I saw Travis Scott turn Co-op Live upside down on amazing Circus Maximus tour where 'Ragers' are the stars

From the moment I entered the arena, the energy inside was palpable as chants of ‘It’s Coming Home’ ensued and those lucky enough to be standing gladly volunteered to participate in a session of crowd surfing before Swedish rapper Yung Lean graced the stage. 

Unlike previous openers I’ve seen at the Co-op Live such as The Vaccines, Travis, the Doobie Brothers etc, something just didn’t click with Yung Lean. The effort and enthusiasm was there, but the songs felt too slow-paced and too melancholic for an audience that was eagerly-awaiting the frenetic pace of Scott. 

Ahead of Scott’s arrival, the sound of crickets and insects resonated throughout the arena, which made it feel like a trip to the fictional state of Lemoyne in Red Dead Redemption 2. However, that sense of calm and tranquillity was transformed into the chaotic pace and energy of a Mad Max film as Scott was launched into the air from underneath the set and onto the stage.

Dressed like a Mad Max character wearing American football shoulder pads, Scott got things off to a red-hot start and belted out ‘HYAENA’ to get the crowd bouncing before following it up with ‘Thank God’, ‘Modern Jam’ and a cover of Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Aye’. 

As fireballs fill the sky, fireworks go off relentlessly, with unpredictable lightning and fog filling the arena alongside a set that was ‘Jurassic Park meets the ruins of Cybertron’, the show almost felt like a scene filming the Autobot vs Decepticon war. And whilst all the chaos ensues, Scott maintained a feverish pace throughout the night, racing across the stage and raging with the ‘Ragers’ - two of whom were lucky enough to be invited onto the stage during ‘SDP Interlude’. 

Scott is notorious for being one of the finest showmen in the rap industry and whilst he is a commanding presence on the stage it is the ‘Ragers’ in the crowd that make the performances even more memorable. The Co-op Live was louder than it has ever been as the ‘Ragers’ belted out every single hit in full voice, participated in mosh pits that resembled something from a Slipknot gig and followed Travis’ every move as if he was Professor X and had control of their minds. 

Although Travis has been a part of a Super Bowl half-time show with Maroon 5, he hasn’t headlined it himself - something which will hopefully change in the not too distant future. From the stage presence, energy, personality, songs and the stage itself, Scott is tailor-suited to headline status on any given night and if you do get to see him just know you’ll be treated to a spectacle.