By Peggy Phillips
Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 06/26/2025 – Post Malone returned to SoFi Stadium on June 19 for his Big Ass Stadium Tour, delivering a performance that blended genre styles, raw honesty, and high-energy spectacle. While his vocal performance and authenticity were undeniable, the scale of the production at times seemed to overshadow the intimacy and depth that fans have long connected with in his music.
Supporting acts included Wyatt Flores, Chandler Walters, and Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord, whose warm, twangy vocals and heartfelt storytelling resonated with part of the audience. Jelly Roll is known for hits like “Son of a Sinner” and “Need a Favor.” Jelly Roll spent much of his set speaking about God and his personal growth. “Can we turn this stadium into a church for a second?” he asked before launching into “Hard-Fought Hallelujah.” While his sincerity was clear, having a captive audience for overt religious messaging felt somewhat exclusionary.
Jelly Roll also thanked police officers and first responders, prompting some applause. However, his remarks felt somewhat out of sync with the overall moment. The show took place in Los Angeles on Juneteenth, a federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S. Additionally, ongoing immigration raids in Southern California added to the disconnect. Outside the stadium, young children were selling bootleg t-shirts, possibly working for undocumented parents afraid to show up and risk arrest.
When Post Malone took the stage, the production shifted into overdrive. Flames, fireworks, smoke, and pounding sounds greeted his arrival. But this overwhelming spectacle clashed with his greatest strength—his vulnerability. Songs like “Rockstar” and “White Iverson” were performed with raw emotion but got drowned out by layers of pyrotechnics and visual noise. Posty is an artist who writes about struggle, addiction, healing, and hope, and his lyrics often feel like pages from a journal. The staging, however, felt more suited to a heavy metal show than to an introspective storyteller and new country artist.
The performance featured 26 songs that fused tracks from his latest album F-1 Trillion with earlier hits. At its core, the show delivered with incredible music and solid performances. Post was in excellent form—vocally powerful and physically fit. The floor was lively, but many in the audience remained seated. The energy felt uneven. I’d seen Post at SoFi in 2022, when he performed on a T-shaped runway extending from the main stage into the crowd, with side platforms allowing him to move freely and engage with fans, making him more visible and connected. The 2025 stage was darker, more distant, and blocked by overwhelming effects, making visibility challenging unless you relied on screens.
Despite the large-scale production, Post Malone was warmly received. His themes—heartbreak, recovery, and resilience—still resonate deeply. However, the elaborate production sometimes diminished the emotional clarity of his songwriting. The Big Ass Stadium Tour showcased both the power and the challenge of delivering vulnerable material in a huge venue. He provided what many fans came for: memorable songs, strong vocals, and a look into an artist still evolving. Yet, the production’s intensity occasionally competed with the music, raising questions about how best to present such personal work on a massive scale.
I remain a loyal fan.
Setlist – SoFi Stadium, June 19, 2025
(26 songs + encore: “Congratulations”)
Texas Tea
Wow.
Better Now
Lemon Tree
Wrong Ones
Go Flex
Broken Whiskey Glass
Hollywood’s Bleeding
I Fall Apart
Losers (with Jelly Roll)
Goodbyes
M-E-X-I-C-O
What Don’t Belong to Me
I Ain’t Comin’ Back (Morgan Wallen cover)
Feeling Whitney
Yours
Circles
White Iverson
Psycho
Candy Paint
Finer Things
Pour Me a Drink
Dead at the Honky Tonk
Rockstar
I Had Some Help
Sunflower (Post Malone & Swae Lee)
Encore: Congratulations
