It is sort of a uncommon time to be Write-up Malone. On 1 distinct hand, he’s coming off the two most-hard, the quite least-lucrative albums of his job — the previous of which, 2023’s Austin, failed to even make a 1 main 10 Billboard Hot 100 strike, marking a crystal clear business enterprise decrease stage for the pop-rap gold-spinner who was surpassed only by Drake in terms of steady chart fantastic final results for the second half of the 2010s. On the other hand, he’s at the moment had two No. 1 hits this 12 months, albeit equally with co-stars (Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen, respectively) whose radio and streaming clout presently conveniently eclipse his personal. More complicating points: The latter of folks two No. 1s marks the beginning of his quite lengthy-hyped total foray into nation songs, a genre he has some clear non secular kinship with, but only tangential musical relation.

This was a entire lot to balance for Publish Malone for the duration of his headlining established at functioning day 1 distinct of New York’s Governors Ball pageant (now officially referred to as just “Gov Ball”) — or at the quite least, it seems like it ought to have been. But alternatively of attempting to thread the needle involving his successful prior, his muddier existing and his uncertain foreseeable future, Put up determined to simplify problems with Gov Ball setlist: He merely played the hits. And he’s obtained a lot of them: far a lot more than you may even hold in thoughts, a great deal a lot more than maybe seems to be feasible for a guy who’s only been creating ’em contemplating that 2015 and has been in a rather fallow interval for ’em considering that the decade turned. As significantly as streamlining techniques go, it was a genuinely plain just 1.

“My title is Austin Richard Write-up,” the singer-rapper launched himself following his initial two music, “and I’m in this article to perform some s–tty songs and get a little little bit f–ked up although we do it.” Whether or not dismissing his signature hits as “s–tty” was a indication of residual bitterness about his heavier, a lot more distinct new operate not becoming obtained as warmly as his debauched early hits or just the artist not taking himself way also severely, it completed up not seriously mattering, due to the fact it became apparent pretty speedily Submit was not interested in relitigating something at all about his job on the evening. As a substitute, he played just 1 smash following an added — from “Better Now” and “Wow” as a outcome of “Circles” and “Congratulations” — when gleefully shimmying, screaming, two-stepping and stripping (his shirt, in any case) on stage, browsing every single single bit the celebrity he was at his industrial peak.

The dilemma of a Article Malone gig has ordinarily not been no matter if he’d look like a star, but what sort of star would direct the way: rap star Article, rock star Article, pop star Submit, or now even nation star Post? In reality, he’s been all 4 for some time — successfully, the to start off with 3, anyway, with the fourth seemingly on its way. But if 1 distinct was the most forward on Friday evening time, it was likely rock star Put up, with the to start off with two tracks (and a lot of subsequent cuts) each and every becoming introduced by means of the grungy riffs of guitarist Liv Slingerland, and a lot a lot more six-string-weighty (and just considerable time period) borderline inclusions like Beerbongs and Bentleys‘ “Over Now” and Hollywood’s Bleeding’s “Take What You Want” developing the decrease. There was lots of growling and shredding 1 distinct time, Article threw up the satan horns while hunching his shoulders and he incredibly briefly kinda even looked like Ronnie James Dio. At some stage in the middle of the established, the mix of loud, chunking guitars with rapping — mostly about having indignant at ladies — encouraged me to compose in my notes: Has Write-up Malone been nu-metal this comprehensive time?

But if location star Write-up is in truth on the horizon, you would not have regarded it from his Gov Ball functionality. Just a functioning day quickly following earning a pair of shock appearances at CMA Fest — which consist of 1 alongside longtime Nashville fixture Blake Shelton, with the two even covering a George Jones music collectively — he did not provide out Shelton, or Wallen, or any guest to even a lot more shepherd his new location pivot. (Aside from a handful of lovers pulled out of the audience to help on signature ballad “Stay,” there had been no guests of any sort in the course of Post’s functionality, not even “Rockstar” buddy 21 Savage, who’ll achieve at Gov Ball on Saturday.) No mention was made by Submit of his existing sonic and geographical detour, nor did he try out any manufacturer new or unreleased content material from his rumored forthcoming extensive size. If you did not know probably into the set that Heading Nation was a matter Put up was at the moment in the midst of carrying out, you likely did not take place out of it recognizing each.

There was nonetheless the 1 clear clue, nonetheless you seasoned to wait about till the 2nd music of the encore for it: “I Experienced Some Assist,” the reigning No. 1 tune in the nation, did lastly make its visual look as the evening’s pentultimate hold track of. (As for “Fortnight,” his other No. 1 of 2024, ignore it — it is 1 point for Publish to sing more than a Morgan Wallen verse, but searching for to approximate an comprehensive Taylor Swift lead vocal on his personal would’ve been potentially disastrous on a quantity of degrees.) “Help” sounded excellent, and the group went bananas for it, but apart from its placement in the setlist Post gave it no exclusive remedy, no lead-in or a lot more emphasis or just about something to make you believe it was a in particular notable music than most in Friday’s setlist. The implication was crystal clear: “Help” is a hit, but nonetheless just a particular person of lots of for Posty, and no 1 distinct player is a lot more substantial than the employees in a Write-up Malone setlist.

Additional of a statement, nonetheless, was the option of the encore’s final song: “Chemical,” the most essential music from Austin, whose No. 13 peak was nonetheless rather underwhelming by his occupation benchmarks. It was the only tune executed from the 2023 album — he performed 4 moments as lots of from 2016 debut Stoney — but it landed just like any of his bigger, lengthier-established hits, sounding substantially fuller dwell than on history, and creating for a adequately resounding closing choice for the evening. The recommendation appeared to be that Post seasoned in no way ever genuinely stopped making considerable singles in the quite initial place — and that irrespective of regardless of no matter if on a offered functioning day he may be presenting further as a pop star, rap star, rock star or area star, what he genuinely is and continually will be to start off with and foremost is a hitmaker.

SETLIST

Greater Now
Wow
Zack and Codeine
Psycho
Goodbyes
I Like You (A Happier Music)
Jonestown (Interlude)
Take What You Want
In excess of Now
Rockstar
Continue to be
I Fall Aside
Wrapped Close to Your Finger
Circles
As effectively Young
White Iverson
Congratulations

Encore:

Sunflower
I Experienced Some Support
Chemical