Dead generators, a partially malfunctioning stage, and extreme heat all converged at the Phoenix Raceway on Saturday night, but the conditions were no match for Flume and his fans. The show must go on, and the Australian producer finally hit the stage to showcase the magic of his Palaces Tour.
Opening with Tori y Moi collab “The Difference”, Flume — in fabulous astronaut pants — was illuminated by the operational stage lights as colors and images danced on the screen behind him. The crowd below followed his lead, bobbing side to side and soaking in his return with plenty of video to capture the evening.
Crowd favorites like his remix of Disclosure’s “You & Me” and the radio hits like “Never Be Like You” peppered the setlist, each one eliciting a new roar of approval from the fans. Of course, he couldn’t forget the weirder cuts (“Wall Fuck” and “MUD” come to mind) to round out his set and appease just about every category of fan.
When you say you like Flume do you mean 'Never Be Like You' Flume or 'Wall Fuck' Flume?
— Vyblossom (@vyblossom_dj) April 27, 2022
Even better: Flume didn’t come alone. Australian artist KUČKA is on the tour to provide live vocals on her collaborations, and she traversed the massive stage as she sang, occasionally reappearing from behind wafts of smoke. Meanwhile, Flume stayed at his tables, alternating between the two to seamlessly mix one track into the next. With no transitions, the crowd remained engaged and dancing — despite the late hour.
The initial delay tricked fans into thinking the main set was it, but they ran back to the stage when Flume started his three-song encore. And the reward? Old cuts from the early 2010s. Closing the night with his remix of Lorde’s “Tennis Court”, Flume finally took a breath and embraced the fanfare — the king of his palace.
Check out all the photos from the show!
Story and photos by Taylor Knauf
