The Houston-bred rapper took Manchester by storm.
From the moment the lights dipped into darkness and the first distorted notes of “KRYPTONITE” rippled through the speakers, it was clear: this wasn’t just another stop on Don Toliver’s “PSYCHO HARDSTONE” tour. This was a rupture, a portal into the psyche of an artist crafting not just sound, but an entire universe. An invitation into his meticulously-carved creative vision.
Don Toliver didn’t need an entourage of backup dancers or elaborate choreography. He didn’t have to overcompensate. The simplicity was intentional. It was just him, his voice, and the space to let the vision breathe. At the centre of the stage hovered a skeletal industrial cage, pretty stark, surreal, like an artefact salvaged from a fever-dream. Not a prop, but a motif. A silent co-performer. It was a symbol of the psycho-spiritual undertones woven through his 2024 album “Hardstone Psycho”. He wasn’t just on the stage, he was the stage.
PHOTO CREDIT: @hardstonerecords | @dontoliver
The curated setlist, which included live performances from his guitarist Caleb Spikes and his other band-members was a masterclass in range, but not just sonically, emotionally. From fan-favourite cuts like “Cardigan”, “Lemonade” and “Too Many Nights” and his spectral debut on Travis Scott’s “Can’t Say” (which he prefaced with a powerful, motivational speech about pushing through self-doubt), to later standouts like “ATTITUDE” and “4×4,” and “TORE UP” (so good, he did it twice), the pounding pulse of “BROTHER STONE” set off frenzied mosh pits which later dissolved into the smoother textures of “NEW DROP” and Love Sick conquerors “No Pole” and “Private Landing”.
Then came one of the show’s most electrifying moments. With a knowing grin, Don leaned into further nostalgia and began chanting “JACKBOYS 2, JACKBOYS 2.” The crowd roared in response. For those who know, JACKBOYS was a collaboration led by Travis Scott, featuring Don Toliver, Sheck Wes, Chase B, and SoFaygo. Performing “What To Do?”, “Gang Gang”, and “Had Enough”, Toliver didn’t just revisit the past, he teased its rebirth.
PHOTO CREDIT: @hardstonerecords | @dontoliver
PHOTO CREDIT: @hardstonerecords | @dontoliver
Midway through the set, he unveiled “Call Back,” an unreleased track so rhythmically urgent and sticky it felt instantly essential. As cameras rolled for the music video, the boundary between performance and creative process disappeared. The crowd didn’t just witness the art, they became part of it. For a few minutes, reality and imagination collapsed into one hypnotic blur.
But perhaps the most staggering part of the night was watching Don Toliver’s evolution in real time. Having first-handedly witnessed his early co-signs, whispered hooks and Wireless Festival debut to now seeing him as a fully-fledged headliner across Europe, Don’s trajectory hasn’t just been upward — it’s been transformative. The pacing, the control, the confidence, the unmistakable dancing, it all landed with the conviction of someone who knows they’ve arrived, but hasn’t forgotten how far they’ve come.
He closed the show with “Swangin’ on Westheimer,” and as the lights came up and the illusion faded, there was a moment of stillness, the kind that lingers long after the sound has stopped. The audience wasn’t just applauding. They were grateful. Grateful to have witnessed not just a concert, but an artist unveiling his next era, unapologetically, vividly, and on his own terms. It was Don’s world and we lived in it.
“Having followed Don Toliver’s journey for a number of years, it’s been both refreshing and rewarding to witness his growth up close. The HARDSTONE tour felt like the culmination of dedication, evolution, and artistic clarity, a testament to what happens when vision meets authenticity. In an era where concerts often lean into spectacle for the sake of it, Don reminded us that sometimes, less truly is more. No gimmicks, just raw, good music and an undeniable presence.
For those few hours, I forgot the world outside existed and it was well-needed. Though I was surrounded by hundreds of people who shared that same passion, it somehow felt personal, like a one-to-one exchange. Good music, good energy, good dancing. It felt familiar, intimate, and truly unforgettable. This is a show that will linger with me for a long time. A special shoutout to Tomas Fraser.” — Amal AlTauqi, Senior Deputy Editor and Head of Music at PAUSE Magazine.
PHOTO CREDIT: @hardstonerecords | @dontoliver
