IANN DIOR / H4LFTIME / BANKROL HAYDEN – BIG NIGHT LIVE

By Mia Palazzo

Iann Dior / H4lftime / Bankrol Hayden at Big Night Live

On April 25, fans packed into Big Night Live in Boston for Iann Dior’s highly anticipated Nothings Ever Good Enough II Tour, with many lining up hours early in hopes of securing a spot at the barricade. Excitement buzzed in the air as I spoke with fans in line who couldn’t wait for the show to begin. Several told me they had seen Iann Dior before and even had the chance to meet him, describing him as incredibly kind and down-to-earth. The vibe outside the venue set the tone for what would be a night filled with high energy, crowd connection, and memorable moments.

Before Iann Dior took the stage, the crowd was warmed up with a short but electric DJ set featuring songs by Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti, which helped build the anticipation in the room. H4lftime, a Los Angeles based rapper and producer, followed and wasted no time in energizing the audience. Early in his set, he took a birthday girl’s phone from the barricade upon her request to film a video on stage, sparking a trend that continued throughout the night with several fans getting their phones taken by the artists for pictures and videos. His set was interactive and engaging, setting a great tone.

Next up was Bankrol Hayden, a California based rapper, who was met with loud cheers and an obvious fanbase in the crowd. His set had the room moving from the jump, and when he performed “Costa Rica,” the volume of the crowd singing along proved how well-known and loved he is. Like H4lftime, he also leaned into the fan interaction, grabbing phones and snapping videos and selfies mid-performance. The openers brought strong performances that elevated the energy in the room perfectly for Iann Dior.

Iann Dior’s set opened with his DJ. Georgie Zaven, coming out to hype the crowd, a move that paid off as the energy instantly shot up in anticipation of Iann Dior stepping on stage. From the moment he appeared, the energy was nonstop. He kicked things off with “Strings,” which immediately had the crowd bouncing, and rolled right into songs like “Molly” and “361” that kept the tempo high. Fans in the pit were fully dialed in, jumping, singing, and even backflipping during some of the more hype moments. At one later point in the set, three fans immediately took turns back flipping in a row in the pit, as Iann Dior said he usually requests at this point in the show.

Iann Dior balanced newer hits like “Liar” and “Let You” with older favorites such as “Problems” and “Gone Girl,” creating a perfect flow that kept longtime fans engaged. “Not Fair” and “Halo” drew some of the loudest reactions of the night, with fans belting out every word. Those up front on the barricade were just as passionate, shouting the lyrics to every song and swaying in time with the beat while filming and soaking in the experience. One of the most memorable points of the night came during “Emotions,” when the entire venue erupted, screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs, clearly marking it as a crowd favorite.

Photos Mia Palazzo

Throughout the night, Iann Dior made a point to connect with his fans. He stayed close to the crowd, often standing on the edge of the stage or crouching down toward them. He took phones from several fans, including the same birthday girl from earlier who ended up getting a photo from every performer of the night. Between songs, he casually talked to the crowd, asking what songs they wanted to hear and speaking to them like friends.

His setlist pulled from across his discography, blending tracks from Industry Plant, Nothings Ever Good Enough, and Nothings Ever Good Enough II, much to the appreciation of longtime listeners like myself. The fact that so many people in the venue knew every word to songs both old and new spoke volumes about his fanbase and how deeply his music has resonated over the years. He closed the night with “Mood,” which had the crowd ecstatic and singing at the top of their lungs, a perfect, high-energy ending to an unforgettable night