Ever since she began writing, recording, and performing as St. Vincent, Annie Clark has found a way to be seriously good at what she does without taking herself too seriously.
The title of her first album, Marry Me, was taken from a recurring joke in the series Arrested Development. In 2017, she paired up with Carrie Brownstein to create an “interview kit” ahead of her album Masseduction, in which Clark provides scripted, sarcastic responses to some of her most common interview questions. In 2016 she wore a purple toilet costume for an entire set.
The perfect touch of volatility is part of the skilled and powerful performances St. Vincent is known for. With each new album, Clark reinvents her aesthetic. She’s done — in her words from a 2017 Vogue interview — “near-future cult leader” (St. Vincent, 2014) and “the Cramps play a mental institution” (Masseduction, 2017).
For her sixth studio album, Daddy’s Home, released in May, Clark has created a world steeped in 1970s Rock & Roll. She performs as Candy Darling, the Warhol Superstar, wearing a blonde bob and standing with the ease and seduction of a retro lounge singer.
Daddy’s Home pairs deeply personal lyrics with soulful compositions. The album starts with the sexy, Glam Rock number “Pay Your Way in Pain,” and rolls right into the funky “Down and Out Downtown,” with lyrics that set the New York scene. The album cruises smoothly from song to song with heavy lyrics and sweet melodies throughout the ride.
If you’re lucky enough to catch her show on Sept. 7, you can expect to see Clark perform these tracks in her Candy Darling blonde wig backed by a tight band dressed in 1970s garb. Cincinnati is early on the tour, so we don’t know quite what to expect yet, but if we’re lucky we’ll get the full experience her April 3 Saturday Night Live performance hinted at — backup singers, fur coats and all.
St. Vincent performs at 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at the ICON Festival Stage. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test from the prior 72 hours is required.
More info: iconmusiccenter.com.
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