Audrey Hobert: The Staircase to Stardom tour

To me, Audrey Hobert is the epitome of a pop star. Her album “Who’s the Clown?” has been her only release so far, yet her tour has helped her rise to the top.

I saw her in concert on Friday, Oct. 9, in Chicago. My two friends and I had VIP tickets, which gave us early access to the general admission and allowed us to attend a Q&A session with Hobert. While we didn’t camp out, we got in line about two hours before they allowed us inside the venue. However, it was the best experience I have ever had in a concert line.

We immediately made friends. Everyone in line was talking, complimenting each other’s outfits, sharing food and creating friendships.

This setting itself already defined who Hobert is to me. Her fanbase reflects her personality. Everyone was kind and welcoming, just as Hobert is. This further proved itself in the Q&A.

We secured our spots in the very front row, right against the barricade. The Riviera, where the concert was held, was small and had mainly general admission with limited balcony seating. Hobert came out shortly after all the VIP ticket holders entered. She answered questions for about 30 minutes. Most pertained to her writing process, her experience in fame or her history in screenwriting. Multiple fans gave her gifts, and she accepted each one lovingly.

After the Q&A, the other ticket holders began entering the venue. The general admission filled quickly, and it soon became crowded. The dress code simply seemed to be “wear something fun.” Everyone came covered in bright colors and polka dots, wearing tiaras and feather boas.

At 7:30 p.m., the “opener” came on stage. Instead of an actual, real-life artist, it was a mannequin wearing a long blonde wig and a pink princess crown. Hobert set it on stage herself, and a playlist of 2000s throwback songs accompanied the mannequin’s performance. It was camp, for lack of a better word.

Hobert came out to perform about an hour later. The concert felt so intimate. She screamed and danced and smiled the whole time. She introduced her entire band and her entire family who were in the crowd. Her best friend, Savannah, who is also mentioned in her song “Silver Jubilee,” worked on props for the concert.

Hobert is inspiring, both in her lyrics and her looks. She didn’t wear the normal glamour of a pop girl; she wore a mid-length black trench coat and black tights. No makeup and unbrushed hair. Women performers are typically expected to look perfect, and Hobert rebels against this stereotype.

Her song “Phoebe” inspires people to also break this stereotype. It tells a story of Hobert beginning to watch “Friends.” She questions if the character Joey would ever be interested in dating her. Beyond the obvious plotline, she talks about her own insecurities and how she had to “dig deep inside [herself]” to find out she was beautiful. The song celebrates women finding their inner beauty, and how it shows their outer beauty.

Overall, Hobert is relatable. She tells the stories we are all feeling. She makes mistakes: she goes back to her ex, she says unfunny jokes and she’s alone a lot. Her music gives people, specifically young women, a safe space to know their mistakes are normal.

Her concert was the happiest one I have experienced. The energy was empowering, and I felt connected to every person in that room. It only confirmed to me that Audrey Hobert is the “It girl” of pop, and probably the most relatable person in Hollywood.

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norrisl3@miamioh.edu

Layla Norris is a sophomore double majoring in political science and professional writing, with minors in history and human capital management and leadership. Alongside writing for The Miami Student, she is involved with Kappa Alpha Pi and RedHawk Radio.