Concert Review: Post Malone @ Rebel Nightclub

By: Elaisha Green (@elaishajade) –

Post Malone performs at Rebel Nightclub in Toronto on October 5, 2016. (Photo: Brandon Newfield/Aesthetic Magazine)

Orange Season artist, Larry June gave a shout over the crowd as “Pop Style” thundered through Rebel Nightclub, the venue formerly known as Sound Academy. An opening party christened the new-ish Toronto hotspot just days earlier. Attendees bumped and rubbed together as June danced around the stage backed by hip-hop favourites SchoolBoy Q’s “That Part” and “Watch Out” by 2 Chainz.

Without a pause, FKI 1ST continued to churn out tunes until the intro of ‘White Iverson’ sounded through Rebel as the ravenous crowd lit up the venue with smartphone lights. An eruption of cheers as Austin Post, (aka Post Malone) who rocked his signature cornrows bounded on stage and started his set. The 21-year-old greeted Toronto and asked the crowd throw up their ‘Twos’. Unfortunately, his intro was anti-climactic due to sound problems that rendered his microphone useless for the entire opening song. Audience members chanted “fix your mic” as Malone continued to perform through his obvious frustration and hoped it would start working.

Middle fingers in the air (as Malone requested) Larry June jumped back on stage as the duo performed “Never Understand”. Guitar-backed single, “Go Flex” saw Malone’s guttural growl to the audience as he spat the wavy summer-song. “Let’s make some babies Toronto,” Malone called out under a flood of red lights. A full posse of women onstage danced and shook their hair as barely legal teens snaked through the crowd hand in hand. The crowd who recited the words to French Montana’s “Pop That” surprisingly also sang along to Malone’s cover of “Hollywood Dreams Come Down” by Fleetwood Mac.

Other tracks “40 Funk”, “Fuck” and “Lonely” saw a lull in the crowd’s interest until Malone queued “Déjà vu”, where his gravelly baritone voice belted out Justin Bieber’s verse during the track as a lightening storm illuminated the video screen behind him.

Preceding the performance of the Frank Dukes-produced track, Malone apologized for the delay in his album release, referring to his forthcoming album, Stoney, which is set to be released sometime in 2016, and will feature big names like Pharrell Williams, Justin Beiber, Kehlani and more. With four singles already released, Stoney is likely to be filled with anthemic tunes that are sure to propel the Malone to the next level.

Check out our photos here.