Malcolm Todd is the Ultimate Sweet Boy
September 22, 2026 - New York, New York
Who said rockstars can't fall in love? After a rather romantic night at Radio City Music Hall, there's no doubt about it - Malcolm Todd is the ultimate sweet boy. Todd’s third studio album, Do That Again, is a bashfully giddy declaration of love and all its petty trials. In just 13 tracks, Todd manages to capture love in all of its forms: A daunting task that Todd has transferred from the studio and onto the stage. Reflecting the album, his show at Radio City highlighted the mutual adoration between Malcolm and his fanbase. A token that would manifest throughout the night.
As the house lights dimmed, the crowd was immediately thrown into Todd’s antics. With an introduction reserved for an all-star, Todd and his band entered to the familiar intonation of a sports broadcaster booming, “He’s 6 ft 4in without his shoes….. Malcolmmmmmm Todddddd!” The rather grand entrance was then met with an even grander roar, as the opening notes of “Jean Skirt” rang out. A nod to the informal dress code, the fashionable fanbase happily sang along.
As Malcolm began, it was pretty clear this crowd had just bought a one-way ticket on the love train, and the first stop was Infatuation Station. Here, with tracks like “Breathe,” Todd captures the flirtatious energy that lingers between strangers. This sense of mystery fuels the attraction, something Todd is all too familiar with as he sings, “Come here what’s this about / I got all night long, and I wanna find out.” However, this flirtation quickly shifts into compulsion, highlighted by the aching lyrics of “Difficult Love”, where Todd acknowledges his shortcomings, singing “you could rip my heart out just like you did last time…Bitch.” It’s this formulaic high that leads to a perpetual relapse.
Throughout the album, Malcolm explores not only the adoration and desire behind a new crush but also shapes the framework of how love can easily turn into obsession. Coincidentally bringing the crowd to the next stop, Obsession Avenue. Todd eases the audience into this idea during "Bleed, "where he lyrically falls into submission, singing, “You can take control / Control of how my heart bleeds,” despite recognizing the toxicity of the situation.
Alongside his lyricism, Malcolm physically portrays his obsession during “Obsessica” as the stage flashes between various girls’ names. Drawing the crowd into a visual depiction of desire. Heart eyes spanned the venue as girls spotted their name.
Toward the end of the show, Malcolm took a pit stop in Sweet Boy central, a bittersweet moment where he played his most iconic songs, and where many fans lost their voice. With a tribute chain of tracks, the stadium was charged as the blissful harmonies of “4me 4me” lulled into “Mr Incorrect,” and finally into “Sweetboy.”
With one last stop, Radio City arrives at Indecision Inc., where the crowd is left to decide whether it was all worth it. The consensus? Love is always worth the lesson. Todd seems to agree as he performs “Gun to My Head,” a confessional track that buries shame for the sake of love. It’s an intimate moment where both Todd and the crowd put their pride aside, singing along “Gun to my head, here’s the truth, I’m not over you.”
Todd’s love is clearly an immovable force. He proves his heart is still in it as he performs “Goodbye,” seemingly a rebuttal to a broken heart, with lyrics like “You're not my girlfriend / But don’t be blue / You’ll be my wife”. Is it denial or the truth? Todd approaches the stage one last time, answering as he performs “I Saw Your Face.” In one final act, he releases the fantasy and revels in reality. “Life’s not a movie / I’m not a movie star”.
Although life isn't a movie, Malcolm Todd’s night one show at Radio City came pretty close. Like any good movie, after a gaggle of cheers, he hopped back up on stage with a reflective performance of “Do That Again,” where a memory-laced montage flashed above, alternating between platonic, familial, and romantic love.
As Todd evolves as an artist, the 23-year-old continues to wear his heart on his sleeve. With his most popular tracks often being written off as catchy, an undiscouraged Todd took the opportunity to break down humanity's greatest desire, urging the New York crowd to “give your love away”. If the crowd wasn’t already feeling warm and fuzzy inside, his last performance of “Roommates” would make sure of it. As the last chorus rang out confetti fell marking the perfect post-credit scene.
Safe to say I hope he does it again and again . . . and again.
