The nostalgia that came with Tyler, the Creator's set was unmatched by any other artist at ACL on Sunday. Sometime between the stage lighting up to show Tyler climbing a boulder against a desert backdrop and the first few notes of “LEMONHEAD,” I was transported back to my younger self. The middle-schooler who bought Tyler CDs and saw The Grinch just for his music could never have imagined hearing this setlist in such a perfect setting. As one of the festival's major headliners, Tyler closed out Weekend 1 in the coveted last (and best) spot on the schedule.

At 8:45, a little over an hour after sunset, he kicked off with “LEMONHEAD” and launched straight into the updated "Coachella" versions of “WUSYANAME,” “LUMBERJACK,” “I THINK,” and “DEATHCAMP.” However, Tyler fans know how connected everyone is to pre-Igor albums like Cherry Bomb and Flower Boy, and Tyler dedicated the second half of this set to these older albums. There was a clear build-up to the biggest hits, with a set list perfectly organized to create the most hype. The crowd went wild for every song, and it’s hardly an exaggeration to say that every person there sang every word loud and clear. (Alright, maybe it is an exaggeration. But those not singing were definitely dancing.) The crowd took over beautifully for Frank Ocean’s vocals during “She,” and it was amazing to hear the mass of people in the crowd sing those nostalgic lyrics as one. The energy during “Who Dat Boy,” and “Tamale” was electric, but I’ve never seen a crowd more pumped at a festival than during “Yonkers.” The community among the crowd was never stronger than the beat drop after an extended introduction. We were teased by a few chords from “SMUCKERS” and then a version of “STUNTMAN” performed over a “DOGTOOTH” instrumental. “IFHY” surprisingly focused more on love than hate, with a slower pace and softer vocal delivery than the studio version. A seamless transition between “911” and “Boredom” created a heavenly mix. Tyler closed with “See You Again” from Flower Boy, with an extended intro and outro that took us back to the golden days of 2017, complete with the old Tyler background vocals and instrumentals.

Tyler’s high-octane performance was given even more energy by the insane level of production harmonizing with the music. The expressive lighting consistently complemented the set list, with deep blues and a starry background for the introspective “IFHY.” A massive full moon rose behind Tyler as the chorus began, enhancing the song’s emotional pull. The most stunning use of the digital backdrop and lights was during “Who Dat Boy.” As the iconic intro blared, the stage erupted in bright green light and flames, framing Tyler on the boulder with a massive UFO looming behind him. The pyrotechnics, though used sparingly, had a fantastic impact during climactic beat drops and choruses. These visual elements amplified the intensity, drawing the crowd into each beat and creating an unforgettable atmosphere. The sound quality was crystal clear, and every note and banter break felt as though Tyler was right there with us. The bass was near-deafening, vibrating through the crowd with an intensity that heightened the immersion but wasn’t overwhelming. Amazingly, despite the intensity, this was one of the few concerts I’ve been to that didn’t leave my ears ringing.

Tyler also shared some reflections on Austin, most memorably about how "weird" we all are and a story from a past SXSW show where he finally felt like a “big” artist for the first time. His comments were playful yet thoughtful, and though he’s had some rough experiences in Austin before, he didn’t hold back his appreciation for us at ACL. Between songs, Tyler expressed his love for Austin and seemed grateful to be there, ending almost every single song with a “thank you” to the crowd. As our own personal hype man, he worked the audience into frenzies, giving us moments to jump, scream, and be part of the performance. Although he mentioned that he was in pain onstage due to a neck injury, he didn’t let it stop him from jumping around the stage and giving the American Express stage the energy it deserved. The overall vibe of this set was phenomenal. While I can’t compare it to other Tyler shows, I can confidently say it was a must-see performance, one that people will remember long after ACL wraps up.