The Houston rapper played his first solo headline concert in Montreal on Nov. 13.
Don Toliver brought his highly anticipated Psycho Tour to Montreal’s Bell Centre on Nov. 13, igniting the crowd with a thrilling biker-themed show.
With a packed house eager to see Travis Scott‘s protégé in action, the night offered moments of pure brilliance, despite a few missteps preventing the show from reaching its full potential.
The opening acts were performed by Molly Santana and Monaelo. Santana offered up some rage-style, synth-heavy trap music, while Monaleo delivered a gritty, southern rap sound that set the tone for the night.
Once Don Toliver hit the stage, the concert kicked off with “KRYPTONITE,” followed by “TORE UP,” a standout track from his latest album, HARDSTONE PSYCHO. “TORE UP” was enhanced by a live rendition of its signature electric guitar riff, sending the crowd into overdrive just two songs in.
Musically, the show was a sensory concoction. Thunderous bass reverberated throughout the venue, occasionally overwhelming Toliver’s vocals to the point where it was difficult to discern the songs being played. While the crowd’s energy and the heavy use of autotune helped fill in some gaps, there were moments where the rapper’s voice was lost in the production.
The live drums and guitars, however, sounded crisp throughout the concert.
When Toliver’s voice did shine through, like in songs such as “No Pole,” the result felt otherworldly, and the crowd’s harmonizing alongside him made these moments all the more intimate.
Highlights of the concert included tracks like “4X4” where the crowd effortlessly vibed to Toliver’s filtered, grungy delivery, with riveting 808s that traversed the venue.
Toliver commanded center stage with an immersive set that featured a cowboy guitarist, a mascot, and real-life motorists, all of which kept the audience engaged, even if at times they felt like distractions from the show’s weaker moments.
His occasionally lackluster energy and tendency to wander around the stage — sometimes without using his mic — frequently left the crowd’s anticipation unmet, causing a strong start to quickly fizzle out.
This was the case when Toliver played the viral, fan-favourite Travis Scott song “FE!N.” If fans expected a high-energy, visually captivating performance to match the song’s hype, they were disappointed as they ended up doing all the work, and the enthusiasm stagnated fairly quickly.
The Psycho Tour was enhanced by several striking visual elements, including flames, pyrotechnics, smoke, and spotlights. There were even motorcyclists riding bikes inside a Globe of Death onstage during “Bandit,” which emphasized the Harley-Davidson inspired aesthetic of HARSTONE PSYCHO and its accompanying tour.
Despite the sound issues and a few moments that didn’t quite live up to expectations, the overall energy of the show was undeniable. The crowd’s excitement matched the fiery visuals, with fans dancing and moving along with Toliver’s every move.
Don Toliver delivered a solid performance in Montreal — an enjoyable spectacle of a show that, despite its shortfalls, left the audience with an unforgettable experience.
