Post Malone transforms the Défense Arena into a country rodeo

On Wednesday, September 3, Post Malone kicked off his cowboy boots at La Défense Arena for a one-off show in France. Between wild pyrotechnics, endless beer, and a honky-tonk atmosphere, the tattooed cowboy delivered an impressive but not always convincing performance.

The evening kicks off with Jelly Roll, an unexpected but welcome opening act. A former bad boy from Tennessee who had never left the United States until now, he takes the opportunity to showcase his mix of country, rock, and hip hop. The audience gets into the spirit, even singing along to “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as if in a giant karaoke session with flashing lights. It's a warm, almost family-like appetizer that sets the stage for the rest of the evening.

When Post Malone's backing vocals rise up in the darkness, the room falls silent and psychedelic images flash across the screens. A few seconds later, red lights light up the arena and he appears, red cup in hand and cigarette in his mouth, striding nonchalantly across the stage, tossing his cup into the pit and walking off as if nothing had happened. On either side of the stage, two large neon cowboy and cowgirl signs flash, immediately setting the tone: welcome to Posty's country universe. From the very first song, flames shoot up, fireworks explode to the beat of the drums, and even the stage is decked out in LEDs. It's spectacular, but also very demonstrative: it quickly becomes clear that pyrotechnics will be almost an instrument of the set.

The problem is that this choice to go country doesn't just color the songs, it swallows them up. The rap and pop hits that made him famous are systematically rearranged to sound honky-tonk, to the point that his career as a rapper seems to have been erased. Some fans, who came to see the Post Malone of “Rockstar” or “Psycho,” are stunned, while those who came to celebrate his shift to country are all smiles. The room is literally split in two, as if the concert wasn't for everyone.

It must be said that Posty gives himself over to his craft in his own unique way. His pink shirt quickly becomes a sponge, he regularly comes down to interact with the audience, and he downs beer, smokes cigarettes, and shouts “cheers!” to the crowd. He grabs an acoustic guitar for a solo performance on stage, in a silence that is surprising for a venue of this size. The moment turns into a touching interlude: he invites a 20-year-old man to join him on stage. Beer and cigarette still in hand, he hands him his guitar and encourages him to play. The song starts, and Posty accompanies him on vocals in an unexpected duet that turns the moment into a sincere interlude, somewhere between awkwardness and generosity. A little later, Jelly Roll returns to share “Losers,” then Chris Stapleton joins the stage, and the country tribute continues in an arena transformed into a giant saloon.

And then, finally, the awakening. When “Rockstar” rings out, in a version where guitar and drums take over, the stage design literally explodes, flames invade the stage, and the energy shifts. For a few minutes, we find the intensity we were expecting, that mix of rap, rock, and fury that has made Post Malone an apart figure.

Ultimately, the concert impressed with its size and scale, but left audiences perplexed by its artistic choices. Post Malone put on a huge country rodeo in Paris, generous in some ways, frustrating in others. Those who were hoping for a return to rap roots left disappointed, while those who wanted to see the birth of “Country Posty” witnessed his coronation.

Thanks to Live Nation for the invitation, without whom this giant rodeo would not have taken place.