Going country suits Post Malone just fine

Post Malone and country? No chance, at least not that long ago. Not when he's had a star career in pop, hip hop and rap to great success. So, it was quite a turn when he decided he was going country. Proof positive. He released the voluminous CD "F-1 Trillion" last month.

Generally tipping more towards a traditional country bent than the pop sounds of the genre, Post made it clear that he was not backing away from the new direction when it came to putting it out there live. Just over half his 29-song set along with a few very special guests was from "F-1 Trillion." Malone was all in – in more ways than one.

Starting with "Wrong Ones," five of the first seven songs were country. And Post demonstrated he knows a thing or two about dishing the genre as well. He had no trouble putting it across vocally with the upbeat "M-E-X-I-C-O" and "Losers" particular standouts. Malone went softer later in the set with "Yours," a ballad in which he imagines his now 2 ½-year-old daughter getting married. Tender and perhaps slightly frothy, but certainly believable and well delivered.

Performing barefoot and moving about the stadium often, Post was 100-percent engaged and invested in the music. The energy he brought to the show was palpable.

Except for an overreliance on fireworks (maybe a good half dozen times during the show), Malone kept the staging on the simple side with large video screens on either side and behind him mainly showing what was happening on stage instead of videos complementing the songs.

The night was extra special with a few guests, who both were part of "F-1 Trillion." ERNEST and HARDY, both country artists and songwriters (in the case of HARDY, rock as well), came out to sing with Post on the live debut of "Devil I've Been" and "Hide My Gun" respectively. Then, Post asked both to play their songs, which was a three-decades old Dean Dillon song for ERNEST that he cut, "Would If I Could," and "Jack" for HARDY with the band kicking in harder on the later.

While the disc includes a bunch of country stars, Malone certainly was not relying on that in the live setting. It was a treat to have ERNEST and HARDY in the flesh, but Malone could have done it on his lonesome too.

Post remained on stage throughout, crouching with genuine glee and a big smile across his face as he listened and watched his friends perform.

Curiously, Malone left his hit single "Buy Me a Drink" off the setlist.

While the emphasis was on country, Post played songs from various periods of his career, leaning more into "beerbongs & bentleys" with an excellent reading of "Better Now."

The band was adept at the variety of styles. On the country end, he employed both fiddle and pedal steel with both figuring prominently throughout.

Malone was a positive force when it came to his comments, which emphasized support and love of those going through hard times (he talked about that at two different points during the 130-minute show) and helping those in need as well.

And props to Malone for not caving in like so many musicians do and fawning over the home team. Sporting an MIT t-shirt (not the typical shirt of choice among musicians. By the way, Post didn't make it out of community college), he asked if there were any Patriots fans in the crowd to much applause. When he immediately asked – presumably fully aware of what the answer would be – whether there were Dallas Cowboys fans in the house, he was met with boos.

On the other hand, Malone might possibly have set the record for F-bombs while talking. It seemed like no sentence came without one or multiples thereof. At a certain point, one had to laugh about the excess.

Going country often has been viewed from a negative prism. Someone is a musical vulture and dips their toe in the genre to see if there's any commercial success there. With Malone, the clear message is that he is most definitely part of the choir. Performances like this only proved the point.

Muscadine Bloodline preceded Malone with a set that grew stronger as it went along over the course of 30 quick minutes. The Mobile, Ala.-bred duo of Gary Stanton and Charlie Muncaster (they did have three backing musicians) are on the country side, but rocked at the outset before letting the harmonies play out to best showcase their skills. They effectively went a bit on the swampy, rootsy side with both taking lead vocals. Good set, but like many opening acts at stadium shows, it's best to see them on their own.