Kanye shows why we’re lucky to have him at MSG concert

There was no meltdown, no insane speech or rant, and the famous perma-frown even gave way to the odd smile. On Monday night at Madison Square Garden, Kanye West kept the combative, insecure version of him under wraps, and decided to lead with a visceral one-man performance, and his years of peerless music.

Put simply, the “Saint Pablo Tour” feels like West’s victory lap. He’s been vindicated in the messy feud with Taylor Swift, seems in his element as a husband and father of two, and should be safe in the knowledge that despite a messy release, “The Life of Pablo” is undoubtedly one of the best albums of 2016. As he told the world at the MTV VMAs (held in the very same room) last week, it feels pretty good to be Kanye West right now.

But this new confidence doesn’t mean that Yeezy is handing out hugs and homemade lemonade, either. As Kim Kardashian, North West, Chris Rock, Puff Daddy, and many more celebrities watched from the crowd, Kanye made sure his inner aggression flowed freely through the 90-minute set. Despite only having a three-piece band playing from the back of the arena, the sonic brutality of songs like “Father Stretch My Hands Pt 1” and “All Day” was nothing short of astonishing. Even on more serene moments such as the Billie Holiday-sampling “Blood on the Leaves,” the bass was loud enough to cause ripples in the air. This was a set that felt like a brilliant bludgeoning, helping ensure that the crowd remained a continually simmering cauldron of energy throughout the night.

Visually, the “Saint Pablo Tour” is also an impressive production, which revolves around a giant floating stage that moves across the arena floor, ten feet above the crowd. The sight of Kanye on high, bathed in golden light, delivering his message to the masses, invites all manner of biblical readings – particularly during the gospel glory of set closer “Ultralight Beam.” But for every moment that felt like a mass benediction, there were ten that felt more like Kanye had recreated a grimy, warehouse party in deepest Bushwick, and had it airlifted into Midtown.

Such is Kanye’s often-overlooked dexterity. He can be the preacher, or the party man. He can be the hero, or the villain. The egoist, or the altruist. And frequently, he’s all of these things at once. That’s why, even after all these years, it’s impossible to turn away from one of the most fascinating, and fearless pop culture figures of our time.