the stage without ever losing her unteachable swagger, which seems destined to envelop a room about five times the size of The Foundry the next time she makes it to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.
Opening the evening was an all-too-brief set from Amelia Moore, a 21-year-old who may be well on her way to pop stardom as well, whose recent single, “moves,” embodies the best elements of ‘90s R&B, along with the kind of electropop built for sunny afternoons at basically any festival in the world.
