Malcolm Todd came to Orlando ready to rumble at Hard Rock Live Thursday. Without context, you may have thought you were at a WWE smackdown as Todd and his band walked on stage with individual entrance music and skits inspired by over-the-top wrestling production values.
It was only last year when the 22-year-old singer-songwriter made his Orlando debut at the Plaza Live. This week he returned to level up with a sold-out show at Hard Rock Live. In fact, his entire tour is sold out, with an additional 11 dates soon to be added.
As the sixth show in his current “Do That Again” tour, Orlando was commended as the loudest and most vocal crowd thus far.
The wholesome Gen Z rockstar is in the middle of his biggest year yet with breakout sophomore album Do That Again that has seen him ascend even higher in the pop-music firmament, to the upper regions of the Billboard 200 Chart.
Despite the Do That Again Tour only being Todd’s second time headlining, the production is a tremendous upgrade since his previous “Wholesome Rockstar Tour” (actual name, we are not joking). Todd added background projections that accompanied him during songs and more dynamic stage lighting, making the experience more immersive and cohesive. Todd even rose to the occasion of having a larger budget, literally, with the addition of a two-story platform stage to the stage layout.
Todd put on a show that was earnestly fun and goofy. He took several opportunities to dance along with the audience and spice up his performance. Right before singing his infamous song “Earrings,” Todd asked the crowd to “chill” as the screens showed a pair of dangly diamond earrings laid out on the stage. Todd said, “I was looking everywhere for those and couldn’t find them,” referencing the song’s lyrics: “Her love is in your head / You lost your earrings in her bed.” The crowd got quiet enough for his joke to land before promptly starting the song.
The setlist included “Cheer Me On,” one of Todd’s more vulnerable songs. The song discusses his insecurities in the spotlight while doubling as a thank-you to his fans. As a change of pace, a red rotary-phone was used as Todd’s microphone for a section of the show. Todd carried the phone around, twirling the long cord while singing into the receiver.
After the “final” song, Todd and his bandmates exited the stage, leaving the audience to cheer for an encore. The audience’s cries for an encore were a full-circle moment as they chanted “do that again” instead of “encore.” Todd duly sang that album’s title track and an early number, “Roomates,” to send everyone home happy and whole.
