Post Malone is a grateful guy.
He thanked the audience numerous times throughout his performance at Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Nov. 17. The 24-year-old rapper and singer-songwriter had already played to a packed Honda Center on Saturday and his Runaway Tour, also featuring Swae Lee and Tyla Yaweh, heads to The Forum in Inglewood Wednesday, Nov. 20 and Thursday, Nov. 21.
“I know I probably say it too much,” he said after about the eighth “Thank You.” However, he explained that before his first hit, 2015’s “White Iverseon,” which he performed near the end of the set, he went from “sleeping in a closet” to where he is now.
Though the bulk of his lyrical content centers around heartbreak and getting high or drunk, he smiled a lot during the set, feeding off the audience cheering and loudly singing along. He’s relishing in his success and he should be. He’s one of the more interesting artists to break in the last couple of years as he seamlessly blends the hip-hop, rock and pop genres. He’s a prime example of not judging a book by its cover, as his exterior, which features a face full of tattoos, may appear tough, but Post Malone is really a bleeding heart.
The Runaway Tour is in support of his third album, “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” which dropped back in September. It has already spawned numerous radio hits and he leaned heavily on it during the set, opening the show with the album title track. “This song is about feeling like (crap), having your heart broken and not being able to say goodbye,” he said before launching into “Goodbyes,” which on record features Young Thug.
“Die For Me” was also about being deceived in a relationship and was much more aggressive live than on record. “Enemies” was all about fake friends and he said he took steps out of his comfort zone to make things that were “zany and weird and funky” with the track, “Allergic,” which mashed up a myriad of sounds, dabbling in punk rock, EDM and a dash of R&B and Doo-wop.
The radio hit “Circles” was a definite crowd favorite Sunday night and Malone seemed to be living it up during “Take What You Want,” a song on which he worked with Travis Scott and metal music icon Ozzy Osbourne. During the song, an image of Osbourne appears on the giant screens and he sings along while ginormous bursts of fire shoot up in the background.
“Sunflower,” featuring Swae Lee, was an inescapable hit last year as it was featured on the “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” soundtrack. Swae Lee joined Malone on stage for the song, bringing out flowers to throw out to the audience.
Malone has so many other hits that went over big, too, including the bouncy, “Better Now,” “Psycho,” which he admitted was just written about a “very shiny and very cool wrist watch” and “Rockstar.” He slowed things down a bit and strapped on a guitar for an acoustic version of “Stay” and he ended the night with “Congratulations.” He let the audience know that when he sees people in public who have put him down in the past, they reach out to shake his hand and “they always say congratulations.”
“Live your life, live your dream, live your truth,” he told the crowd.
Both opening acts, Swae Lee and Tyla Yaweh, were definitely worth showing up early for. Yaweh, who is signed to Malone’s label, was entertaining to watch as he danced through “Salute,” which features French Montana and “I Think I Luv Her.” He got the crowed pumped with “High Right Now” and “Who Shot Johnny?” He had fun with “She Bad,” during which he showed off his best Michael Jackson dance moves. After his set, he went down into the crowd, hugged fans and took time to pose for photos. Now that’s how you build a solid fan base.
Swae Lee is half of the hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd and he’s solid all on his own. Like Yaweh, he seemed very approachable and into getting down with the audience. He performed several Rae Sremmurd songs including “No Type” and “Black Beatles.” He brought out an incredible female dancer to perform along to several of his songs. She was mesmerizing. He’s featured on so many songs he was able to treat the audience to French Montana’s “Unforgettable,” Metro Boomin’s “Borrowed Love” and Jhené Aiko’s “Sativa.” Swae Lee also threw in a cover of Malone’s “Spoil My Life.”
With: Swae Lee and Tyla Yaweh
When: Sunday, Nov. 17
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim
Next: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 and Thursday, Nov. 21 at The Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. Tickets are available for $53.50-$282 at 800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com.
