Live Report: Post Malone wows at the RDS

School is most definitely out for summer at the RDS, with Post Malone’s largely teen fanbase on tenterhooks as they await the arrival of their idol. After several false starts, green smoke suggests either the most surreal papal enclave of all time or that the Post man is finally ready to deliver.

And that he does, in a direct and unfussy manner. A man who enjoy’s life’s simple pleasures, Post Malone’s songs follow one basic template - skittering trap workouts with powerhouse choruses - but it’s a hugely effective formula: the likes of ‘Too Young’, ‘Over Now’ and ‘No Option’ all transform the RDS into a giant bounty castle.

When it comes to oratory, the Texas rapper isn’t JFK: one incomprehensible outburst is followed by a raised glass, a “Slainte!” toast, and an explanation that the next song is about partying and “getting fucked up” (in fairness, so are all the others). Aesthetically, Post Malone’s look has much in common with the school of rap that produced XXXTentacion, 6ix9ine, and other rappers with unpronounceable names, often mired in legal issues and assorted controversies (dead, in XXXTentacion’s case).

His face covered in tattoo scrawls, Post Malone wears a harlequin-covered jumpsuit with his initials on the back: The Joker come to unleash some anarchy upon Gotham. His music isn’t as dynamic as the SoundCloud rap renegades - and there are even alarming emo tendencies - but in south Dublin tonight, it matters not a jot.

Impressively - in what has become the norm in hip-hop - he performs the entire show solo, and by the time he sits down to perform an acoustic version of ‘Stay’, Post Malone has the audience in the palm of his hand. Currently enjoying the mother of all imperial phases - his output consists of just two albums and 14 singles, all of them multi-platinum smashes - Post Malone is a man with the world at his feet.

Truly, we are in the midst of a PM dawn.