REVIEW: Troye Sivan in ‘Bloom’ at The Masonic
SAN FRANCISCO — It’s been a big year for Troye Sivan. In August the Australian pop artist released his second album, Bloom, which landed at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, amassed multiple Australian award nominations and received widespread acclaim for it’s compelling exploration of genres and queer love. Sivan has sold out most of his shows. On top of that, he stars in Boy Erased, a film whose protagonist is forced to attend a gay conversion therapy program.
Troye Sivan
Kim Petras, Carlie Hanson
7:30 p.m., Friday
The Masonic
Tickets: $40-$50+.
Sivan is in the middle of his North American Bloom Tour, which he brought to the Masonic for two sold out nights.
“When I was recording Bloom, I would always think of San Francisco whenever I’d think about the tour,” Sivan said.
Under a single spotlight, Sivan donned a full gray suit and opened with lovestruck slow burner “Seventeen.” The smooth and sultry track built up to “Bloom,” where the red curtains dropped to reveal a full band, massive LED lights and a podium centerstage. Sivan took to the platform, but quickly grooved his way back to the stage during the upbeat title track.
Before proceeding, the burgeoning pop star paused to took in the moment.
“I can’t believe we sold this place out—twice!” he said, beaming.
“Heaven,” off 2015’s Blue Neighborhood, came next. Troye Sivan said that the song explores his struggle with coming out, but is now a comforting reminder of his perseverance.
The evening was rich in personal anecdotes.
“I’ve played enough shows now to know to never to put this on,” he said after a fan threw a pink wig onstage. “Because pictures on the Internet exist and stay around forever; but I appreciate the sentiment and I thank you.”
He asked if anyone had any more “free stuff” to throw onstage, and in flew flowers, signs and a kitty ear headband that he donned for a bit.
Troye Sivan slowed the pace down for a bit with songs like “Postcard,” which was led by an elaborate keyboard solo. He sat on the podium alongside his backup vocalist and, together, they sang full harmonies that created a quintessential ballad. “Good Side” and “What a Heavenly Way to Die” followed.
After the slower portion of the set, Sivan picked the pace again with the lusty beat-driven “BITE.” The track had fans jumping while he twirled, performed body rolls and the occasional running man.
Other set highlights included recent collaboration with Charli XCX, “1999,” “Dance to This” and “Animal.” Sivan closed the concert with the two-song encore of “Youth” and “My My My!”
Kim Petras preceded Troye Sivan with a DJ cuing in her bubbly diva entrance. The German-born and Los Angeles-based songstress took the stage with all smiles.
Petras opened with “All the Time,” a hyperactive cut about infatuation. As her DJ egged on buzzing fans, she bounced back and forth , further stirring the crowd’s energy.
“What’s up over there; you guys are going hard!” Petras said.
For “I Don’t Want It All,” Petras flaunted a shimmery sequin purse to go along with her ode about designer goods.
“Oops, I skipped a song on the setlist. That’s very on-brand of me,” she interjected between cuts. She then continued with “Hills,” a song she said was about “popping pills” and other thrills.
Kim Petras went on to play a 30-minute set comprised of a mélange of sounds. Songs like “Hills” were laden with heavy hip-hop beats, while bops like “Heart to Break” featured full-on pop belting. Her songs emanated the spirit of summertime.
For set-closer “Can’t Do Better,” Petras fans. It made for a fun singalong finale that was as glamorous as the singer’s entrance.
Opener Carlie Hanson burst onstage in high spirits. With his fists raised, hair flips and constant eye contact with singing fans, Hanson had them engaged from the outset. The Wisconsin native mentioned it was her first time in San Francisco.
“I’m trying to see the Full House house, you know?” she yelled, before going into “Toxins,” a song she described as a reminder of her own home. Hanson’s 20-minute set ended with “Us.”
Follow editor Chloe Catajan at Instagram.com/riannachloe and Twitter.com/riannachloe.