All photos by Bina Zafar.
The Endless Summer Tour, which made a stop this past Sunday night (August 26) at The Xfinity Center in Mansfield, was about relishing in youthful playfulness and simply not wanting the fun to end. And the lineup reflected the deliberate madness.
From the infectious nature of rapper P-Lo to the rapturous bars of YBN Nahmir, each performer’s set was drenched in the kind of wild energy that you’d try to bottle if you could.
Producer Murda Beatz was gifted with the task of keeping the crowd on their feet in between artists. The 24-year-old Canadian beatmaker had no problem rising to the occasion as he amped up concertgoers with tracks by Drake, Nicki Minaj, Migos and Tekashi69 before Ty Dolla $ign took the stage. And while his predecessors were loud and rambunctious, he was the complete performative opposite — smooth and consummately relaxed.
With a red solo cup in his hand, Ty — an artist whose flair for creative collaboration is unmatched — blasted through his biggest hits with ease. Songs like “Paranoid,” “It’s A Vibe,” “You and Your Friends” and “Swalla” felt infinite compared to comedown songs “Or Nah” and “Psycho.” He even invited a fan to smoke with him onstage, boasting that his set is nothing compared to the Endless Summer after party.
Lil Uzi Vert followed shortly after and completely changed the dynamic of the evening. From the larger than life crosses that adorned his set to the mammoth skull head with smoke pouring from all of its crevices, things became deeper, darker, and moodier. His energy, however, was still manic and crazily irresistible.
“Sauce It Up,” “444+222,” “Do What I Want” and “Bad and Boujee” were all compelling crowd pleasers. His first performance of “XO Tour Llif3” was more of a melancholy recitation; the second was a euphoric sing-along.
With this being the act to follow, G-Eazy made the transition from infernal to ebullient rap seem effortless.
As he stood alone in front of a three-dimensional screen that would serve as his ever-changing backdrop, G-Eazy was stoic and direct. His 22-song headlining set didn’t feel blocky or drawn out; it felt ambitious and whole. From “Pray For Me” to “I Mean It” to “Sober” to “No Limit,” his gratitude for simply being onstage poured into every verse on every song.
As he recalled his first Boston show — years ago at the Middle East Upstairs — he admitted his disbelief on how much his fans have grown. And from the looks of the Endless Summer Tour, the show no signs of slowing down.
Follow Candace McDuffie on Instagram @cmcduffie1.
