Read our review below!
Images: Vasili Papathanasopoulos ©
From the moment he stood on stage, multiplatinum American rapper Yung Gravy had the crowd in the palm of his hand. Performing at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, Gravy created a party atmosphere that felt intimate through genuine crowd interaction and back and forth banter with his audience. People were pumped, reciting every word and giving off an infectious energy.
To get the crowd warmed up, breakthrough Australian artist Mason Dane performed tracks from his catalogue before Gravy’s DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip set the tone for the night with his finely curated selection of tunes. He even made a powerpoint presentation of things you may find in Sydney including Guzman y Gomez, magpies, Healthy Harold, Tim Tams and Bunnings Warehouse to name a few.
Images: Vasili Papathanasopoulos ©
Entering the room with Gravy Train, the rapper oozed charm as he strut across the stage and sent his doting audience into a frenzy. He started a call-and-response line with the crowd, he himself saying gravy and the crowd responding with a rapturous “train”. He comments, “the energy is fucking crazy in here I love this,” before recalling the first tour he and DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip played together during his previous Australian run. This served as a perfect segway into The Boys Are Back In Town, and within minutes fans began to fling bras and shoes on stage - the latter in an attempt to get Gravy to do a ‘shoey’. Later revealing that during his US run, his initiative to raise funds for the breast cancer by donating $50 USD per bra thrown on stage amassed $100,000.
The rapper then requested to have the lights dimmed low during Cheryl, asking the crowd to instead light the room with their phone flashlight. That audience participation continued throughout the night, with Gravy often reading out signs, talking to fans and making sure they stayed hydrated, and passing out lollies. At one point, he stepped off stage and returned with boxes of bottled water to throw out into the crowd. “Safety first, ladies and gentleman” he remarked.
The rapper treated fans to songs from his catalogue, including some of his collaborations with bbno$ under their collaborative project, Baby Gravy. Playing Welcome To Chills, Whip A Tesla and shining on my ex much to the crowds delight, he even performed a snippet of a soon-to-be released track. Gravy literally made it rain during Dancing In The Rain, spraying the crowd with water as he danced across the stage. “I had a line about this country in that song” the rapper shares before launching into Mrs Worldwide, assuring fans that they have the chance to feature in a new extended visual for the track as his videographer began to film. He ends the song with the line, “that’s my little Sydney bitch”, earning cheers from the loving crowd. Launching into Tampa Bay Bustdown, he tells the crowd he wants to take them to Florida and gives us a rundown of America’s most eclectic state.
Images: Vasili Papathanasopoulos ©
Heading into the sets third act, Gravy delivers a bevy of fan favourites, including Magic, 1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot and C’est La Vie, with the latter being performed earlier than expected due to crowd demand. Gravy had the entire audience captivated with his melodic flow, everyone vibing off eachother to keep the nights party energy going. Throughout the night, engaging lighting plans and frenzied video visuals amplified the performances minimal production, with the focus being solely on the rapper and his connection with his audience. Something also emulated by bbno$ in his own shows, both have cultivated a unique take when it comes to writing, producing and putting together modern alternative shows that are infused with r’n’b beats that drive pop sensibilities, which add another layer to a pretty stellar show. (Note: it would be epic to see them curate a performance together.) The evening felt more like 1,600 friends joining together for a fun celebration fuelled by Gravy’s wholesome-meets-explicitly charged music.
Realising he was able to push up towards his curfew, the rapper added yup! to his set, with the crowd chanting along every word before he played oops!. He was packing in as much as he could for the crowd, who had spent the whole night lapping up every dulcet word spoken by the rapper. As we approached the finale, Gravy warned the crowd he doesn’t do encores and that this next song was their last chance to cut loose. Of course, that song was the rappers breakout hit, Betty (Get Money). Featuring a sample of Rick Astley’s seminal hit, Never Gonna Give You Up the rapper and his fans sent the night out in style turning the show into a dance party.
Throughout the whole show, we were partying with Yung Gravy. Everyone was dancing, singing and vibing along to each track, creating a genuine connection with the rapper between each song as he’d interact with them. He spent about five minutes reading out sexually-charged signs, and took many breaks to pick up the bras flooding the stage. He gave in to the crowd and ended up doing a shoey (from a clean shoe that had been gifted to him earlier that day). There were moments where you could see the musician taking it in, appreciating the devotion of his audience.
YUNG GRAVY AUSTRALIA X NEW ZEALAND MARVELOUS TOUR
Friday 10 February 2023 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney SOLD OUT
Saturday 11 February 2023 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
Friday 17 February 2023 – Astor Theatre, Perth SOLD OUT
Saturday 18 February 2023 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane SOLD OUT
Sunday 19 February 2023 – Forum, Melbourne
Tuesday 21 February 2023 – venue TBA, Christchurch*
Thursday 23 February 2023 – venue TBA, Wellington*
Friday 24 February 2023 – Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland
Saturday 25 February 2023 – venue TBA, Dunedin*