SHOW REVIEW: Porter Robinson @ Hollywood Bowl

On October 11, EDM sensation turned electric popstar Porter Robinson brought his SMILE! :D

tour to the historic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old took to the stage in a

fashion unlike ever before in his decade-long history of touring.

Dreamy, radiant lighting, and boisterous stage production, most notably a giant, inflatable pink

cartoon cat fixated on the crowd, sent the audience buzzing as the house lights went down. I

glanced around to see thousands of fans, hands of their chests, grinning ear to ear, some even

crying (definitely not myself), ready for Porter and his band.

Porter began his set triumphantly, with the first track of his recent album, “Knock Yourself Out

XD”, and within the first 30 seconds cut the music completely to let the audience scream what

has lovingly been an instant-classic Porter lyric, “B*itch I’m Taylor Swift!”, loud enough to echo

through the Hollywood Hills. The entirety of the SMILE! :D album’s portion of the tour had one

running theme - cotton candy- sweet pop hooks, and wistfully introspective nuggets of wisdom.

Only a short 14 minutes into the first portion of his 2.5 hour long set, I glanced down at my

phone through a torrent of tears as Porter sang the bitter-sweet ballad “Year of The Cup”. This

feels like an appropriate time to break the third wall to inform you all that Porter Robinson is a

guiding light of mine and I am no stranger to his music or live show.

I was snapped out my tears quickly as Porter rounded out the first of three segments of his set

with bubbly, yet reflective “Russian Roulette”. As Porter and his band walked off stage, the

screens started flickering with the phrase “Nurture+”, signifying Porter’s sophomore album was

coming next. A wave of anticipation filled the crowd as they excitedly awaited his return.

The next 45 minutes are what you might call a blur of tears and euphoria for some spectators,

namely me. This portion allowed Porter to strip back some production elements, and let his

musicality shine. He danced across a raised catwalk while playing the guitar, captivating the

spectators. He ended this section of the show by running into the center of the crowd, taking the

fan's request to serenade us to “Mother” and left us as quickly as he came to prepare for the

third act.

As Porter rounded into the third and final portion of the show, Porter polled the crowd to see

who had discovered him because of the album he was about to play. An overwhelming majority

threw their hands and screamed in unity. This final segment of the show was a chance for the

thousands of fans who had a decade to invest in the songs of his debut album Worlds and to

envelop themselves into the immersive electronic soundscape.

As Porter walked off stage, fans roared, clapped, refused to let the night end. He came running

back onstage, hands spread out like a kid playing airplane and got to the mic to bring out artist

and collaborator of his hit “Shelter”, Madeon, to perform with him. I kid you not - I can’t count on

both hands how many people dropped to their knees at the sight of the two old friends on such

a grand stage together.

In as unbiased of an opinion I can possibly muster, Porter’s SMILE! :D tour was a pinnacle of

modem concert production. It was a mesmerizing story that left you dying for the next chapter. I

only pray he comes back around with this tour so a new crop of lucky concert-goers will be able

to experience this show.

DJ Sophia Clemente