All the Stars were really out this evening as Kendrick and SZA took to the stage at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
In the past we’ve seen big musical acts like Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Olivia Rodrigo bring out special guests mid-performance in an attempt to surprise audiences. These collaborations work so well, and make crowds go absolutely nuts.
What Kendrick Lamar and SZA have done is pretty much the same, however they advertised the joint tour, thus combining two fan bases in one and making a mega concert of R&B royalty. The Grand National, was a two-for-one type gig where audiences got to see two of the biggest names in music perform together (and separately) on one stage.
Their three hour gig was an impressive combination of both discographies giving crowds their moneys worth with a lengthy set. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here.
If I had to describe last night’s gig in one word, it would be artistry. From the moment Kendrick walked on stage everything was choreographed to a T, from the dancers to the short films projected on the screens. Meanwhile, SZA was angelic as always, and I couldn’t help but wonder how we are so lucky to live in the same world as a woman who looks and sings like that.
First things first, the support act DJ Mustard graced the stage with a set full of iconic songs produced by him, some of which I didn’t even realise were. He played songs from some famous names like Rihanna and Chris Brown, which really pumped up the crowd ready for the main event. Realistically, he was the perfect support act for a gig like this, because by time Kendrick and SZA came out, we were ready.
They performed a medley of songs together and solo, taking it in turns throughout the night. SZA wowed the crowd with fan favourites like Good Days, Kill Bill and even a Doja Cat cover. Kendrick blew the crowd away with Humble and Alright as well as other hits.
However, the biggest moment of the whole night was when he performed his Drake diss track, Not Like Us. The audience erupted in screams as they realised, it’s time. I have never seen energy like it, and the atmosphere was insane as the singer performed with his group of dancers replicating his SuperBowl 25 performance. In that moment, the crowd became one as we all shouted the lyrics, dissing Drake as a result (sorry hun).
I have also never seen so many people recording performances on their phones, at one point the crowd was lit up by screens. This was a little disappointing, because it meant people weren’t living in the moment and being able to appreciate the quality of performance in front of them. I wonder, how many people noticed SZA was riding a massive ant at one point?!
There were moments in the gig where the songs were emotional, leaving you feeling vulnerable, before this moved on to adrenaline filled bangers. It really felt like a concert for everyone, as you could see how diverse the crowd was.
Both SZA and Kendrick brought in their respective crowds, which may be a good lesson to other artists thinking of doing something similar, as it introduced one artist’s fans to another. Maybe those of whom were attending the gig for Kendrick have walked away as SZA fans and vice versa. The concept of a double gig is genius, and honestly I hope it inspires other artists to do the same.
My only complaint is that they should have rejigged the set list a touch. Finishing on Gloria, despite being a beautiful song, fell a bit flat meaning many audience members left the gig early to head home. Whereas, if they had finished on a crowd favourite together like All the Stars which left everyone a little emotional, I think people would have been more likely to have stayed until the very end and it would have closed the show on a high.
That being said there was a rather touching moment at the end of the show as SZA proceeded to sign things thrown on stage by fans during the last song. This was before she announced “I love you so much, we’re like family! Bye Cardiff!”, which just shows how pure and grateful the singer is.
Other than minor set list changes, the show was truly spectacular. It was great to see the audience come together, both musically and in terms of fashion with an unofficial uniform of American football jerseys. With moments that felt like performance art which left us in awe as we watched on. SZA’s voice is absolutely faultless and Kendrick’s hard raps were a brilliant contrast and together they blended R&B immaculately. If you’re wondering whether you should see these two live, then you definitely should and if you get a chance to see them together, then quite frankly you should drop everything and go.
With seven gigs left in the tour, and their next stop at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, audiences definitely have a lot to look forward to.
You can read all about everything that happened at gig on last night’s live blog here.