Post Malone made it to Milwaukee for the first time, performing for the first time after becoming one of the world’s most successful artists.
He gave fans everything he got, including giving one fan the shirt off his back.
He continued to give after the 95-minute set was over.
Fans were filing out as the house lights turned on and the exit music came on. There was still a man on the main runway, signing autographs and doing funny videos for fans.
He made his way down the runway, connecting with fans along the way. Despite feeling under the weather, he did an autograph and selfies during the show. By the end of the night, he was sniffing and breathing a lot.
I’ve reviewed concerts for 10 years and have never seen an arena act do something like this. The country superstar, who had his own six-minute autograph session at American Family Field in May, seemed to be more generous with his time.
It was not the only fan moment for the man.
The guitarist spotted a fan’s sign in the pit and asked to play during “Stay.” He grabbed the guy and gave him a hug without hesitation.
The fan, named Rene, took a seat, got a guitar, and started strumming.
“I’m going to light a cigarette to watch Rene play, he’s that good,” he said. You’re a legend.
Their exchange was enhanced by the warm, whispered voices of the crowd.
Rene said “I appreciate it, this is a blessing, thank you very much” before they drank a beer together.
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His Milwaukee fans were drawn by his smooth, instantly memorable hits and emotional angst. Many pop artists have conflicting concepts. Even among A-listers, he was in rarefied air because of his skill sets.
He did it without the usual trappings of a pop show. The vibe mattered most because it was aligned with the less-is-more hip-hop aesthetic of the man. He had a number of Top 10 Hot 100 hits, including “Psycho,” “Sunflower,” “Circles,” “Wow.,” “One Right Now,” and “Better Now.” He also had a number of Top 10 Hot 100 hits, including “One Right Now,” ” Better Now,” The setlist didn’t includeGoodbyes.
The biggest rock show statement was for “Rockstar,” with blue, pink and orange flames firing out of grates placed across the runways, lasers bouncing off lighting rigs, and Malone smashing an acoustic guitar on the main stage floor.
When he stopped pacing around, the pyro paused, and he ripped his heart out into a mic, he was at his best.
It happened at the beginning of the show for “Reputation”, his new album. The self-loathing was at a boil, the anguish boiling over for the devastating lines.
At the start of the show, he was threatening to peak, but he conjured the burn-it-all-down, bleeding-heart-on his-sleeve sentiment multiple times. He fell on the ground and hit his head, and then dropped to his knees, for “Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol” He didn’t have to worry about his voice being subpar because of his illness. I can’t imagine what he’d sound like if he were well.
When he mentioned the long break between tours because of the Pandemic, he seemed so frustrated.
The wait had been longer for Milwaukee fans. They hope they don’t have to wait so long again.
Roddy Ricch honored PnB Rock, Nipsey Hussle with opening set
Post Malone had a lot of production tricks at his disposal, but the opener had almost all of them at his disposal. One of the most electric moments in his 46-minute set was when all of that stuff, and the booming DJ mix, disappeared, leaving Ricch to quickly rap a cappella in the middle of the main runway for the chest-pumping street hustle anthem “every season.”
The snap of his flow and gravity of his words were a sharp reminder that he was one of the best hip-hop artists of the last decade. He guided the set through many moods, ranging from raunchy lovers’ tales to potent, personal reflections of childhood trauma.
He dedicated the song “Die Young” to PnB Rock, who was shot and killed in a robbery this week. There are illustrations of Prince, Mac Miller, Juice Wrld, and Kobe Bryant on a video screen.
It’s too early to say if his legacy will have the same impact as some of the fallen artists he honored Thursday, but he’s off to a good start.
Takeaways from Post Malone’s Fiserv Forum show
- That extended autograph session is probably the least Malone could do after being showered with gifts from fans during practically the entire show. Among the items tossed on stage: cowboy hats, ball caps (including a Brewers one), bras, a hair tie, shirts, a Dreamcatcher necklace, and a sweet-looking leather jacket with a skeleton on the back.
- Has Post Malone been hanging out with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers? At one point Thursday, Malone uttered one of Evers’ signature sayings, “Holy mackerel!” Malone didn’t drop any “Folks” shout-outs, though, opting instead for “ladies and gentlemen” on multiple occasions.
- Shortly after appearing on stage during Malone’s set for their collaboration “Cooped Up,” Roddy Ricch was escorted across the arena floor to the back, so he apparently could take in the rest of the show. Who could blame him?
- For anyone curious about Malone’s tat status, he whipped off his shirt near the show’s end (giving his Betty Boop tee to a fan), illustrating that while much of his face, chest, stomach and arms are spoken for, there’s still plenty of epidermis for tattoo artists to work with across his back and sides.
- In honor of Malone’s Milwaukee show and in tribute to his many tats, Fiserv Forum offered concertgoers free temporary tattoos. Among the options: one bearing the artist and arena names inside a heart shaped by barbed wire, and another with the words “Always Tired” in cursive, an homage to one of Malone’s better-known face tattoos.
- Fiserv Forum kept the party going after the show wrapped up at the Potawatomi Club at the upper level, with the official tour after party presented by Malone’s manager Dre London and his tequila brand Dos Londres. Deadlines prevented me from attending, but Tyla Yaweh, a rapper signed to London’s agency, was booked for the gig.
Post Malone’s Fiserv Forum setlist
This is the first thing. “Reputation” is what it’s called.
There are two “It’s amazing.”
There are three. “I like you” is a song.
There are four. It was wrapped around your finger.
There are five. Better now.
There are six. “Psycho” is a horror film.
There are seven. “Candy paint” is what it is called.
There are eight. I fall apart.
There are nine. It’s called “Euthanasia.”
There are ten. “Stay” is a song.
There is a new date for the 11th. “Go Flex” is a song.
“Circles” is a partial acoustic song.
13th “Love/Hate letter to alcohol”
The 14th. You should take what you want.
There are fifteen. I’m alone.
A new date has been added. “Over now” is what it is called.
17th “Rockstar” is the title of the movie.
There is a new item on the market. “Insane” is a song.
18. “Cooped Up” is a song by the band.
A new date. It’s called “Sunflower.”
A new day has arrived. One right now.
There is a new date for this event. Thank you.
There is a new date for this article. The person is referred to as “White Iverson”.
Piet can be reached at (414) 223-5161 or plevy@journalsentinel.com You can follow him on social media: