It’s been almost one year since Post Malone saddled up and dropped his chart-topping country set, F-1 Trillion. But on Sunday (April 13), on Coachella’s main stage, his headlining performance felt celebratory and emotional enough to be release night.
Though Posty has been booked and busy since he served up F-1, his set felt like the long-awaited main course — plus dessert. For the gig, Post fittingly brought a reimagined Forumla 1 racetrack to the desert that extended all the way from the stage through the crowd. He also leaned into his love for pyro, with various trash bins spread across the stage that, of course, would catch fire throughout the set. As for sparklers – why wait? Post tossed them in for his opening song, the thumping “Texas Tea.”
Starting with a song from his 2023 album Austin was certainly not the most expected, but it was absolutely the most fitting. Austin is sandwiched in Post’s fast-growing catalog between Twelve Carat Toothache and F-1, and in many ways bridged the gap between where Post had been as an artist and where he was heading. Opening with “Texas Tea” set the tone, immediately answering the question on the minds of many: What kind of show will he deliver?
Striking balance between his older hip-hop leaning material with his more recent country sound was surely on Post’s mind, too. But, as he told Billboard the day before his set: “That’s always been the thing about me, is it’s all just f—ing music.” And tonight, he endlessly thanked his fans for seemingly feeling the same. “I just wanted to say thank you to everybody who has listened to the music for such a long time,” he said after a run of album-spanning songs including “Wow” (Hollywood’s Bleeding), “Better Now” (Beerbongs & Bentleys), “Lemon Tree” (twelve carat toothache) and “Wrong Ones” (F-1 Trillion). “I know it’s been a crazy f—ing journey and I just wanted to express how grateful I am to each and every one of you.”
The weekend-closing slot was not only a testament to Post’s decade-long career, but was also crafted in a way that helped contextualize how an artist who debuted with a song like “White Iverson” ended up recording alongside country’s biggest superstars and sounding right at home. His nine-piece backing band surely helped, illustrating how his sound has grown both literally and figuratively, as did his raw vocals — especially on songs that were originally recorded quite differently.
“Auto-tune is a hell if a drug,” Post said with a smile said after apologizing for the second time for his “pitchiness,” which seemed to go entirely unnoticed by anyone else. In fact, in the absence of auto-tune, Posty’s signature warble sounded stronger and more melodic than ever.
But perhaps the best way in which Post offered a glimpse into how he landed where he is today was through his use of the fog machine. Yes, really. Oftentimes, Post was entirely engulfed in thick layers of engineered fog; but the thing is, without the ability to see him clearly, it allowed fans to listen more closely. And if Post’s set proved anything, it was that no matter what genre, style or sound he explores, he has always been an incredible songwriter right to his core.
And while a Post Malone headlining set may have seemed like the perfect time and place for him to welcome any number of guests – he has hits with everyone including fellow festival headliner Travis Scott, Halsey, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll and many more – given how grateful Post was for the opportunity, he had every right to keep it all for himself. (In fact, all of this weekend’s headliners opted to do exactly that.)
Sure, Post’s No.1 hit “I Had Some Help” (with Wallen) may have seemed like an on-the-nose opportunity to indeed bring some help on stage, but there was something poetic about doing the exact opposite. In a way, performing the song alone – and following his gushes of gratitude – helped it sound more like a thank you than a screw you. Because of course Post had plenty of help to get to this moment, and it’s one that he said never felt like a guarantee.
“Lots of motherf—ers called me a one hit wonder,” said Post, “and I just wanted to say that if you don’t believe in yourself, then nobody f—ing else will. No one can f—ing stop you.”
Post repeated the last line several times, growing louder and more impassioned with each utterance. By the end, it was as if he was only speaking to himself. Because while tonight was a celebration, it’s clear Post has no plans of slowing down. Rather, having just performed on a makeshift racetrack, nothing is stopping him from continuing full speed ahead.
