As The Kid Laroi took to the stage at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, the following voiceover played through the arena. 

“We just played two sold-out shows at the Qudos Bank Arena. Hopefully in two years, we’ll be playing at the stadium next door.”

As the words rang out over the stadium, the enormity of the moment set in. A 21-year-old from Australia had already reached a level of stardom where he was able to play stadiums, something that has rarely, if ever, happened in our history. Granted, the stadium was certainly not full, with a large part of the upper stand being empty (perhaps due to the smorgasbord of events on in Sydney on the night with the cricket and Cold Chisel both selling out) but even so, it was a monumental achievement. 

Laroi’s brand is based upon a unique combination of singing and rapping. The first part of his set was much more dependent on the rap part of his repertoire with “Baby I’m Back” and “Sorry.” He had a fierce energy on the stage, and this was reciprocated by the audience, who were delighted to see him in the flesh. 

The concert really heated up when Laroi sung “Girls,” one of his most recent hits with the crowd all putting up their phone cameras to capture the moment. As he moved into his slower numbers, the concert was disrupted by a serious injury in the audience which caused a 15 minute pause in the show. While this was out of Laroi’s control, it did halt the momentum of the show, with many in the crowd, who were confused and unaware of what was happening, either leaving or disengaging from the show. 

When Laroi returned, it took him a little while to get the energy back but the crowd began to lift as Laroi connected with some of his slower songs. He sung “Where Does Your Spirit Go” for two elders whom he lost in the past few weeks and the performance was touching and poignant, as Laroi’s vocals carried through the stadium with power and grit. 

This was quickly followed up with one of his biggest hits, “Without You”, for which Laroi asked for the “biggest hometown energy possible.”  The song was sung with a lot of engagement from the crowd, who all had their lights up creating a wonderful effect around the stadium. It was a great moment. 

Another hallmark of Laroi’s set was the use of pyrotechnics throughout, with fire and confetti being regular features of the set. It added to the ambiance, even if the fire was a little over the top at times. 

Laroi closed out the night with “Stay” and “Nights Like This” and watching him perform these two songs, it was clear just how much his stage presence and voice had improved. He strutted around the stadium stage as if he owned it and had an electric energy in his vocals as he ended the night.

Overall, this was a strong concert and a truly commendable performance, especially given it is Laroi’s first stadium tour back in Australia. At times, it felt like there was something missing, with the crowd slightly muted throughout parts of the show (while some of this might have been out of Laroi’s control, later details emerging about a cancelled meet-and-greet opportunity with some fans might have contributed). However, there is something about Laroi, with his energy and presence drawing fans in and creating a magnetism that will only grow in the future. It is going to be very interesting what Laroi does over the next couple of years. 

Rating: ★★★★

The Kid Laroi – CommBank Stadium – 16^th November 2024