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The Kid Laroi // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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THE KID LAROI
+ Welcome To Country
+ Lil Arts + TJ Mizell
@ RAC Arena, Perth
30th May 2022
(Live Review)

Review by Melanie Griffiths

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The Kid Laroi // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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The Kid LAROI came back to Perth to stake his claim as Australia’s hottest and most successful artist with a concert that was all about celebrating his gains. It was also fitting then that his appearance at RAC Arena also marked the first huge act to come through Perth since the pandemic kneecapped live music in March 2020.

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The Kid Laroi // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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The Kid Laroi // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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LAROI is an artist to be reckoned with and given his accolades deserves Australia to take notice. The Kamilaroi rapper is arguably the most successful export we have produced having recently won a swag of ARIA and APRA awards including Best Artist and Best Songwriter respectively. Nominated for a Grammy and winning five Billboard Music Awards off the success of his Justin Bieber collaboration “Stay”, the former council flat resident from Waterloo Sydney is achieving milestones that other artists could only daydream about. Yet the one indicator that LAROI is truly a bonafide superstar is his collab Macca’s meal (which he has been plugging unabashedly) putting him in the echelon of other youth culture kings Travis Barker and BTS.

The insane thing is he has achieved such a dizzying amount of success by the age of 18, so what then of him as a performer? Well judging by the thousands of fans lining up for 45 minutes outside to get into a packed arena, they had high expectations. For such a global superstar, the delivery of the concert was a sparse exercise. DJ TJMizell and then 16 year old indigenous rapper Lil Arts hyped up the crowd but it was the powerful Welcome To Country that captured everyone’s attention.

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TJ Mizell // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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Lil Arts // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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Welcome to Country // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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Then a little after 9pm LAROI climbed the staircase on stage to take a position in front of a red sky visual to open his set with “Let Her Go” before diving straight into “Diva” and “SAME ENERGY”. Other fresher artists might rely on more elaborate staging but aside from several large bouquets that lined two staircases that were moved into several positions during the show, it was just LAROI and his elusive DJ. With a “Perth how the f**k are we tonight?” the show was off at a sprint that didn’t let up for most of the set.

LAROI, with his blonde ringlets bouncing, chest bared, singing in low slung shorts was a vision of sinewy wild youth. His stage presence could have been swallowed up by such a big venue and the massive energy coming at him but LAROI took control and looked completely at ease exuding such a chilled, friendly vibe that it was hard not to be charmed by it all, especially as he downed a shoey with two other eager punters who were pulled from the crowd.

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The Kid Laroi // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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The Kid Laroi // Photo – Six Strings Photography

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A shoutout to fallen mentor Juice Wrld before “GO” got a mammoth response as did the sing-a-long “Thousand Miles”. Many of the songs featured from his “F*CK LOVE” mixtapes like “PIKACHU”, “SO DONE” and “F*CK YOU, GOODBYE”. LAROI’s songs lean heavily into sharing the pain of young heartbreak, anxiety and identity within his ever-increasing unreal world of success and fame. It’s a vulnerability that appears genuine and connects with his young audience, most notably as he offered his gratitude several times throughout the night.

When you’re already at the top of your game and you haven’t even released a full album yet, where do you go from here? The Indigenous man from humble beginnings may be grappling with that and no doubt it’ll show up in future releases. For now, he is basking in his deserved moment in the sun and as he sang his global super hit “Stay” along with thousands of roaring fans, the artist remarked he “can’t wait to do the same thing all over again” and when that happens they’re likely going to need a bigger venue.

4 / 5 Stars

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Check out Mark Francesca’s full gallery of this event HERE

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The Kid LAROI:
End of the World Tour
2022 Dates

Thu 26 May 2022 – Sydney – Qudos Bank Arena 
Fri 27 May 2022 – Sydney – Qudos Bank Arena
Sat 30 May 2022 – Perth – RAC Arena 
Wed 1 June 2022 – Adelaide – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Fri 3 June 2022 – Melbourne – Rod Laver Arena 
Sat 4 June 2022 – Melbourne – Rod Laver Arena
Mon 6 June 2022 – Brisbane – Riverstage
Tue 7 June 2022 – Brisbane – Riverstage *JUST ADDED*
Fri 10 June 2022 – Wellington – TSB Arena
Sat 11 June 2022 – Auckland – Spark Arena

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Follow THE KID LAROI
 Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB