Live Report: Post Malone’s invigorating and human performance at Dublin's 3Arena

Hours before Post Malone stepped out for his Twelve Carat Tour, people were already crowding the three-pronged stage. Extending into a mass of people, only scant security and metal barriers held the eager audience back from coming too close.

In the centre stood a large, stoic grey number four, framed by a dj table and two giant screens advertising the official Twelve Carat Tour after party. Expected to go "from 10PM to late," it was an assurance the lively night didn't have to end, even before it’s began.

The four heralded an opening performance from brotherly hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, made up of Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee, who just released their fourth album Sremm 4 Life back in April.

Encouraging audience members to "put their lights up" a digital projection of fire erupted from behind the stony four. Popping out into the main atrium of 3Arena, Slim Jxmmi, in an eye-catching neon hoodie and star printed jeans, and Swae Lee, dressed in matching grey sweater and sweatpants, started off their set with 'No Type.'

Rae Sremmurd supporting Post Malone at 3Arena on May 9th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

"Dublin, Ireland! It's a Sremm Life party right now!"

It was all done with an excited flair, pumping up the crowd and transforming the night's energy from eager into something on the edges of electric, especially as they moved on to well-known tracks like 'Come Get Her,' 'No Flex Zone,' and 'This Could Be Us.'

Switching it up to some newer tracks off of their fourth album, Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee sprung into action with 'Tanisha (Pump That),' 'Flaunt It / Cheap,' and 'Sexy.'

Between the inflatable beach balls thrown out into the crowd bouncing around and the hip hop duo constantly posing for selfies with fans' phones tossed on-stage, Rae Sremmurd commanded the room with ease, especially as they led into 'Not So Bad (Leans Gone Cold),' 'Unforgettable,' and 'Throw Sum Mo.'

Ending it with a seamless move from 'Power Glide' to 'Black Beatles,' Rae Sremmurd almost stole the night before it began.

It was soon clear, however, from the resounding cheers that erupted at Post Malone's entrance just how zealously enamoured the American hip hop act the audience was.

Post Malone at 3Arena on May 9th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

What was a large crowd at the beginning of the night had almost instantaneously become monstrous. If your attention was enraptured by the opening act you wouldn't have noticed every seat in 3Arena filled.

So when Post Malone appeared performing 'Reputation,' and mind you, it wasn't just a dramatic entrance, it was phenomenal, the cheering shook 3Arena at its foundations. With a single repeating note, building tension, and a haunting hum backed by flickering red lights, Post Malone appeared in a burst of bright light and euphoric singing.

"I was born to raise hell."

The spectacular light show continued with 'Wow.,' theatrical pulsing blue lights backlighting the 27-year-old as he prowled forward and danced back with a pop in his step. A burst of sparklers from the sides of the stage, a beat drop, and the celebrational concert was in full swing.

After 'I Like You (A Happier Song),' Post Malone took a minute to welcome the Irish crowd to his world tour. With smoke rising from the stage at his feat, someone tossed a jersey to the singer, which he then enthusiastically held aloft to show "Ireland" written across the chest.

It was clear he was just as happy to be there as his fans.

"My name is Austin Richard Post," he began. "And I came to get a little bit fucked up and play some shitty songs while we do it."

Post Malone at 3Arena on May 9th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

"I wanted to say before we kicked it off I fucking love y'all guys so very fucking much. It's so fucking cool to be able to go out on tour again. To party hard, have a great fucking night, and keep fucking spreading love under one fucking roof."

What began as a quick launch into 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' and 'Better Now,' quickly became 'Psycho' and a cast in pink 'Candy Paint,' complete with pulsing vibrations reverberating across the room.

"Dublin, how the fuck we feeling tonight ladies and gentleman?" Post Malone asked mid-set. Out of nowhere, he crowned himself with a black bucket hat someone must have tossed to him.

"I wrote this next song about having your heart broken," he shared. "And I know I'm not the only motherfucker in here who's ever had that feeling before. It's called 'I Fall Apart' if you know it."

Throughout the rapper crouched low, reaching out as he not only felt the music but recognised it resonating within others. It was aptly followed with the similarly emotionally strained single titled 'Euthanasia.'

To change the pace of things, the lights went up a bit. With a speech about spreading love and helping others, a chair was dragged out and Post Malone swapped a mic for a classical guitar.

"You know, in this world I suppose now there's not a lot of love but there's so much fucking love in this fucking world ladies and gentlemen. If you ever see anyone who looks like they're having a hard time or having a tough go or they look like they might need a hug, never be scared to just offer a fucking big bear hug and just ask: How the fuck you doing? Are you feeling alright?"

"Spreading love is the most important thing."

Post Malone at 3Arena on May 9th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Catching his eye on a sign held aloft by a member of the audience, Post Malone invited the enthusiastic fan up to the stage to sing with him the gripping single 'Stay.'  The rapper took a seat, a cigarette clasped between the same fingers strumming his guitar, and let the fan have at it.

Continuing with 'Lemon Tree,' which the New York-born artist warned might have a wrong chord because of how little he's played it live, he abandoned the intimate, vulnerable air cultivated in a mid-song twist back to the invigorating tone of past tracks.

'Circles' was introduced as being about a "passionate love for octagons," an evident passion that permeated Post Malone's live renditions 'Love / Hate letter to Alcohol,' 'Take What You Want,' and 'When I'm Alone' as well.

While for 'Over Now' the hip hop star was lit blue from beneath like some unreal omen, he was soon gripping his mic amid a sea of people, phones, and energy, prompting a rendition of a song based off something that made him really "pissed off.”

Burning red fire danced across the stage around Post Malone as he danced and bopped in between it all, living it up like the 'Rockstar' he was singing about being.

In the final chords of the song, his guitar from earlier was set back out before him. Pumping himself up, he does a few push ups in front of it before grasping it by its neck and smashing against the ground. Throwing the remains across the stage, he then kicked in the wooden body in one final act of passion for the rocking track.

With the song complete, Post Malone crouched, head bowed over the splintered pieces before rising from the instruments' breakage and thrusting his hands into the air, gaining applause.

Post Malone at 3Arena on May 9th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Not to leave things to waste, he then collected the chips and shards, passing them to outreached hands. He even broke them into smaller slivers so that there would be more to go around.

The final phase of the night was ironically kicked off with a song written about being "pretty shit about being able to say goodbye, called 'Goodybyes." Succeeded by 'Cooped Up,' Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd was once again handed the reigns of the show for their collaborative single 'Sunflower.'

Skipping on-stage with a bundle of sunflowers to, Swae Lee opened up the Spiderverse track with gusto. Post Malone took over the bushel to toss to the crowd as the opening act got the crowd singing along.

Parting ways with a chest bump and rallying calls to the audience, hyping each other up one final time. Both then ducked out for a minute as the stage lights descended, the golden lights used for 'Sunflower' deepening to a soft purple.

Rest assured though, Post Malone quickly returned, running back out to chants of his name. Disclosing that the next song too had only been performed eight or nine times, he asked for the crowd to join him in singing it - lending him strength for the new fan favorite ‘Chemical.’

After, the rapper held up red solo cup and awarded commendations to everyone, as a nod to his next song: 'Congratulations.'

"Before I continue tonight, I would like to say the biggest, most monolith, gargantuan fucking 'Congratulations' to each and every single one of y'all."

'There is nothing in this fucking world that you cannot achieve,” Post Malone affirmed. "Just keep fucking being yourself. Keep staying true to yourself. Live your life, live your dream, live your truth, express yourself. Don't be afraid of what anybody else fucking thinks because each and every fucking one of y'all kicks so much fucking ass it's not even funny Dublin."

Post Malone at 3Arena on May 9th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

"It doesn't matter whether you want to be a shitty singer. It doesn't matter whether you want to be a dancer, whether you want to be a twitch streamer. It doesn't matter whether you want to be an archeologist. Live your fucking life and no one can fucking tell you shit because you're the fucking shit, ladies and gentleman."

"Cheers! Let's fucking party," he finished, taking a sip out of a solo cup. His control of the room was immaculate; it might have been the end of the night but the hype was nowhere near dying down, especially when people joined in to sing the opening line: "My mama called~"

Expressing anxiety about whether or not people would still want to come out to see him tour, he also shared relief and gratitude for all of the care and support from international audiences, like Dublin, for continuing to listen to him from his beginnings on.

"Thank you for coming tonight. Thank you for allowing me to play two nights in this beautiful city, and thank you for the love and support you guys have offered me. I'm 27 years old now, I'm a fucking daddy now, so, y'know.

So it was very fitting when he ended with a song that symbolises that same faith people invested in his promising artistic talent at the start of a young Austin Post's musical career as they do now: 'White Iverson.'

"This next song I can't leave without playing y'all. This is first song I released about eight years ago. Your love and your support and the offering of your heart has given me the strength and the courage and the will to keep going and chase my dream. I hope that everybody does the fucking same."

Reaching out midsong to grasp hands with fans again and again, he was no less grateful to be present as the audience was. It might have been a concert but Post Malone's human touch made it a night of empathetic connection and deep vulnerability shared over Post Malone's immaculate music at Dublin's 3Arena.

Listen to Post Malone's new album Twelve Carat Toothache here: