This article originally appeared on Riff Magazine on July 2, 2025, written by Sery Morales
SAN FRANCISCO — Deep in the rollout of his country album, F-1 Trillion, Post Malone is shedding his pop star skin for something grittier, warmer, and more whiskey-soaked. On Tuesday night at Oracle Park, he shared the stage with Jelly Roll, one of country music’s fastest rising stars—who like Posty began as a rapper.
Together they transformed the house of the Giants into a site of musical confession and celebration at the final North American show of their BIG ASS Stadium Tour. One artist was rooted in redemption, the other reaching into reinvention. Both fully owned the moment. And above all, both artists threw what was undoubtedly a party.
Smoke machines flared and brought blue and purple clouds swirled as Austin Post emerged with bonfire pyrotechnics blazing. He oozed pure Southern swagger in a plaid shirt, blue jeans, white hat and his signature red Solo cup in hand. His opening run included “Wow” and “Better Now,” with the latter jolting the crowd as Posty leaned into a screamo-tinged delivery that added unexpected grit.
From there, he moved into F-1 Trillion territory with “Wrong Ones.” He dipped into 2016’s Stoney for “Go Flex,” then threw in a cover of controversial country artist Morgan Wallen’s “I Ain’t Coming Back.” Other F-1 Trillion standouts included “M-E-X-I-C-O” and “What Don’t Belong to Me,” the latter delivered with quiet sincerity. In total, he played at least nine tracks from the country album.
“I know it’s colder than a MF out there,” he announced. “But we’re going to heat up this place up. We’ve got a lot of fire.”
The production was fully maximal with fireworks, fog and plenty of lights. But his emotional moments hit just as hard. He brought Jelly Roll onstage for a duet of “Losers,” their voices braiding together in raw harmony. The crowd roared; this was the first time many had seen them share a stage.
Post Malone then paused to reflect. He thanked Jelly Roll and the fans, noting this was the final show of his first stadium tour and that he turns 30 on July 4. At Jelly Roll’s request, the entire stadium sang him “Happy Birthday.” It felt like a rare moment of softness in a set full of sharp edges.
From there, the performance deepened. On “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” from the 2019 album of the same name, Post sat solo in a spotlight atop a stool as he sang a smoky, near-haunted rendition. During “I Fall Apart,” from Stoney, the heartbreak was palpable as he sprawled across the runway, gripping his microphone like a lifeline.
He still gave the fans their bangers: “Circles,” “Sunflower” and “Congratulations” turned into massive singalongs. But it was notable that albums like Twelve Carat Toothache and Austin were largely left out.
The night balanced spectacle (seriously, there were A LOT of fireworks) with intimacy. Thunderous trap anthems like “Rockstar” and “Psycho” shook the stadium, but it was the stripped-back Stoney tune “Feeling Whitney,”performed while attendees lit up Oracle Park with their phones, that gave the evening its quiet grace. That song, in particular, felt like it came straight from Post’s bleeding heart.
Jelly Roll’s entrance was thunderous. Wailing guitars and hammering percussion preceded his arrival in a white hat, and he launched right into “Heart of Stone,” from 2024’s Beautifully Broken. Even on a Tuesday, his set landed like a Sunday sermon. He charmed the audience with his down-to-earth humor, introducing his crew with lines like, “Only one of us has a good credit score” and shouting out his Giants-supporting bassist and drummer, Porkchop. The camaraderie felt real, and his storytelling came laced with grit, God and good humor.
After ramping things up with “Get By,” Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord) got personal. He shared that it was his daughter’s fifth birthday. Between songs, he delivered a heartfelt testimony about his journey from addiction to recovery and music.
“Music is medicine,” he said. The audience, a sea of cowboy hats and hoodies, erupted in applause.
That message rang loud and clear during ballads like “I Am Not Okay” and “Hard-Fought Hallejulah.” The crowd sang along to “Need a Favor” like it was a country classic. Then the energy lifted with a party medley that mashed up country, rock and hip-hop: “Sweet Home Alabama,” Nickelback’s “This Is How You Remind Me,” DMX’s “Lose My Mind,” Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” Wiz Khalifa’s “Young, Wild and Free” and Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places.” Jelly Roll closed with his viral redemption anthem, “Save Me,” his voice rasping out over acoustic strumming as fans held up their phone lights.
The night opened with fans bundled and buzzing in San Francisco’s summer chill as Posty’s go-to collaborator, Marietta, Georgia’s Chandler Walters kicked off the show with playful country covers and twangy originals like the unreleased “C’mon Whiskey.” His mix of blusey riffs and small-town charm hinted at the night’s blend of showmanship and soul-searching.