Fallout Boy and Wiz Khalifa w/ Hoodie Allen
White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, WA
08.02.15
I wasn’t the only one who thought the pairing of rapper Wiz Khalifa and pop-rock-punk band Fall Out Boy was a strange idea. On paper, one might wonder what these two acts – or their fans – might possibly have in common. But the production of their co-headlining tour was spot on, creating a solid foundation of fun for both to bring their best game to the stage, and I wasn’t the only one who walked away happily surprised.
After Hoodie Allen, the 26-year-old hip hop artist (is it pop-hop?) who’s got all the young’uns in a rage, opened the show, a video display full of naked women and a high-flying Khalifa took over as an introduction to the big time show. Khalifa bounded out, opening the set with “Ass Drop” and “Roll Up,” both energetic tracks heavy on crossover appeal that grabbed the crowd right off the bat. Khalifa spent much of the show – between tracks new and old – working the crowd into a pot-smoking frenzy, encouraging everyone to light up and doing so himself. His maturity was clear though, with many displays of thoughtful genuflecting about being oneself.
Not to say that the public service announcement side at all affected the fun. There were streamers, more video displays, bouncing blow-up joints during his Snoop Dogg collaboration “Young, Wild & Free,” several couples getting a little freaky during “Promises,” and a mass of confetti. Khalifa made his way to mid-crowd to perform “Taylor Gang” from above the sound board, shirt off, caressing his golden mic (decorated with little green pot leaves, natch), driving the crowd absolutely bonkers. He closed his set with the sentimental hit “See You Again” which despite being one of the biggest hits of the year felt somehow lackluster after the mass of energy from the rest of the show. Regardless, I couldn’t have asked for a better overall performance.
Not to be outdone, Fall Out Boy certainly brought their own brand of heat. They took to the stage, outfitted all in black, with their 2005 hit “Sugar We’re Goin Down” which is clearly a sing-along track by now, following it with “Irresistible,” the fatal romantic pop-anthem. Impressed by the clear professionalism this band has adopted, I watched as young girls seemed about to faint and even the fans clearly there for Khalifa seemed to be enjoying themselves.
FOB lit up the stage with pyrotechnics, lasers and more, making excellent use of video production throughout the show. The band (minus drummer Andy Hurley) moved to the mid-crowd stage for an acoustic set including their Big Hero 6 track “Immortals” and “Young Volcanoes” and as they worked their way back, Hurley appeared on the main stage atop an LED-lit pyramid for a massively powerful drum solo that just about stole the show.
While I wasn’t sure what to expect from this lineup, both Khalifa and Fall Out Boy have taken on the commonalities of mainstream acts that have something valuable, and pointedly relatable, to say while still managing to have a bit of an edge. There’s power in their popularity and to see them live was a serious summer treat. There’s only a few US dates left until they take the show overseas.
Find tickets here.
Review by Staphanie Dore
Photos by Sunny Martini
Fallout Boy and Wiz Khalifa
