Billie Eilish, Green Day, Alicia Keys Dominate iHeartRadio Music Festival 2019

Billie Eilish Rules, OK? (Photo: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com)

By ROY TRAKIN: The iHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL celebrated its ninth anniversary with a weekend of music that was a tribute to its showcasing the various genres which make up the pop music radio airwaves in 2019.

The sold-out shows at LAS VEGAS’ T-MOBILE ARENA and the SATURDAY afternoon event at the FESTIVAL GROUNDS, which drew some 30,000 attendees on a scorching hot day, spotlighted some of the biggest names of the moment, including BILLIE EILISH, the GRAMMY BEST NEW ARTIST front-runner, who showed why she’s the artist of the zeitgeist, with a half-hour, seven-song set that delighted her devoted fan base. The two evening shows were streamed on CWTV.com, with THE CW NETWORK set to televise them on two consecutive nights, OCTOBER 2nd and 3rd in prime time.

The weekend got underway FRIDAY night, with opening act GREEN DAY bringing back memories of 2012, when BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG petulantly walked off-stage after smashing his instrument. Things were a lot calmer this time around, with the band debuting their new single, the disco-flavored “Father of All...” aiming for left-field “Feel It Still” Top 40 success. Other highlights from night one included TIM McGRAW paying tribute to the late RIC OCASEK with a moving cover of THE CARS’ ”Drive,” well-received sets from veterans HEART, BACKSTREET BOYS and a reunited HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH, as well as another star-making turn from CAMILA CABELLO. Two acts who stormed the stage and made it their own were CAGE THE ELEPHANT (whose lead singer MATT SHULTZ ended up semi-nude out in the audience), and HALSEY, who continues to prove she’s a special performer who inspires a unique attachment with her audience. 

For a full review of the first night, go here.

EILISH stole the show at SATURDAY afternoon's DAYLIGHT STAGE for a lineup that rivaled the evening concerts for big names like H.E.R., MAREN MORRIS, JUICE WRLD and SOUTH KOREAN K-Pop phenoms MONSTA X, who rivaled EILISH for fan support. EILISH is sure to be headed for the main stage, though she pretty much made the DAYTIME STAGE the place to be over the two-day celebration. MORRIS also wowed the crowd in short black skirt, large silver belt bucket, halter top and high heels, bringing down the house with a stripped-down “The Middle” and finishing by turning the sizzling field into a house of worship for “My Church.” H.E.R., who was also slated for the SATURDAY night bill, brought her own brand of sophisticated R&B to the occasion. 

For the full review of the DAYTIME STAGE, which was streamed for the first time on livexlive.com, go here.  

MILEY CYRUS was among the notables for the closing SATURDAY night, opening the show in black leather and her classic rock bona fides for a set that included LED ZEPPELIN’s “Black Dog” and PINK FLOYD’s “Comfortably Numb,” as well as her two recent releases, “Slide Away,” a look back at her break-up with husband LIAM HEMSWORTH, and “Don’t Call Me Angel,” whose propulsive hip-hop beat was delivered with achy-breaky swagger. ALICIA KEYS' tour de force performance was the other highlight, alongside well-received sets from veteran rockers DEF LEPPARD and MUMFORD & SONS. CHANCE THE RAPPER also confirmed his status as one of the world’s great rappers, turning his segment into a SUNDAY morning church service with “Do You Remember,” “Hot Shower” and an extended ‘Blessings.”

For a review of the entire show, go here. 

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