Kim Petras is the picture-perfect pop star. Precipitating the airwaves with feel-good singles that came together on her debut album, Clarity, solidified her place in the pop music landscape. Her exuding confidence and syrupy-sweet production is paired with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a hyper-feminine aesthetic. These features culminated a sold out show at Emo’s Nov. 3. 

Story by Miles Eackles 

Frigid temperatures with no sign of warmth near didn’t stop the scantily-clad outfits many of the audience members wore. From knee high boots to fishnets to skin-tight tube tops, the crowd definitely stood out among people who passed by.

Surrounding the venue was a serpentine line and the end was not in sight. It only seemed as if the line had a beginning and no end. Outbursts of Petras’ signature “woo ah” contagiously slithered its way up and down the line. At exactly 7 p.m., the doors opened and the night was ready to begin.

The spaciousness of Emo’s was gulped up by the audience and their thirst for Kim Petras. It was the most crowded I’ve ever seen the venue. It was near to impossible to move around comfortably. 

The set design was unusual for a show at Emo’s, but this only added to the uniqueness of the show. Even though the stage was small, Petras’ set included more than a dozen lights, a stairway, a DJ stand, and a circular stand that spun around. This gave Petras freedom to do whatever she wanted to do on stage. 

The DJ, Alex Chapman, who was going to accompany Petras throughout the entire show, hyped up the crowds with hits from Charli XCX, Slayyyter and many more artists that evolve the pop music genre. The sweat and body odor was profound as a result of all of the dancing. It was bound to be explosive as soon as Petras came out. It felt like a huge party before the actual party was to begin.

All of a sudden, the lights went pitch black. The beginning synth cord of “Clarity” began to play and the crowd instantly knew what was to go down. The lights came back on in a rainbow of pastel pinks, blues, and greens. Kim Petras, in all of her sparkling glory, took command of the stage. Many crowd members pushed and shoved to get closer; this was the moment they had been waiting for. 

“Clarity” almost didn’t feel real. The heavy dancing from the audience was reinvigorating. You felt as though you could be anyone in that crowd. “Clarity” soon transitioned into “Meet the Parents,” a song that details the insecurities and vulnerability surrounding meeting a loved one’s parents. 

Perhaps the most energized the crowd became was when Petras’ most known single, “I Don’t Want It All,” was performed. This was the song that brought many fans over to the Kim Petras fandom. It’s message of retail therapy combined with urgency brought confidence to many people. The lights were flickering chaotically in different shades of pinks. Even though the venue was packed, everyone had their own individualized space to dance. 

Next came “Heart to Break,” and the energy in the crowd was endless. Even though the lyrics of the song are about heartache and the emotions that come along with, the dance party happening said otherwise. Petras was on her third outfit change at this point which showcased a milieu of rhinestones and fringes.

The overall feeling of euphoria exuded the entire night, even if the concert was right before a Monday. The last song Petras performed was her hit “Sweet Spot.” The overwhelming bass felt like the venue had a body of its own and the crowd was just dancing in it. After the show, people immediately wanted to be let out of the crowd due to its constricting nature. The chill outside seemed non-existent as people discussed how great of a performer Petras was and wondering when she would be coming back to Austin.