Tyler, the Creator Live at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, Los Angeles

Around 10:00 p.m. on April 11, the gateway into the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall was mostly empty, save for a few people entering last minute. The ground was littered with trash and a light smell of beer and booze drifted in the air. It was Wednesday, but a night to see Tyler, the Creator was good enough for a little fun any night of the week. Inside, the balcony was packed and fans packed the floor so tightly that only did it let up past the sound booth to a few scattered individuals sitting on the floor. One could assume many attendees were USC students, but some of the concert-goers appeared to be as young as 12 years old, with many in “Save the Bees” or Golf Wang merch.

Tyler is on his Flower Boy Tour in support of his most recent album, Flower Boy, which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. His stop in Los Angeles was a precursor to his slot at Coachella over the weekend. To say the least, it was a nice warm up.

Tyler opened with “Where This Flower Blooms.” The curtains opened to reveal two trees connected by a pathway (“branches”), and Tyler standing up on the platform in front of one of the trees, donning a neon green ensemble that glowed in the dark like a crossing guard uniform. The screen enhanced the forest set, changing between versions of sunny parks and nighttime skies. Flower Boy signaled a softer side of Tyler, and among the masses of adoring fans, elaborate sets and prime entertainer skills, the show seemed to suggest he is at the level of any good pop star.

Following “Ziploc” and “Foreward,” he went into “Bordeom,” with an appearance from Rex Orange County, who is featured on the song and the tour’s supporting act. It was a nice flow into the also mellow “Biking,” a Frank Ocean song that features Tyler. In line with his Frank Ocean collaborations, Tyler continued with “911/Mr. Lonely.” In white block letters, “911 Call Me Sometime” flashed on the screen.

One could only vibe for so long, to which Tyler said, “To those who’ve been listening to me for longer,” as to introduce “IFHY” from 2013s Wolf. A starry sky shone from behind as icy electric blue lights pointed flashed down to illuminate nightmarish trees surrounding the stage. Later, Tyler performed “48,” also from Wolf, a moment that showcased Tyler in classic form: deep-voiced and blunt. He danced it out at the end and the lights dimmed. With the spotlight back on, Tyler told a story about touring in Europe. He saw what kind of sounds the crowds moved to and came back to the states, only to make the song “Tamale,” an upbeat track carried by drums.

Tyler was getting to the end of his set when he said, “I just like seeing people dance. Can everyone in here just fucking groove? Thank you, LA. It goes like this.” The crowd obeyed the command for “I Ain’t Got Time!,” one of the more trap-based tracks on Flower Boy. The song’s name and “Happy Birthday” flashed on screen.

Tyler closed the evening with “See You Again.” Though she did not make an appearance, Tyler thanked the song’s feature: “Shout out to Kali,” as in singer Kali Uchis. For the final chorus, he told the audience to “sing at the top of your lungs.” He held the microphone up and they sang. “Thank you, Los Angeles,” Tyler said at the end. He peeled off his shirt, wiped the sweat off and tossed the shirt into the crowd as those in the back poured out of the auditorium.

Setlist

1. Where This Flower Blooms
2. Ziploc
3. Foreword
4. Boredom (with Rex Orange County)
5. Biking (Frank Ocean cover)
6. 911/ Mr. Lonely
7. IFHY
8. Smuckers
9. Fucking Young
10. Yonkers
11. She
12. 48
13. Tamale
14. Garden Shed
15. Who Dat Boy
16. November
17. Glitter
18. Pothole
19. I Ain’t Got Time!
20. Sometimes…
21. See You Again