Charlie Puth at Arizona Financial Theatre
Arizona Financial Theatre, Phoenix, AZ| April 24th, 2026
Written by Jen Stoiber
The second stop of Charlie Puth’s Whatever's Clever! World Tour in Phoenix, Arizona and it did not disappoint. Puth has come back to the road after hitting personal milestones and dropping his newest album, Whatever’s Clever! one I recommend, as it showcases vulnerability and growth that wasn't seen in some of his projects. As someone who attended his first headline tour back in 2016 in Scottsdale, it was remarkable to see how far he has come and how deeply he appreciates his craft and his fans.
Opening up the show with Ally Salort and followed by Daniel Seavey. Both acts brought in the best energy out of the Arizona crowd. Seavey in particular impressed, performing an unreleased song and covering another, bouncing between instruments and building each track from scratch. By the time Charlie took the stage, the crowd was ready and warmed up.
One of the most important things to note about this show is that Charlie never made it all about himself. His band, his vocalist and even the audience were consistently engaged and woven into the performance. His extraordinary vocalist carried much of the night’s vocal weight beautifully. The show opened with “Beat Yourself Up”, the perfect song to set the tone for the evening. Charlie then moved between a synthesizer and various keyboards, reminding the audience that it isn't just his perfect pitch that makes him a star.
Charlie expressed how much he yearns for the intimacy of a venue like Arizona Financial Theatre, how he genuinely misses seeing fans up close and being able to hear and connect with them in a way that simply isn't possible in arenas. It was refreshing to hear, especially at a time when so many artists play exclusively large venues where that personal connection gets lost. He then introduced “LA Girls” from his Voicenotes album, speaking about how music can make you feel completely present while also transporting you back in time. Revisiting Nine Track Mind brought a nostalgic wave that fans who have been there since the beginning cherished.Throughout, Charlie hit every note, and then some, reaching even higher with an absolutely ethereal voice.
What stood out most was Charlie’s self awareness as a songwriter. He mentioned that he consciously tries not to repeat the meaning to his songs, and that he felt a gap in his discography that led him to write “Cry” from Whatever’s Clever! It was a great moment, bringing the attention to others in the room and the permission from a man. It's definitely more than okay to be vulnerable and to feel.
Closing the night with 3 songs from his debut album before ending on a new one was the perfect way to bring everything full circle.
