On Friday, A.G. Cook took the stage at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., and delivered a sonic experience that was as shimmering and explosive as the genre he’s helped define. Cook, the founder of the influential PC Music label and executive producer behind Charli XCX’s brat, is a towering figure in hyperpop—a genre that was built on maximalism, boundary-pushing synths and turbocharged futuristic beats.
D.C. fans were particularly lucky to catch this show because it coincided with the drop of the brat remix album, brat and it’s completely different but still brat, meaning the set featured several tracks that had been released less than 24 hours before. Early in the show, Cook paid tribute to his late friend and collaborator SOPHIE, with the newly released remix of “So I.” Fans lined the barricade in “U GON’ JUMP IF A.G. MADE IT” T shirts and gleefully bounced to the new rendition.
Despite the show being part of the Britpopmania tour, the setlist featured tracks and collaborations across his entire discography, including SOPHIE’s “L.O.V.E.” mashed with “Love Me Off Earth,” and remixes of Caroline Polachek’s “Starburned and Unkissed” and Yelle’s, “Moteur Action”. About three-quarters through the show, Cook shifted gears. Stepping off the decks and grabbing a mic, he introduced a slower, more introspective moment to the set. He sang “Soulbreaker,” “Being Harsh,” and “Superstar,” showcasing a softer side.
He finished the night with Charli’s “Club Classics” followed by an encore featuring “Silver vs. Silver” and a reimagined rendition of Caroline Polachek’s “Welcome To My Island’ The show was a masterclass in bold experimentation and pop excellence, blending avant-garde sound for an overwhelming sensory experience.
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Photos and review by Hailey Collins (@haileycolllins)