ACL was legendary that night because Tyler, The Creator didn’t just perform—he took over. From the moment the sampled intro set the tone to the final drumbeat, every moment pulsed with daring creativity, unexpected tenderness, and genre-defying swagger. Tyler made Zilker Park feel like home, like a rollercoaster, like your most exhilarating dream—all at once.
Full Setlist
-
Song played from tape – SIR BAUDELAIRE
-
CORSO
-
LEMONHEAD
-
WUSYANAME
-
LUMBERJACK
-
MASSA
-
SWEET
-
JUGGERNAUT
-
See You Again
-
911
-
Boredom
-
Who Dat Boy
-
Yonkers
-
Tamale
-
IFHY
-
IGOR’S THEME
-
I THINK
-
WHAT’S GOOD
-
EARFQUAKE
-
NEW MAGIC WAND
-
I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE
-
RUNITUP
The Opening Vibes
The show kicked off with “SIR BAUDELAIRE” playing from tape—an ominous, cinematic overture that set the mood before Tyler even stepped on stage. Then came “CORSO” and “LEMONHEAD,” two tracks that crash-landed us into his sonic montage with funky bravado and lyrical twists. Tyler moved through each song like he was personally guiding a thrill ride—unexpected, complex, and irresistibly magnetic.
Energy, Highlights & Crowd Moments
Tyler’s stage energy is impossible to ignore. He’s part auteur, part provocateur, and total performance artist. The crowd responded immediately—cheering when he leaned into familiar refrains, gasping at sudden tempo shifts, and howling right back when he invited them to shout filth and feel.
-
“WUSYANAME” melted into a breezy vibe, softened only by Tyler’s rapid-fire lyricism. It was both playful and intimate, as if he just whispered a flirtation over ear-bending production.
-
“LUMBERJACK” punched through the haze with gritty lines and sharp turns. The audience erupted, bodies moving as one—proof that Tyler’s energy doesn’t need upgrades; it alone is fuel.
-
“See You Again” brought the most striking emotional pivot. Tyler lingered on those falsetto refrains, letting the moment stretch. Thousands of voices joined in, gentle and luminous in the Texas air.
-
He revisited older cuts—“Yonkers,” “Tamale,” “IFHY”—and didn’t just perform them; he reconstructed them in neon lights, adding layers, letting them breathe, turning nostalgia into currency.
-
“EARFQUAKE” was a glow: romantic, glistening, carried us all inward before the punk-shout of “NEW MAGIC WAND” yanked us back. The ride was dizzying and so rewarding.
-
The closing duo, “I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE” followed by “RUNITUP,” elevated the night into catharsis. Fun, weird, layered fun—exactly what Tyler does best.
The Vibe
Austin’s ACL crew is known for wild energy, but Tyler’s set had its own signature spirit: surreal meets sleek. Tambourines, dancers, chaotic beats, introspective mini-lectures—his stage was a multifaceted universe where anything could break loose.
Tyler talked to the crowd directly—he teased, teased again, and cheered them on in the same breath. The energy was fluid: we danced, we laughed, we shouted lyrics over each other. There was an intimacy in that openness—he didn’t hold anything back, and the crowd didn’t either.
Visually, the show was a kaleidoscope. Sharp lighting flashes, moody dark blue backdrops, glitchy graphics—it was bright without being overdone. The stage felt both polished and unpredictable, like the man himself.
Tiny Quibbles
-
It was over too quickly. “RUNITUP” ended, and nobody realized Zack from Eagle Rock was already gone. ACL’s time slot skewed brevity, and this felt more like a warm-up than a headliner. We all wanted more.
-
A couple of the older tracks, when remixed live, faded a bit in the lowest frequencies. Those sub-bass layers sometimes swallowed lyric clarity. Andrew, your drums were cosmic, but the vocals got cozy under the mix.
Final Thoughts
Tyler, The Creator at ACL was nothing if not bold. He’s not chasing charts anymore—he’s a creator chasing his own vision turn by turn, scene by scene. This set reminded us why we became fans: it’s emotional, tactical, wild, and gloriously unpredictable.
He respected the old while sculpting the new, embracing sentiment and shredding stereotypes. It wasn’t just a concert—it was a memory in the making. By every account, we didn’t go to a Tyler show—we stepped into his world for a night.
ACL will burn for this one. If you missed it, the legends say there’ll be another ride. Just make sure your ears—and your heart—are ready.