Alternative-rock band Sir Chloe was supposed to come to Soundwell in Salt Lake City this Halloween, but fans were shocked when a different person took the stage in their place.
The band Sir Chloe came to fame when their sapphic alternative song “Michelle” went viral on TikTok. Since then, they have continued to delight fans with original songs like “Animal,” “Walk You Home,” and “Kiss,” which all feature the same cathartic grunge. Their most recent album, Swallow the Knife, has been a solid success, with fans and music magazines alike praising its raw, honest lyrics and the mix of ballads and top-of-your-lungs-screaming rock typical of the band. “It’s cutting and forceful, but also cathartic, not so much steeped in its own anger as it is looking for a way out – for relief,” says the online magazine Consequence of the album.
Their concert on Halloween night in Salt Lake City promised to be a success, as well. The band was playing at Soundwell, and fans lined up in front of the building hours prior to its start time for front-row spots.
Because it was Halloween, many fans were dressed up. Notable costumes include Po from Kung Fu Panda, a 5/5-star Sir Chloe concert review, and many lambs (the band’s last album, I Am The Dog, included many lamb motifs).
Their concert featured two opening bands, the first of which was Starlight.
Starlight came onto stage silently and used gestures to urge the audience to copy their silence. Then, the drummer and guitarist wowed the audience with magic tricks! They used their wand to create a flower in a pot, pulled little lights through a band member’s head, and pushed and pulled hankies from thin air, all to the gasps of the audience. The band continued to wow the audience with their music, which featured consuming reverb and feedback within a kick-beat and bass strong enough to make you vibrate.
The second opening band was Venus and the Flytraps. But, they explained, today they were Wednesday and the Flytraps; all band members were dressed as Wednesday Addams, with two long braids and dark grunge-goth outfits.
Fans jumped and danced to their rebellious, upbeat, distortion-heavy rock. Fans seemed to especially like “Swiss Army Girl” and “Daphne Janes,” which are both from their new album Demonette.
Then, the main act: Sir Chloe.
Fans waited in anticipation for the band to come on stage. But they became concerned when minions – complete with goggles and overalls – began to pick up the instruments. Whispers rustled through the crowd, growing louder when instead of Dana Foote’s iconic hairstyle, a suspicious lack of hair began to glint in the spotlight. The whispers grew to a roar when a good 6 inches of nose was in view without yet being able to see whom it belonged to.
Fans knew a nose like that could only belong to one person: Gru.
The villain himself walked on stage to the lyrics “I’m having a bad, bad day,” from the song “Despicable Me”.
Once the audience had quieted down, which took some time, Gru took the microphone and spoke a single word:
“LIIIIGHTBULLLLB.”
After fans had quieted down from the chaos that word caused, Gru opened the show with a cover of “Squaring Up,” which, surprisingly, they nailed. Their voice continued to shock the crowd with hits like “July,” “Salivate,” and “Eyes.”
By the time they sang “Sedona” and “Forgiving,” fans were confident in the group’s musical abilities – the minions’ included. Gru and the minions sang with all the raw emotional honesty and head-banging intensity as Sir Chloe. So, by the time they played “Mercy,” fans were fully confident and comfortable and rocking out all the same.
Fans were so satisfied, in fact, that when they announced that tonight, we would steal the moon, fans nearly blew the roof off screaming their whole-hearted enthusiasm.
Though that promise was not fulfilled, the band did fulfill their promise of an encore and ended the night with the, as always, heartbreaking “Michelle.”
Though not delivered in the way fans expected, the concert still provided all the fun, community, and good rock that fans were promised. And, anyways, it was surely a night to remember.
Sources:
Consequence digital magazine
https://consequence.not/2025/08/sir-chloe-swallow-the-knife-track-by-track/#
