Iggy Azalea w/ Tinashe & Elijah Blake
Washington State Fair, Puyallup, WA
09.22.15
After first postponing and then altogether cancelling her entire 2015 Great Escape tour, hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea’s appearance at the Washington State Fair seemed less like that of a headlining major-label artist and more like the lucky break of a young hopeful. But that certainly didn’t stop the Aussie word slinger from putting on a good set. While the show was perhaps a lesser caliber production value than she might have wanted, and the crowd sparse (could people have assumed that this show was also cancelled?), Azalea still came to the stage with some fire and those who were present got a solid show.
DJ Wizz Kidd opened the set with an extended play of totally sing-along worthy pop and hip-hop tracks that had the crowd moving, before Azalea and a gaggle of eight backup dancers appeared across a stepped structure. Decked out in thigh-high boots, short shorts, and a Moschino crop top, Azalea looked fantastic – as any Wilhelmina model should – blonde topknot bobbing along as she paraded the stage. Starting her set with “Heavy Crown” from her Reclassified extended debut album, Azalea seemed to know she was making a statement. And she followed through with a set full of her hit tracks, including the crowd-pleasing Ariana Grande track “Problem,” and ended the set with what everyone came to hear, “Fancy.” For as much flack as she deservedly-or-not has received, Azalea does have skills. Here’s to hoping she can keep her head and heart in the game to deliver on the promise of a new album and tour in 2016.
Opening the show were Tinashe and Elijah Blake. Tinashe – who was set to open for the cancelled Great Escape tour on the heels of her debut Aquarius album release – gave a subdued but solid set that included Nick Jonas’s “Jealous” remix (which she featured on) and some serious cleavage. Her good-girl/bad-girl ambiguity is enticing and her mini-pop star confidence infectious. Plus, she can sing. Her album has received some critical praise and if she keeps up the momentum I’m sure we’ll be seeing more chart-toppers from her before long.
Elijah Blake started the lineup off with a short set of his falsetto-laced contemporary R&B. Oozing with sexuality, the tracks from Blake’s debut album Shadows & Diamonds straddle the line between uber-pop and dark vulnerability. As he performed his biggest hit thus far, “I Just Wanna,” its danceable beat and explicit lyrics had the crowd noticeably excited. The guy already has a songwriting Grammy for Usher’s “Climax” and has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, leaving zero doubt that he’ll find his solo way just fine.
Iggy Azalea Set List
Heavy Crown
Beg For It
Beatdown
Bounce-My World-Rolex-Don’t Need Y’all medley
Problem/All Hands on Deck
Work
Goddess
Pu$$y
Black Widow
Fancy
Review by Stephanie Dore
Photos by Sunny Martini
Iggy Azalea
Elijah Blake
