Ooh, are they or aren’t they going out? Surely those clandestine KFC moments snapped by the paps aren’t just for show? We’re left wondering even after the show, but judging by the amount of squealing teens who have arrived well in advance of the gig starting, I’d say the ladies in the house tonight are here for Chris Brown.

He descends from the rafters of the Entertainment Centre wearing a balaclava and some kind of guerrilla military outfit, and there’s fireworks and back up dancers so it at least looks pretty awesome.

The sound, unfortunately, is less than awesome and it’s even difficult at times to hear over the sound of 14 year-old girls hyperventilating. Similar to when Chris Brown supported Beyonce last year, he seems to get a better reaction than the headlining lady.

Rihanna certainly has all the gadgets to make a spectacular show (mechanical stages, fireworks, spinning Catherine wheels, costume changes, confetti cannons) but the middle of her set lags, bogged down by new ballads that the kids aren’t here for.

It’s almost excused by the fantastic Pon De Reply, which she mixes with M.I.A’s Paper Planes. She busts out most of the hits late in the set, and closes with an impressive rendition of Umbrella, which Chris Brown joins her on stage for.

To top it off, she dons a harness and goes flying over the crowd on a high-wire contraption. Talk about pop indulgence.

Words by Brianna Dalton of Rave Magazine

Photos by Kylie Keene for Rave Magazine