Post Malone performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Post Malone turned 23 on the Fourth of July, and provided fireworks Friday as KAABOO Del Mar opened at the fairgrounds.
The rapper — who won Song of the Year (for “Rockstar”) at last month’s MTV Video Music Awards — opened with “Die Young” (“I don’t wanna die too young”) with flashing bomb lights and fog while wearing an “R.I.P. Mac Miller” shirt paying tribute to the 26-year-old rapper who died last week of a reported drug overdose.
Malone has endured a tough few weeks.
On Aug. 21, he and 15 others were on a private plane that made an emergency landing in New Windsor, N.Y., after two front tires blew out at takeoff. (All are fine.)
On Sept. 1, three men brandishing guns smashed a window and invaded his former home in San Fernando, reportedly yelling: “Where is Post Malone?”
And a week ago, Malone avoided injury after his Rolls-Royce was T-boned by a Kia in West Hollywood.
Story continues below
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Fan of Foo Fighters is bathed in blue at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters is bathed in blue at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Oliver Taylor Hawkins performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Rapper Nelly performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Puppet actors (on stilts) roam the Del Mar Fairgrounds crowds at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Post Malone performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Post Malone performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Post Malone performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Post Malone performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Post Malone performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Nelly performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Nelly reacts to crowd at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
One of many large artworks being painted throughout the Del Mar Fairgrounds at the fourth KAABOO. Photo by Chris Stone
Cracked mirrors outfit KAABOO Del Mar denizens who pose for pictures. Photo by Chris Stone
Rod Argent is keyboardist of The Zombies, formerly of the group Argent. Photo by Chris Stone
Tom Toomey performs with The Zombies at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Colin Blunstone leads The Zombies, one of the original British Invasion bands of the 1960s. Photo by Chris Stone
Youngsters groove to rap at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Crowds pack KAABOO Del Mar — a sell-out for the first time. Photo by Chris Stone
Brandon Boyd performs with Incubus at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Colin Blunstone leads The Zombies, one of the original British Invasion bands of the 1960s. Photo by Chris Stone
Brandon Boyd of Incubus performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Brandon Boyd of Incubus performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Brandon Boyd of Incubus performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Brandon Boyd of Incubus performs at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Young fans cheer Incubus at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Young fans cheer Incubus at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Young rap fan cheers Post Malone at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
Fan of Foo Fighters cheers world’s No. 1 band at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chris Stone
One of many large artworks being painted throughout the Del Mar Fairgrounds at the fourth KAABOO. Photo by Chris Stone
Thankfully, Malone survived his Friday night set at the Grandview Stage (aka main parking lot).
Thousands were entertained by the former Texan born Austin Richard Post in Syracuse, New York. (He made his last name first and used a “rap name generator” to find “Malone.”)
Last month on Refinery 29, Sarah Midkiff wrote: “With his 2018 album ‘Beerbongs & Bentleys,’ Post Malone has beat out The Beatles for most songs in the top 20 in the same week. The Beatles co-held the position with six songs, a record Malone blew past with nine.”
She asked: “All this sudden success begs the question: Is Post Malone our generation’s most iconic artist?”
(On Oct. 9, he’ll learn whether he wins Favorite Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards — where he’s up for six awards — in Los Angeles.)
Across the fairgrounds on the Sunset Cliffs Stage (aka Fun Zone) came the night’s other top act — the Foo Fighters, with ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl (now lead singer) repeatedly tossing his long flowing hair when he stopped running back-and-forth across the stage.
KAABOO, in its fourth year, made its own history by selling out, for the first time, two days earlier. The festival of food, comedy, art and music continues through Sunday.
