For one of his very first shows in NYC, Travis Scott delivered a rage fest like no other. The year was 2015 and the then-budding rapper-producer was on his “Rodeo Tour” with Young Thug and Metro Boomin. The number of mosh pits and articles of clothing being tossed throughout the air turned the now temporarily-defunct Webster Hall into a war zone.
The balcony looked as if it were going to collapse from the number of people jumping along to the explosive sonics of Scott blasting through the ballroom. Any restraints that people had on the night were taken off in favor of experiencing a truly care-free environment.
On Tuesday night (Nov. 27), Scott returned to the Big Apple with Sheck Wes, Trippie Redd, and Gunna, this time at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. La Flame’s set blew the roof off an already fervid night. Following an Astroworld video montage, Scott, draped in an “I Love New York” Cactus Jack-styled long sleeve, burst on stage to the speaker rattling Astroworld opener “Stargazing.” Lucky guests in the audience got the opportunity to ride a mini coaster placed on one of the stages as Scott performed his hits. It’s clear the artist has learned a few things or two thanks to the incredibly detailed aspects of his ASTROWORLD: WISH YOU WERE HERE tour.
Travis Scott is a master of the live experience. His shows are an exhilarating thrill ride from beginning to end. Three years ago, the idea of a hip-hop show with numerous mosh-pits and sweat-drenched bodies moving uncontrollably was a foreign concept. Not many thought a show like this would enter the walls of some of the most prestigious arena in the country. But if this was any evidence, the rage era of hip-hop has truly begun.
The difference between the two shows only lies within the size disparity of the venues. The close-quarters of Webster Hall could barely contain the riot-like madness. Whereas the cavernous confines of Madison Square Garden served as a mosh-pit heaven. Despite the size difference, both shows featured heart-pounding action with Scott’s involvement with his loyal fanbase and hilarious interactions with venue security.
His third studio album, Astroworld, received critical acclaim debuting at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 earning Scott his third platinum plaque. MSG has been a benchmark for many artists aspiring to join an elite class of musicians. Scott selling out two back to back shows–in addition to a surprise appearance from Kendrick Lamar last night–is an accomplishment deemed a long shot back in the days La Flame packed other NY venues like SOB’s and Terminal 5. But in the three years since his explosive show at Webster Hall, fans witnessed the growth of an artist who has surpassed expectations.
The crowd located on the ground floor shook the massive arena when Chase B cued “No Bystanders,” “NC-17,” and “Carousel.” Those who missed Scott’s Birds Eye View tour at Terminal 5 last year raged to the sounds of “Biebs In The Trap” and “Antidote.” Fans were also taken back to Scott’s debut album Rodeo with “90210” and “3500” but things got real nostalgic when Chase B asked Scott to take the crowd back to concert hall days.
When the guitar chords of “Mamacita” rang through the Garden, a resounding cheer erupted. Images of that wild night at Webster Hall were recreated as fans scrambled to assemble as many mosh pits as possible. The vibe at Webster Hall was amplified in the Garden as Scott’s rabid stage presence evoked the wildest emotions from the crowd.
“I want to rage tonight New York. I want to make it [really] hard for tomorrow night,” Scott screamed into his microphone. Scott dug deeper into his discography to keep the energy of the crowd at its highest level and the crowd responded well to the selections. “This is definitely one of the best nights of this whole f***ing tour,” he said before closing out the show with the Drake-assisted “Sicko Mode.”
The Astroworld experience is seriously like no other. Scott really meant what said with the “Wish You Were Here” tagline.
See remaining dates here.
READ MORE: Travis Scott Brings Kendrick Lamar Out For “Goosebumps” At Madison Square Garden